Bavaria Yacht Info

Member Forums => Bavaria Yacht Help! => Topic started by: elias on January 29 2024, 06:31

Title: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: elias on January 29 2024, 06:31
Hi to all ,
I m having a debate with some fellow sailors . Every year I am throwing to the trash my anodes . Is not about the money is about also the resources and waste . Last year I decided to keep it since that it had tiny blisters and just surface oxidation . The boat stays on the yard 6 months and 6 months at sea . What is your experience ?
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: symphony2 on January 29 2024, 10:53
Varies hugely depending on the location of the boat and type of anode. When I kept my boat in the Ionian 7 months in 5 out the 120 anode easily went 5 years. Back in the UK in the water 12 months changed after 2 years. The larger 130 anode (twice the mass of the 120) in the UK 3 years to change when the mass has dropped by over 50%.
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: Mirror45184 on January 29 2024, 12:29
Anode life in South Australia is 2 - 3 years. It does depend on your neighbours having good galvanic protection.
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: sy_imagine on January 29 2024, 17:14
Our boat stays nearly all year long in the waters of Lefkas Marina because we are living on it and the anode has to be changed every year when the boat has to be put on the hard for changing the gear oil. As Elias said, it depends on the circumstances. There is no reason for changing the anode if it looks ok.
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: elias on January 29 2024, 18:24
Our boat stays nearly all year long in the waters of Lefkas Marina because we are living on it and the anode has to be changed every year when the boat has to be put on the hard for changing the gear oil. As Elias said, it depends on the circumstances. There is no reason for changing the anode if it looks ok.

Greetings from Nydri!
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: Lazy Pelican on January 30 2024, 18:43
Mine has been on for about 6 years. Probably got another year or 2 life. We’re afloat 4-5 months / year, very rarely in an official Marina.
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: diverphil on January 31 2024, 14:14
on our s130 in uk we are getting about 2 yrs out of it, in water most of the year, last time was 2.5 yrs and it was well shot. so check every year and change at below 50%
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: tiger79 on January 31 2024, 14:23
on our s130 in uk we are getting about 2 yrs out of it, in water most of the year, last time was 2.5 yrs and it was well shot. so check every year and change at below 50%

Do you have a galvanic isolator fitted?
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: Baddox on February 04 2024, 21:57
We bought our boat in 2016 and still havent changed the anodes.  They remain in good condition with only a little erosion.  The SD and prop are painted with epoxy before antifouling and the marina is fed with fresh water from a small stream which I expect reduces the speed of corrosion.
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: Jeffatoms on February 07 2024, 00:58
A few other thoughts...

Last time we pulled ours the Volvo replacement was an anode of aluminum,not zinc.  I asked for zinc and got aluminum.  The service tech said that according to Volvo the potential between the various alloys was adequate in salt water (Puget Sound is our home).

Also, stray current should always be considered when underwater anodes are quickly depleted.
Title: Re: Lifespan of saildrive anodes
Post by: Laysula on February 08 2024, 12:42
I change mine every two years. They always look like they would do another easily but I normally only lift out every two. Galvanic isolator fitted and shore power is never left connected. Bavaria 350 in Brixham marina.