Marine Fouling - Mercury MerCruiser MCM 454 Mag MPI Service Manual

GENERAL INFORMATION
A "rocker" is the reverse of a hook. The bottom is convex or bulged in the fore-and-aft direc-
tion. It can cause the boat to porpoise.
Any hook, rocker or surface roughness on the bottom, particularly in the critical center-aft
portion will have a negative effect on speed, often several miles per hour on a fast boat.

Marine Fouling

Fouling is an unwanted build-up (usually animal-vegetable-derived) occurring on the boat's
bottom and drive unit. Fouling adds up to drag, which reduces boat performance. In fresh
water, fouling results from dirt, vegetable matter, algae or slime, chemicals, minerals and
other pollutants. In salt water, barnacles, moss and other marine growth often produce
dramatic build-up of material quickly. Therefore, it is important to keep the hull as clean as
possible in all water conditions to maximize boat performance.
Antifouling paint, if required, may be applied to boat hull observing the following precautions.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT paint anodes or MerCathode System reference electrode and
anode, as this will render them ineffective as galvanic corrosion inhibitors.
Avoid corrosion damage. Do not apply antifouling paint to MerCruiser drive unit or
transom assembly.
IMPORTANT: If antifouling protection is required, Tri-Butyl-Tin-Adipate (TBTA) base
antifouling paints are recommended on MerCruiser boating applications. In areas
where Tri-Butyl-Tin-Adipate base paints are prohibited by law, copper base paints
can be used on boat hull and boat transom. Corrosion damage that results from the
improper application of antifouling paint will not be covered by the limited warranty.
Observe the following:
Avoid an electrical interconnection between the MerCruiser Product, Anodic Blocks,
or MerCathode System and the paint by allowing a minimum of 1-1/2 in. (40mm)
UNPAINTED area on transom of the boat around these items.
Index Index
Page 1A-8
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b
a - Rocker
b - Transom (Stern)
a - Antifouling Paint
b - MINIMUM 1-1/2 Inch (40 mm) UNPAINTED Area
a
CAUTION
a
b
SERVICE MANUAL NUMBER 23
72005
71176
90-861326--1 MARCH 1999