For steel and aluminum boat hulls (or underwater

structures), the following formula can be used to calculate

the total weight (in pounds) of sacrificial anodes required.

Anode Weight (lbs) = [(Wetted Surface Area) x (Current

Density) x (Immersion)]
[(Energy Content) x (1000
mA/Amp)]

Actual or Estimated Wetted Surface

Wetted Surface Area (sq-ft):
Current Density (mA per sq-ft):
Immersion (hours):
Energy Content (amp-hours per
pound):
of Metal
1.5 – 5.0 for painted Steel hull /
structure
0.2 – 3.0 for painted Aluminum hull
/ structure
Number of hours in water per
replacement
interval (8766 hours per year)
368 for Mil-Spec zinc anodes
1108 for Mil-Spec aluminum
anodes

Estimating Wetted Surface Area of Boat Hulls:

= 1.0 LWL x (Beam + Draft) for full displacement vessels (motor
yachts and sail boats)

= 0.75 LWL x (Beam + Draft) for medium displacement vessels

= 0.50 LWL x (Beam + Draft) for light-displacement vessels

Source: ABYC Corrosion Certification Study Guide

Estimating Current Density:

The amount of electric current required from anodes

protecting a metal hull (or structure) in seawater is primarily
a function of the water's flow rate and the quality of the
metal's protective paint coating. BoatZincs.com issues the
following design estimates:
Steel Hull or Structure

Stationary (0 - 0.5 mph):

Well coated = 1.5 mA/sq-ft
Poor or old coating = 2 mA/sq-ft
Uncoated = 3 mA/sq-ft

Low Velocity Water Flow (0.5 - 2 mph):

Well coated = 2 mA/sq-ft
Poor or old coating = 4 mA/sq-ft
Uncoated = 5 to 15 mA/sq-ft

Medium Velocity Water Flow (2 - 5 mph):

Well coated = 3 mA/sq-ft
Poor or old coating = 5 mA/sq-ft
Uncoated = 15 to 30 mA/sq-ft

High Velocity Water Flow (>5 mph):

Well coated = 5 mA/sq-ft
Poor or old coating = 10 mA/sq-ft
Uncoated = 25 to 100 mA/sq-ft

Aluminum Hull or Structure

Stationary (0 - 0.5 mph):

Well coated = 0.5 mA/sq-ft
Poor or old coating = 1 mA/sq-ft
Uncoated = 2 mA/sq-ft

Low Velocity Water Flow (0.5 - 2 mph):

Well coated = 1 mA/sq-ft
 Poor or old coating = 2 mA/sq-ft
Uncoated = 4 to 8 mA/sq-ft

Medium Velocity Water Flow (2 - 5 mph):

Well coated = 2 mA/sq-ft
Poor or old coating = 3 mA/sq-ft
Uncoated = 5 to 12 mA/sq-ft

High Velocity Water Flow (>5 mph):

Well coated = 3 mA/sq-ft
Poor or old coating = 5 mA/sq-ft
Uncoated = 10 to 25 mA/sq-ft