Camp Zinc Thrusters

Camp Zinc Thruster Anodes: Protecting Your Bow Thruster from Corrosion

A bow thruster is one of the most valuable maneuvering tools on any powerboat or sailboat — but its underwater exposure makes it one of the most vulnerable components to galvanic corrosion. That's where Camp Zinc comes in. Thruster anodes from Camp are purpose-built sacrificial zinc kits designed to shield your bow thruster's metallic components from the relentless electrochemical attack of salt and brackish water.

What Are Thruster Zinc Anodes and Why Do They Matter?

Sacrificial anodes work on the principle of cathodic protection: a more electrically active metal (zinc) is attached to your thruster's less active metals (bronze, aluminum, stainless), causing the zinc to corrode preferentially and sacrifice itself to preserve the hardware underneath. Zinc is used as a sacrificial anode on boats and ships that use cathodic protection to prevent corrosion of metals that are exposed to sea water. Without a properly maintained anode, the thruster tunnel, propeller, and housing can suffer significant pitting and metal loss between haul-outs.

Camp Zinc's Bow Thruster Kits: Designed for Side Power and Vetus

Camp Company is a leading manufacturer of marine anodes, and their zinc and aluminum sacrificial anodes are manufactured in the US to ensure the highest quality of corrosion protection. Within the thruster category specifically, Camp produces zinc kits engineered as direct fits for two of the most popular bow thruster brands on the market:

• Side Power Bow Thruster Zinc Kits — Camp's Side Power bow thruster zinc kits are compatible with models including SM500HYD/U-37, SM550HYD/U-44, SM550HYD/U-50, SM550HYD/PRO-40, and SM550HYD/PRO-60. Additional kits cover models SM55S12, SM552S24, SM75T12, SM75T24, SM95T12, SM95T24, and IP-series variants. Each kit includes the anode and the mounting screw , providing everything needed for a complete replacement at haulout.
• Vetus Bow Thruster Zinc Anodes — Camp also produces bow thruster zincs designed to fit Vetus® bow thrusters. These are sold individually and sized to match Vetus tunnel thruster specifications.

Straightforward Replacement, Trusted Fit

One reason boaters trust Camp Zinc for thruster anodes is the precision of the fit. Camp Company zinc anodes are used on recreational, commercial, and military vessels, placed on hulls, propeller shafts, rudders, trim tabs, outboard engines, stern drives, and other components below the waterline. That breadth of experience translates directly into thruster-specific products that meet the exact dimensional requirements of each supported model — no trimming, no shimming, just a clean swap.

Whether you're maintaining a Side Power unit on a cruising trawler or a Vetus thruster on a sailing yacht, keeping a fresh Camp Zinc anode installed is one of the simplest and most cost-effective steps in your annual haul-out routine. Explore the full Camp Zinc brand catalog for the complete range of sacrificial anodes, or browse all thruster anodes available to find the right fit for your setup.