Nautical Term: Anode
Definition of Anode
An anode is a sacrificial component typically fabricated from zinc, aluminum, or some alloy thereof. This anode is affixed to the hull of a watercraft.
The anode is susceptible to being consumed by electrical currents that flow from the vessel to the water. In this selfless role, the anode offers itself up as a protector to the metal hull of the watercraft. Absent the anode, the hull plating would succumb to the destructive forces of electrolysis.
For example, suppose you are the captain of a 100-foot luxury yacht. You and your crew have spent months preparing for an extended voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. As the final preparations are underway, your chief engineer informs you that the zinc anode on the hull of the yacht has been depleted and must be replaced before the vessel sets sail.
By promptly addressing this issue, the captain and crew ensure that the yacht is protected from the damaging effects of electrolysis.
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