Sea Water is a swirling mix of chemicals and is a pretty good conductor of electricity.  Add dissimilar metals and, hey presto! you get a battery.  The downside of all this chemistry is that one of the two dissimilar metals will corrode, coating the other one.   If the corroding metal is a sea cock... or your expensive outboard leg... you are in trouble!  In addition, dodgy earths and stray currents in marinas can also expedite corrosion.  To minimize the chance of expensive damage, we fit 'sacrificial anodes'  to our boats... chunks of metal that are more prone to corrode than your expensive fittings whose job it is to crumble away whilst protecting your boat. 

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The types of anode you need to fit depend on what needs to be protected and what type of water you operate in (salt, brackish, fresh).  Metal hulled and wooden boats may also need special treatment.  

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Most out board manufacturers fit anodes to their engines; these pictures show brand new anodes, and anodes that have done their job over a year or so.  

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Make sure you keep an eye on your anodes and ensure they are checked every time you have a service.

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Want to know more?  Ask about our bespoke courses for boat owners/boat maintenance.