Is the Mercathode working?

[JeffM]

Yesterday, while cleaning my BIII outdrive I noticed the anodes on the cavitation plate and trim rams are pretty worn. I also noticed the mercathode "hockey pucks" on the transom were covered by growth --which I cleaned off, as usual. I clean the outdrive every two weeks or so and every time the "pucks" have been covered, and I've cleaned them. I did not see any corrosion on the drive.

Are the "pucks" supposed to stay clean when the system is working, or is this normal?

Thanks!

 

[tbirdvet]

The anodes will discolor and corrode which means the system is working. If they always looked new I would start to worry. When they disappear by 50% it is time to change them out.

 

[JV II]

You have a 9 y/o boat with no corroson on the outdrive. That is telling. Don't do anything differently. Have the Mercathode tested annually. Everything seems to be working fine.

 

[Dave S]

The extra Mercathode pucks on my transom have never accumulated any growth on them.

Dave

 

[JeffM]

The extra Mercathode pucks on my transom have never accumulated any growth on them.

Dave

Thanks, Dave -- that's what I wondered. Mine accumulate growth, so I'm wondering if that's a sign the system isn't working, or if I need to be careful to keep them clean so they can work.

 

[Presentation]

........Have the Mercathode tested annually. Everything seems to be working fine.

Please tell me more.

Do you do this?

How do you do this?

 

[JV II]

Please tell me more.

Do you do this?

How do you do this?

This is something that I have my dealer service dept do as part of my winterization/spring commissioning. I haven't the foggiest idea of how they test it, but I imagine it must have some measurable electrical output within an acceptable range.

 

[mwph]

I don't know enough to discuss this intelligently, so please don't ask. I just know where to find this..........

http://mercstuff.com/mercathodetest.htm

 

[Jack F]

My dealer had to test mine for merc, I think the unit they use records over a period of time.

http://www.*******.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6A7R3.PDF ******* = boat fix (all 1 word)

http://www.mercstuff.com/mercathodetest.htm

http://crowleysyachtyard.blogspot.com/2009/02/crowleys-tip-11-when-your-vessel-is.html