Sometime back there was a discussion on whether to keep your motor down in the water or up out of the water. I looked for this with a search but found nothing. I recognize the need to keep the motor (and anode) in the water for salt water use but is it necessary in fresh water and why?

My boat is on a trailer 95 % of the time but I noticed a friends boat that is docked 95% of the time with the motor up and I want to suggest to him to put it down if there is a valid reason in fresh water.

There is still minerals and pollutant's in fresh water that the anode will attract so it doesn't hurt the motor. Being that your boat stays on the trailer its not that much of an issue. However I would still have them on the motor.

Ex.

I have had a boat motor for 12 years and the anodes look new, it stay on the trailer 95% of the time.

My dad has a boat that stays in the water 6 months a year (fresh water) he has to change the anode every two years.

Why on Earth (why on water ) would you leave the motor in the water when not in use, fresh or salt water? Don't invite trouble for the anodes to fix, just avoid it. With the metal out of the water you have broken the electrical (electrolysis) circuit so nothing to protect.

And trailered boats spend so little time in the water it is hardly a concern either way.

Okay, I'll bite.  I do not have a clue as to what an "anode" is.  Could someone explain?

Traveling Man

Anode:

The proper name is sacrificial anode. It is a piece of metal that is attached to your outboard motor. It protects the metal parts of your motor from dissolving away do to electrolysis.

Electrolysis:

A chemical reaction of a metal with another metal in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, causing one to erode.

Thank you for the explanation.  I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.  I can honestly say I learn something new everyday . . . sometimes two things.   ;D

They are also reffered to as "Zinc's" (slang) (what they are made of)

However for fresh water they are often made of Magnesium to give a higher protection voltage to push through the fresh water which has a higher resistance.

But they are not called Mags  ;D, they are called Magnesium Zincs which is really scary.

lol, Ann-marie, I live on the ocean, didn't even know they made different ones for freshwater, learn something new everyday, thanks!!

(I live near your buddy, Mike B, in RI )

Sacrificial Anodes I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THIS AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH A RATHER SUSPICOUS STRIPPER. OH OH I MISUNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION>>>my mistake