This excellent article on alternatives to toxic zinc anodes on our boat’s engines and shafts by Craig Ritchie appeared in Canadian Yachting magazine.
“For years, we’ve all used zinc anodes to protect our engines and other metallic parts from corrosion, but growing evidence of its long-term toxicity has brought zinc under the microscope. With newer alternatives proving to be more effective and less expensive, why do we keep buying the stuff?“\
“Most of us don’t give a second thought to our sacrificial anodes – those curious knobs of raw metal found on outdrives, shafts, rudders, and other metal components that dangle under the boat. We know that the anodes somehow react in the water to protect those important metal bits from corroding, and we know that every now and then, over time, they will dissolve in the course of doing their job and need to be replaced. But that’s about it. Beyond that, no one really gives them a second thought.
Maybe we should.”
