MER Newsletter

Current and back issues of MER’s newsletter.

Stay up-to-date with the latest news from MER Equipment.

Volume 26 ○ Winter 2023    Download the PDF

Previous Issues

Volume 25 ○ Fall 2021  Download the PDF

Cover image of Fall 2020 Newsletter

Volume 24 – Fall 2020

  • Team Northwest Rises to the Top
  • CAT PTO Kits
  • Dealer Projects
  • What the $%! Is Wrong With My Generator
  • From the Captain – Random Acts of Kindness

Volume 23 – Fall 2019

  • MER’s Contribution to the Port Moller Rebuild
  • Introducing the New BOLLARD™ Sound Enclosure
  • BOLLARD™ Parts & Service
  • MER Intelligent Power Production Storage & Distribution
  • From the Captain – Have Courage – Be Kind
Volume 22 – Fall 2018

  • Crowley and MER Team Up for Ship Assist!
  • SeaFire™ LED Development Update
  • Reimagining our Website
  • Technical Bulletin – IMO III is a pain in the ass
  • From the Captain -Jody Fox (06/14/1930 – 07/30/2018)
Volume 21 – Fall 2017

  • The new BOLLARD™ 40!
  • Exhaust Development Update – The history and evolution of SuperFlex™ Exhaust Systems
  • Expanded Service Network – Medium to long range operators
  • Subchapter M is here: Equipment upgrades & compliance
  • Technical Bulletin – How a positive air shutdown can save your bacon
  • From the Captain – The Kalakala – from iconic ferryboat to stuck in the mud at Kodiak-Gibson Cove
Volume 20 – Fall 2016

  • A New BOLLARD™ For The Bering Star
  • SeaDrive Development Update – New Engineers – Cummins 5.9, 6.7, 8.3, 9.0 & Scania DI13
  • MER Genset Triple Threat – Bollard, Iron, and now LoadMaster
  • Pacific Marine Expo 2016 – What to Expect & MER Spreads Its Wings
  • Technical Bulletin – How Generator Winding Temperatures Effect Your Bottom Line
  • From The Captain – Buckwheat in 1969
Volume 18 – Fall 2014

  • PWSAC Parallels BOLLARD™ IG100s
  • Featured Product – SeaFire NANO, DELTA I, DELTA II & GAMMA Series
  • MER Training Classes
  • A New Home For MER – Reaching New Heights
  • Pacific Marine Expo 2014 – What to Expect & Open House / Garage Sale
  • Generator Paralleling Simplified – New Tech Makes Paralleling Simpler & More Cost Effective
  • From The Captain – The Powerful Man With Kind Eyes
Volume 17 – Spring 2014

  • Steve Fish’s Kariel Repowered by MER
  • Featured Product – SeaDrive Power Take Off
  • MER Training Classes
  • What is BOLLARD™? – 50 Years In The Making
  • People You Need To Know – Damian Clarke & Michael Hudson
  • Destructive Vibration & Natural Frequencies – Understanding Torsional Vibration & The Importance of TVA
  • From The Founder – Passing the Torch
Volume 16 – Fall 2012

  • Feadship Centinela IV Repowers
  • Featured Products
  • MER Training Classes
  • Boat Owner’s Tool Box
  • The Right And Wrong Ways To Get The Most Out Of A Generator
  • From The Founder – The End Of Traps & Beginning of a New Era In Kodiak Fisheries
Volume 15 – Fall 2011

  • Alaska Northern Outfitters: Sea Quest Repower
  • Products We Recommend
  • Oil Analysis, Your Canary In The Coal Mine
  • Boat Owner’s Tool Box
  • From The Founder: Slim The Fireman, Part II
Volume 14 – Fall 2010

  • Diesel Technology Time Travel: Repowering the M/Y Discovery
  • Recommended Products By MER
  • Vendor’s We Love
  • Ron’s Tips For Getting Home Safe
  • From The Founder of MER
Volume 13 – Fall 2009

  • MER’s Newest, Biggest Isuzu – 6WG1 505-671 HP, 6 CYL, 16 L
  • 6WG1 Fuel Economy – The Proof is in the Repower
  • Shooting Trouble CORROSION – HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS, Fuel Lubricity Revisited – ULSD FUEL
  • MER’s Marine-Service Training for Customers
  • IVAN FOX REMEMBERS … UGANIK BAY
Volume 12 – Fall 2008

  • AC Generator Troubleshooting Part 3
  • Lima MAC Generators, As used on the MER Beagle Series
  • Sound of Silence; The F.V. Mytilus, Twin Deere 6081 Engines using EM Marine Silencers
  • The M.Y. Sarah Elizabeth Banks, From Coal Fired To Diesel, with Two New Deere 4045 Diesels And ZF Marine Transmissions
  • Intro 101 Engine Pre-Lubers and Oi Pressure Accumulators
  • The MER Survival Fridays Blog Introduction
  • Ivan Fox Remembers;  “The Sad Tale of The Deep Sea”, Part 2
Volume 11 – Spring 2008

