which zinc to use

Discussion in 'Boatbuilding' started by mudmanjw, Nov 1, 2008.

  1. mudmanjw
    Joined: Oct 2008
    Posts: 4
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    Location: Louisiana

    mudmanjw New Member

    I have an anode question for ya.
    I'm repairing a mudboat(flat-bottomed shallow draft boat similar to one pictured in a post a few down in this forum"Building a 15' Mudboat"). Its plywood with an outer layer of polyester fiberglass. I've rebuilt the bottom and still have some work to do. When I pulled off the old aluminum strut, there was a descent amount of electrolysis on it. Mostly between the aluminum and the fiberglass bottom. The boat spends only about 3 weeks a year total in the water either on hunting trips or parked in front of our camp. I was going to put a magnesium anode on the new strut to protect the boat but after doing some reading, I came across some info that said the magnesium in salt or brackish water "overprotects" the aluminum and a zinc anode should be used instead. I think I read that in a post on this forum and I'm not shure how you can "overprotect" something. Eating up the strut is one thing but the motor is an aluminum block 35Hp Briggs & Stratton that i would like to see last and if its getting to the strut, it must be getting to the engine/clutch, etc...

    My question is... Which anode should I be using in this mostly brackish environment?
     
    mudmanjw, Nov 1, 2008
    #1
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