ANODO EJE COLLAR LIGERO Ø 60 (ZN) 2T

Function and technical context

The lightweight 60mm diameter collar-type shaft anode in zinc acts as sacrificial galvanic protection on the boat's propulsion shaft, being positioned directly above it via a collar fitting. Its mission within the propulsion system is to intercept electrolytic corrosion that, without protection, would attack the shaft, propeller, stern tube and other metal surfaces submerged in contact with water. Being the least noble metal of the set, zinc corrodes first, preserving the structural integrity of the axle and transmission elements; If this component fails or is exhausted without being replaced, galvanic corrosion advances rapidly on the steel or bronze of the shaft, potentially causing pitting, structural weakening and, in extreme cases, the shaft breaking during navigation.

When to replace this part?

Zinc anodes should be inspected at least once a season and replaced when they have lost approximately 50% of their mass; An anode completely consumed or reduced to a thin residual core indicates that the shaft and adjacent components have been exposed to active corrosion. The most common symptoms of burnout include visible pitting on the drive shaft, discoloration or erosion in the stern tube area, and, in advanced cases, abnormal play or vibration in the shaft during navigation. Preventive replacement at the beginning of each nautical season, or after prolonged wintering in ports with high electrical activity, is the practice recommended by any professional naval workshop to avoid costly damage to the propulsion assembly.