Monthly Archives: April 2016

April 28, 2016

MAX5 Street Party!

Rick Mackie
Racing Event Feature Image
A scene from the 2015 Desert Storm Poker Run Street Party. Our Mercury Racing Experience truck has a fresh look. Official Mercury Racing merchandise is available for purchase as well!
yellowhaze
The 2016 Mercury Racing Desert Storm event Tee and a variety of official Mercury Racing Merchandise is available for purchase at the Mercury Racing Experience truck.

It’s party time! The Mercury Racing Experience truck is front and center at the Desert Storm Poker Run Street Party. Our temporary address is easy to remember…1550 McCulloch Boulevard! 🙂 We are excited to once again be a part of the largest performance boat gathering West of the Mississippi.

MercuryRacing_Max5_Logo_LABELPerformance prop  guru Scott Reichow is on site to talk props and reveal our latest wheel, The Lab Finished MAX5.

Satisfy Your Drive 

Performance boat builders and dealers are finding the Sport Master gearcase enables them to achieve significantly higher boat speeds by allowing Verado 400R outboards to run at higher transom heights than models fitted with a production style case. To date, maximizing efficiency of the surfacing, low water pickup gear housing had only been limited by propeller slip.  Customers have been eager to find a solution to take full advantage of the Sport Master’s capabilities.

Max_5_600x600_Clear Background
The 15-inch diameter MAX5 is offered in a pitch range of 23 to 34 inches in one-half inch increments.

The custom five blade MAX5, developed and hand-crafted by the Mercury Racing Propeller Lab, is custom designed for single and multiple Verado 400R Sport Master applications.  The Lab Finished prop provides a measurable reduction in propeller slip, (up to a staggering 12% in some applications). In fact, MAX5 props were the thrust behind Nor-Tech Powerboats’ milestone center console performance run, clocking repeatable 101 MPH top-end speeds from their quad Verado 400R powered 39-foot hull.

MAX5s were the thrust behind Nor-Tech's milestone 101 mph performance out iif this quad 400R outboard powered 39 foot center console.
MAX5s were the thrust behind Nor-Tech’s milestone 101 mph performance out iif this quad 400R outboard powered 39 foot center console. Photo credit: Speedonthewater.com

The 15-inch diameter prop is offered in a pitch range of 23 to 34 inches in one-half inch increments. The one-half inch pitch offerings enable engines to be dialed-in to their maximum rpm operating range for enhanced throttle response, optimized cruise fuel efficiency and top speed. The stainless steel prop features the Mercury patented Performance Vent System® (PVS). PVS® enables the user to fine-tune the amount of venting needed for quick planing. MSRP is $2048.61.

Come See for a FREE Tee!

Here's your chance to win a FREE Mercury Racing Tee! The MAX5 Satisfy Your Drive promotion starts a 2 p.m. Quantities are limited.
Here’s your chance to win a FREE Mercury Racing Tee! The MAX5 Satisfy Your Drive promotion starts a 2 p.m. Quantities are limited.

We are so pumped about the new prop that we even had a custom promotional T-shirt made.  We got a bit carried away with that and well – have a few to give away. Quantities are limited.  The MAX5 Satisfy Your Drive promotion begins at 2 p.m. Stop by the Mercury Racing Experience truck for details. 

 

Steel Wheels Tour 2016

Official Steel Wheels 2016 Tour shirt.
Official Steel Wheels 2016 Tour shirt.
We're excited to show off our updated Experience Tour truck featuring the Fastest TV on the planet!
We’re excited to show off our updated Experience Tour truck featuring the fastest TV on the planet!

Desert Storm is the opening stop on our 2016 Mercury Racing Experience truck tour. The truck interior got a complete makeover during the long Wisconsin winter. We’re excited to have you stop by and check it out.  We have additional display updates in the works. It will be a show stopper for sure!:)

See you in the Desert. We’ll leave the lights on! 🙂

 

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April 20, 2016

Brian’s FS Experience

Scott Reichow
Brian-Alumacraft
AlumaCraft Trophy 195 with 200 Pro Verado

Brian Huinker called me recently for prop advice on a boat he and his nephew bought together. Brian is a Technical Application Manager for Mercury Marine.

Brian and his nephew Mike Huinker bought an Alumacraft Trophy 195 with a 200 Pro Verado. With his work – Brian travels with an assortment of tools and props to assist dealers and builders in their boat setup. Brian has realized success in the past with the stock, stainless steel 3-blade propeller. He happened to have a 19-inch 3-blade in his support van – so he mounted it on the Verado. Brian mentioned he had heard good things regarding our Bravo I FS. His nephew Googled it and found a variety of information (there’s more to that – read on 🙂

Calm Before the Storm

Mike Huinker with his daughter Sammy and son Lukas.
Mike Huinker with his daughter Sammy and son Lukas.

It was right after Brian had dialed the boat in with the 3-blade that he and his nephew packed their gear and were off to Northern Minnesota for their annual fishing trip on on Lake Winnibigoshish. Their first day out was beautiful. The water was calm and the fish were biting! 🙂  The 19-inch 3-blade turned the 200 Pro Verado 5800 rpm at 50 mph. Unfortunately, the weather turned and the calm serenity of the first day was a distant memory.

Headwinds

The wind stirred the lake into a fury of rough water. Mike was driving – doing all he could to battle the rough seas.

