Outboard Anodes

[journey on]

Well, now that Bob and I have settled the anchoring question, let's move on to another topic: outboard anodes. Notice that I didn't say "zincs." And looking at Tim's post on his Johnson/Suzuki, it's an appropriate time.

Journey On uses 2 ea Honda outboards: a 150 and a 9.9, 2005s. The 150 is in the water whenever the boat is, whereas the 9.9 just rides on the bracket until we need to use the dinghy. So there's a difference in the salt water hours. But this year, I changed both of the motors anodes. The 150 was for the second time, the 9.9 was the first time.

When we had a sailboat, zincs were changed regularly and I never heard the term "anode." Except when we were discussing electronic valves which was a long, long time ago. So now I have an expensive outboard and after a couple of years decided to change the "zincs." Ordered them from the zinc man near Boston. They were Canadian Metals zincs, made in China, guaranteed. I put then on the engine and went boating. Now it's a couple of years later and I decided to use Honda "anodes" since they must know what the best part is, right? Three different part numbers, but boat.net said they all go to the same part, the only one they stock.

So, in come the anodes from boat.net and I go down to change the "zincs" and lo and behold the Honda parts are a lot lighter than the Canadian Metal parts. Sane size, fit, coulour, etc, just a lot lighter. Called Honda Marine to ask about the anode metal and the answer was "how should we know?" Told me to call a dealer, and we know how that went. The original anodes that came off the 9.9 were the same weight as the new ones, so I don't think that Honda changed anode metal since 2005.

So my question is, does anybody know for sure of what those Honda anodes are made? I suspect aluminum, since magnesium is only for fresh water and has to be marked as magnesium, but that's an educated guess. OK, just a guess.

And last, I'd like to point out that buying non-brand parts (Honda, Suzuki, etc.) leaves the door open for something that doesn't work on your expensive motor. The guy that sold me the zincs assured me those were the best zincs in the world. What he didn't say was "that motor doesn't use zinc, and I don't carry aluminum." And I didn't know enough to ask. So I'll stick with the Honda parts. From boat.net, they're not that expensive, and lesson learned (again.)

Boris

[thataway]

Boris is correct that you want Magnesium Anodes for Fresh water, Aluminum for brackish water and Zinc for Salt water. Looking on all of the OEM suppliers on the Internet, they are labeled as "Zinc" material. I know that some of the ones I have changed out thru the years are actual Zinc--but there is a good argument that aluminum anodes might be better, considering that Honda has a reputation of having more corrosion than some of the other outboards...

A quick scan of the Internet, I can find magnesium anodes for the Hondas, but didn't see any aluminum ones--but they may well exist.