Anodes on pontoons

[martys]

I'm close to buying my first pontoon, a Manitou Oasis SHP with a 200 E-TEC motor. I asked the sales rep about zincs or anodes on the toons because the boat will be kept in the water all summer (Middle River, in the Chesapeake Bay) and he told me the zinc package can cause more problems than it prevents. I like to hear some other opinions.

[HandymanHerb]

I can't help you but I can say Welcome, you think the engine would come with one on it to protect the engine, I don't leave mine in any water for more than 3 days at a time so far and only in fresh water so I let Ed jump in on that one as he in that area.

[badmoonrising]

I have a slip in the Bohemia River, in the Upper Chesapeake bay and in 3 seasons the factory anodes on the motor have done the job. It is HIGHLY advisable that you have the bottom painted. We get barnacles up this way and since you are a bit further south you will too. Along with red and green algea...

My Tracker dealer actually told me to maintain the hull warranty, I had to have the bottom painted.


Prior to launching last week, I replaced all the drive anodes as 2 were about 40 percent degraded. Complete package was $50 and well worth it.


Btw, welcome ! I'm fishing in the middle bay out of Matapeake all summer aboard my Starcraft. I fish around the bridge pilings and around the gum thickets, rock piles and Love Point.

[mike]

Welcome!! I was always under the impression that sacrificial anodes were more for salt water use??

[martys]

For my understanding, there are no zincs or anodes on any of the three pontoons, just bottom paint. The only zincs are on the motor itself.

[WaltF]

Mike... Nope...
I have em on mine and after just 1 summer in the fresh water slip, you can see them 'working'...

I have the same motor as BMR. There is something like 6 of em on the drive unit...

http://www.defender.com/html/zincs_info.html

[badmoonrising]

Middle River's salt content is enough to cause hull corrosion, it's a river off of the bay's mainstem. Spring, it's relatively fresh and as the summer goes on a little saltier, especially during droughts.

[badmoonrising]

Welcome!! I was always under the impression that sacrificial anodes were more for salt water use??

More of issue in saltwater, but no. There are actually anodes made for fresh and saltwater. You can get quite a bit of hull pitting/electrolysis in freshwater lakes just the same as where I am. The fact that Walt's are working (degrading) proves that.

There's also anodes in most home hot water heaters. If you've ever changed one, eeeewwww....

[badmoonrising]

For my understanding, there are no zincs or anodes on any of the three pontoons, just bottom paint. The only zincs are on the motor itself.

That's all you'll need. Keep an eye on all of them, replace as needed and you'll be fine.

[mike]

good info guys, I learned something today! My toon never sits in the water long enough to sacrifice its anodes!

[martys]

I just figured that each toon would have some type of anode on it along with bottom paint. For any new boater in my area, if you are going to leave your boat in the water all summer, YOU MUST have a good bottom paint on the hull with zincs on the motor. I change the zincs on my MerCruiser every other year.

[kimbercarry]

I keep the yammy 150 in the raised position per my dealer so the anodes are not in the water. There are metal hull boats with shore power all around me should I install anodes on the logs as well?

[badmoonrising]

Well if your motor is raised out of the water, the anodes aren't protecting your engine or the hull from corrosion. IMO, lower the drive and don't waste your time adding hull anodes. BUT if you must do so it certainly won't hurt, it's just adding to maintenance costs at no real benefit.