  • AC Generator Troubleshooting Part 2
  • PMG Generators
  • F/V Kristiana and Their New MER Beagle Series 27 Marine Generator
  • Preventing Corrosion-Zincs-Size Does Matter
  • Magnetic Pick-up Engine Speed Sensors, Installation, Adjustments, Testing And Maintenance.
  • Ivan Fox recalls “The Sad Tale Of The Deep Sea”, Part 1
Volume 10 – Fall 2007

  • AC Generator Troubleshooting, Part 1
  • Automatic Voltage Regulators
  • Tips To Prevent Marine Corrosion And Erosion
  • Important Supplemental Cooling Additives
  • High Pressure Common Rail Fuel System Do’s-and-Don’ts
  • Common Rail Safety Considerations
  • Ivan Fox Remembers; Saving the “Logger”, Part 2
Volume 9 – Spring 2007

  • Marine Cooling System Maintenance Tips
  • Penn Cove Muscle Barges Team Up With John Deere Marine
  • Ultra Low Exhaust Emissions and the Yanmar BW Series Engines
  • John Deere Marine On-line Parts Store
  • Care and Protection of Electronically Controlled Engines and Their ECUs.
  • Ivan Fox Remembers: The Day the Logger Sank Off Of Raspberry Island
Volume 8 – Fall 2006

  • Stray Current and Hot Harbors-Electrolysis and Corrosion, Why You Need an Isolation Transformer
  • Galvanic Corrosion and the Nobility Scale of Metals
  • How to Test For Stray Electrical Current in Cooling Systems
  • Meet Herb Knight, Our New Service Manager
  • Ivan Fox Remembers: Bill Hingston
Volume 7 – Spring 2006

  • The New John Deere Marine Engines
  • MER Announces the New Beagle Series Generators in the 20-45 Kw Range
  • Meet Dave Walker MER Sales Manager
  • Test for the Presence of Fuel in the Lube Oil
  • Generator Maintenance; Water and Dirt Contamination
  • Ivan Fox Remembers: Power Scows
Volume 6 – Fall 2005

  • Brushless Generator Anatomy, Nomenclature and Troubleshooting
  • Re-powering the 47′ FV American Pie: Replacing An 8V-92 With A John Deere 6125 Marine Engine
  • Anatomy of a Generator’s Excitation Anatomy
  • Re-powering the FV Aleution: Replacing the 8V-71 with a John Deere 6125 Marine Engine
  • Fuel Saving Generators and Engines That Pay For Themselves
  • Ivan Fox Remembers: Kodiak Salmon Traps
Volume 5 – Spring 2005

  • The Tango Gets a Pair of John Deere Marine 6068SFM John Deeres Rated At 267 HP
  • Marine Engine Coolant Maintenance and Additives
  • Bio-diesel Do’s and Don’ts
  • The Pros and Cons of Bio-diesel In Marine Applications
  • Bio-diesel and Lubricity
  • Meet Bob Allen MER President
  • Why Do Cylinder Liners Develop Pitting?
  • The Importance of Cooling System Pressure Caps
  • Ivan Fox Remembers: The Fish Trap Days
Volume 4 – Fall 2004

  • The FV Pioneer and Her MER 25kW Generator-Still Running Strong At 36,000 Hours
  • Mark Lundsten and the Ranger 9 Get A New John Deere Marine 6068 Main Engine Rated At 201 HP
  • Diesel Engine Failure: 70% of All Failures Begin in the Cooling System!
  • Fuel Lubricity and the New Low Sulfur Fuels
  • Meet Ron Quinlan, MER Production Foreman With MER For 30 Years!
  • Ivan Fox Remembers: The Alaskan Earthquake/Tsunami Of 1964
Volume 3 – Summer 2004

  • The MER 20kW Generator Set on the FV Pacific Dawn-24,000 Hours and Counting!
  • Introducing John Deere Marine Generator Sets In The 20-40kW Range.
  • Heads-up for Tier II Engine Emission Standards!
  • How to Test Generator Diodes with Your Multimeter
  • Understanding Motor Starting Generators
  • The New Cowl M-Series Exhaust Silencer
  • Meet the MER Parts Experts
  • Ivan Fox Remembers: Early Navigation Aids, a Lead Line and a Compass
Volume 2 – Spring 2004

  • The MER 20kW Generator Set on the FV Pacific Dawn-24,000 Hours and Counting!
  • Introducing John Deere Marine Generator Sets In The 20-40kW Range.
  • Heads-up for Tier II Engine Emission Standards!
  • How to Test Generator Diodes with Your Multimeter
  • Understanding Motor Starting Generators
  • The New Cowl M-Series Exhaust Silencer
  • Meet the MER Parts Experts
  • Ivan Fox Remembers: Early Navigation Aids, a Lead Line and a Compass
Volume 1 – Fall 2003

  • Bob Dolan Gets Our First Deere Marine Engine: Nothing Runs Like A Deere!
  • Hurth and ZF Marine Transmission Cross Reference
  • Meet Mike Hoyt, MER General Manager
  • Noise and the Decibel Scale-Building A Quiet Marine Exhaust System
  • Engine Troubleshooting-Exhaust Smoke Analysis
  • MER C240-20kW on the 48′ Delta Freedom
  • Ivan Fox Remembers: Early Isuzu Diesels and Cheap Fuel