One of the easiest and least expensive preventative maintenance steps in keeping your boat in top condition is to replace the zincs.
What Are Sacrificial Anodes (Zincs)?
Sacrificial Anodes, or their more commonly used name Zincs, are pieces of metal (most often zinc), that are used to stop galvanic corrosion from compromising the integrity of your prop shaft, rudders and trim tab, outboard and sterndrives. Once galvanic corrosion occurs the damage to your boat can be expensive and major! Zincs act as a third-party metal essentially sacrificing itself to electrical current. Without the protection of Sacrificial Anodes, the metal that it is being used to protect starts to dissolve the underwater metals on your boat will deteriorate.
A general rule of thumb for zinc replacement is when the zincs are at 50%.
When Do I Replace the Sacrificial Anodes [Zincs] On My Boat?
A general rule of thumb for zinc replacement is when the zincs are at 50%. Keep in mind, once a sacrificial anode is dissolved the next piece of metal in the circuit will start to dissolve and that will be costly. That could actually be part of your engine! The importance of zincs cannot be overstated. We recommend having your zincs inspected with each hull cleaning to determine the life they have left.
If you have any questions, we welcome you to give us a call! 561-408-8042
You can also visit our website www.diverxtrm.com for all our services, Palm Beach County webcams and the NWS Maritime Forecast.
Comments