RUDDER ANODE 110mm.

Function and technical context

The 110 mm rudder anode is a cathodic protection element installed directly on the boat's rudder, whose mission is to electrochemically sacrifice itself to prevent galvanic corrosion in the structural metal parts of the steering assembly. It acts as an active metal within the passive anti-corrosion system of the hull, absorbing eddy currents and the action of salt or brackish water before they attack the steel, aluminum alloy or bronze of the rudder and its hardware. Without this operational anode, galvanic corrosion advances silently and can irreversibly damage the rudder shaft, mèches, pins and reinforcement plates, compromising the maneuverability of the vessel and generating high-cost repairs in the shipyard. Its diameter of 110 mm makes it suitable for mounting on medium-large length rudders where the surface exposed to the flow of water requires a greater mass of zinc or active alloy to guarantee lasting protection throughout the season.

When to replace this part?

The clearest symptom that the rudder anode has exhausted its useful life is the visible reduction in its mass: when the anode has lost approximately 50% of its volume it must be replaced immediately, since below that threshold the cathodic protection is insufficient. The appearance of pits, reddish stains or superficial oxidation on the rudder itself or on its connecting hardware is also an alarm signal, indicating that the base metal has begun to corrode due to lack of protection. As a general rule of nautical maintenance, rudder anodes should be inspected at each beaching and replaced at least once per season; In areas with especially corrosive water or with a high density of electrical installations in the port, a semiannual review may be necessary. Replacing the anode preventively at each annual tune-up is the most economical measure to protect steering components whose repair or replacement multiplies the cost of the anode by tens.