Is there an anode used for salt water other than a zinc anode ?and if there is ,what?

Question

Is there an anode used for salt water other than a zinc anode ?and if there is ,what?

Answer 1

zinc is the best one.

Answer 2

Yes, in salt water use zinc or possibly aluminum.

aluminum will last longer and provide same level of protection on steel boats,  obliviously must use zinc on aluminum boat or  aluminum boat parts.

in fresh water use magnesium, since they are more active than zinc (DO NOT use magnesium in salt water though, it will corrode rapidly)

in brackish water (part salt part fresh) use aluminum over zinc because zinc is too passive and magnesium is too active.  again not for protecting aluminum parts

Zinc, aluminum and magnesium anodes are commonly sold (look in a west marine catalog)

If you look at a galvanic sequence of metals the anodes will be  on top with the cathodes on bottom

Actually if you only had bronze parts on your boat you could use stainless steel as anode---to act as an anode it must be less noble than the metal it is protecting.

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Answer 3

zinc is used for an anode because the electrolisis attacks it before it attacks any other metal

it keeps the salt water preoccupied so all other metal last longer i dont beleive that there is any other sacrificial metal

Answer 4

Zink for all around protection.

Answer 5

PLATINUM IS WHAT IS USED ON CERTAIN VESSELS  HAVE YOU GOT A LOT OF MONEY LAYING AROUND

Answer 6

Neal is right however you can buy anodes with the right alloys of zinc magnesium and aluminium. If you ask around in your local area people will tell you the best ones to use. If you have an aluminium boat and are not sure don't be tempted to hang too many over the side on wire.too many is as bad as not enough.Cathodic protection is an exacting science best left to professionals. Hope this helps.