Boating Tips: Anodes Explained

What Are Anodes?

As we have mentioned previously, saltwater is one of the harshest environments on Earth, anodes help protect your boat from its damaging effects, specifically, galvanic corrosion. Without getting too scientific, the crux of it all is this - your anodes are sacrificial pieces of metal, which because of their chemical composition, will break down in saltwater rather than other, more important pieces of metal such as your prop.

In other words, if you store your boat in the water and don’t have anodes, the saltwater will literally eat through pieces of metal on your motor and other areas of your boat below the waterline. If you have anodes, they will be dissolved by the saltwater instead.

It should be noted that anodes also come into play in fresh and brackish water as well, however, they may be made from different materials and may not require the same care as those used in saltwater. Consult your user manual or with your service provider on the best course of action.

Tell Me More!

Anodes are sometimes erroneously referred to as Zincs. While some are indeed made out of Zinc, they are not all, most are made from either Aluminum or Magnesium. For care, we recommend removing the growth of barnacles, marine algae and grasses, and of course, spraying your boat down with freshwater after each use. As previously mentioned, consult your boat’s user manual for more details on care and replacement schedules, as what we are providing are simply general guidelines. You can typically find your anodes on the transom or even on your motor.

MarineMax Service

Our customer commitment extends beyond creating a lifetime of memories on the water. We’re here to help with service, routine maintenance, engine upgrades, storage options and more. From providing world-class service with factory-certified technicians to finding marina slips and dry storage locations, your MarineMax team will always be there. Take advantage of the MarineMax Experience with different avenues to help keep you on the water. We’ll see you out there.