“We were getting pounded and wet. It was a rough day on the water,” Brian said.

The wind picked up even more on the next day. Brian was busy loading his gear – getting ready to head out when he noticed Mike working on the back of the engine. As he got closer he could see he was changing the prop. It was not just any prop. He was installing a 20-inch pitch Bravo I FS.

“Looking at the prop, I looked at him and asked, did you borrow one? No he said.” I ordered it. I’m thinking wow, must have been good YouTubes and other positive news for him to order one,” said Brian.

“My research I found YouTube videos of Steve Miller and Jim Saric discussing the Bravo I FS . Then early last spring another YouTube video of Gary Parsons (professional walleye angler) talking about the FS and I was sold.  I had the prop before we took delivery of the boat,” Mike said.

Game Changer 

Mike first leaned about the Bravo I FS online.
Mike first learned about the Bravo I FS online.

Brian and Mike proceeded to put their rain gear on expecting another rough and wet day on the water. They take off and were about half way to their fishing spot when Brian asked Mike if he was driving the boat differently from the previous day. Mike said no.

“I was able to push the throttle harder and the boat handled so much better in the rough conditions. We were not getting pounded, the boat had a much better ride and we were staying much drier,” Mike said.

“We were impressed with the boat. The Bravo I FS changed everything about it. It made a believer out of us,” Brian said.

Now instead of dreading the day on the rough waters, Brian and Mike are able to enjoy the ride to their fishing spot.

Sometime later they were able to find calm water.

Sammy topping off the gearcase with lube.
Master Mechanic Lukas topping off the gearcase with lube.

“With the engine mounted at the second hole (same height as with the 3-blade stainess) they matched the 5800 rpm engine speed and 50 mph top speed. Mike then raised the engine up to the third hole while also adding a trolling motor and three batteries in the front compartment.  The added weight didn’t affect the FS a bit. The engine turned 5800 rpm’s all day at 50 mph,” Brian exclaimed.

Good stuff. I look forward to hearing from Brian again to see how he and Mike are doing now that the weather is turning nicer and their Alumacraft is dialed in for some serious fishing. 🙂

 

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April 10, 2016

Historic 400 ROS Victory!

Rick Mackie
practice during day three of the Fujairah Grand Prix - the firts round of the UIM XCAT World Series 2016 where 14 boats are competing. XCAT, short for extreme catamaran, is one of the most challenging and extreme forms of powerboat racing in the world at the Fujairah International Marine Sports Club on April 8, 2016 in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
Twin Mercury Racing 400 ROS competition outboards powered Victory Team to win the Fujairah Grand Prix. Photo: XCAT World Series.
MR ROS - The New Boss of XCAT!
MR ROS Showed Em Who’s BOSS!

Twin Mercury Racing 400 ROS competition outboards powered Victory Team to win the Fujairah Grand Prix, Friday, April 8 on the Gulf of Oman in Fujairah, U.A.E. The race was round one of the 2016 XCAT World Series. The event is historic in that marks the first official race victory for our venerable 400 ROS competition outboard. 2016 is the first year the new four strokes can compete and earn points in XCAT competition. All but four of the 14-boat field featured 400 ROS power! Read more

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April 5, 2016

Fishin’ with a Mission!

Scott Reichow
Pro Max 3
Eli’s ride; a Stroker 21 DC bass boat featuring Mercury OptiMax 250 XS outboard power!

There is nothing better than getting a call from a customer who is ecstatic with the the performance of our products. Eli Delany, a longtime customer and tournament angler, called recently to share results he is experiencing with Pro Finish Pro Max props on his OptiMax 250 XS powered 21′ Stroker DC bass boat.

Eli with his son and first mate, Luke.
Eli with his son and first mate, Luke.

Eli, a seasoned veteran, is a member of the Mercury Pro Team. He has also been a member of a BASS Divisional Championship team in recent years. Eli’s tournament fishing is fueled with passion – not just for the sport but also to promote awareness for Autism – something that is near and dear to Eli’s heart. When I asked if I could share his test results, Eli jokingly responded, “I’m not sure my competitors will believe how fast the Pro Max goes on my rig!”

Pro Max 8
The 250XS, fitted with a 1.62:1 Sport Master gearcase, is mounted on a 14″ hydraulic jack plate.

Eli runs both 32″ and 30″ Pro Max wheels on his rig. The 250XS, fitted with a 1.62:1 Sport Master gearcase, is mounted on a 14″ hydraulic jack plate.

“My rig ran 102.3 mph with 32″ Pro Max fresh out of the box. The boat was under a light load, with the trolling motor, all batteries and electronics onboard,” said Eli.

That is very impressive – given his 250 XS is well seasoned. Eli went on to tell me he is also experimenting with a 30″ Pro Max wheel.

“I just started playing with the 30″ Pro Max.  I got in excess of 95 mph under tournament load,” Eli said.

Pro Max 5
“Eli’s rig ran 102.3 mph with 32” Pro Max fresh out of the box.

“What I like about the Pro Max is its acceleration! It’s significantly faster than another brand prop I run of a similar pitch. It also carries a load very well,” said Eli.

These are very impressive numbers. Eli credits much of his success to his mechanic Glenn Taylor, a Mercury Master Technician since 1983.

Eli’s passion and enthusiasm is contagious. I admire people like him who share their positive energy, time and talent to promote important causes such as Autism Awareness. We are proud to be associated with his mission.

 

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