So when replacing my starting battery last weekend I noticed the mercathode system was missing the fuse from the previous owner. Also my bilge float is pulling off the hot post on the mercathode device itself, thus my auto mode wasn't working (no big deal to me, it's never wet in there).

I am curious about the system itself and if I even need to have it hooked up. I am in fresh water only and the boat is trailered after every outing. Another thing I might mention, my drive does not have the typical anodes on the trim hydraulics and the one above the prop is panted over from a nose cone removal by the previous owner. Any thoughts on what I need for my application?

Thanks fellas!

Forgot to mention, '89 240 Sport e.g. Outlaw

i have a '90 250, so they were probly originally wired simliar.

first, i know the big bilge pump up near the front of the motor on mine was pretty much seized up and non functional as it kept popping the "breaker" up on the dash and after being 20+ years old it didnt surprise me!. someone had also jacked with the wiring so when i put in the new pump one of the setting didnt work right (cant remember if it was auto or manual??) anyway if your pump was wired off the cathode chances are someone had a issue with the pump so tried to get power from there and then found it was still F'ed up so they just pulled the fuse out..

anyway on mine i ran straight to the battery (fused) 2 brand new Rule (one to each battery) computer controlled auto sensing pumps with something like 1100GPH each since someone had already jacked with the original pump wiring. these turn on every so often to check for water then turn off if nothing is present, and since they are direct to the battery it doesnt matter if someone turns off my master switch they still are there to do there job. also since they turn on every now and then you get a "audible" notice that they are still working fine.

mine doesnt have any anodes on the rams either, it has one under the cavitation plate though. mines trailered and fresh water so i haven't worried about it!

Also, lets see some pics of your boat!

If you dont leave it sit in the water overnight,,,,, its really not an issue

Your Mercathode should be wired so its always powered, can't be shut off even if battery switch is off. Probably why the bilge pump was connected to that hot wire. The Mercathode does always have a small current draw, probably why the fuse was pulled, especially if boat was unused for months at a time.

As mentioned, probably fine w/o it since you don't leave it in the water for lengths of time. But no reason to not to put the fuse back in for the added protection the Mercathode offers, especially since you have no zincs or the existing one was painted over rendering it useless, not to mention your auto bilge pump operation,