FROM MAKING THE BEST OF A SITUATION TO SIMPLY MAKING THE BEST.

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Gwendoline Nichols
6 years ago
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F or over 75 years, Mercury Marine has been

mission has been to stand at the forefront of

1 F or over 75 years, Mercury Marine has been engineering the finest experiences bass fishing can offer. From the day this company was founded, our mission has been to stand at the forefront of innovation to provide the most reliable and bestperforming outboard engines so you can go boldly.

LAKE CONLIN, FL FROM MAKING THE BEST OF A SITUATION TO SIMPLY MAKING THE BEST. It s true.

Carl Kiekhaefer purchased a defunct engine manufacturing plant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, he couldn t have known the magnitude

In fact, he made the purchase with every intention of building magnetic separators to help milk cows.

And the very first of these choices came in the form of 300 defective Thor outboard engines that came with the purchase of the

8, 1939, just two weeks after purchasing the bankrupt manufacturing plant, Kiekhaefer sketched a rendering of an improved

Over 1,000 miles away from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, tucked among the alligators, snakes, and panthers of central Florida s

It s there that every new Mercury outboard, racing engine, and performance product was tested from 1958 to the mid-2000 s.

seawalls, boat launches, work buildings, and some of the best bass fishing in the world.

Wisconsin. men sworn to secrecy who lived in trailers or the on-site six-room motel for weeks at a time.

industry, particularly in the area of bass fishing.

2 LAKE CONLIN, FL FROM MAKING THE BEST OF A SITUATION TO SIMPLY MAKING THE BEST. It s true. Mercury Marine, for all intents and purposes started by accident. Back in 1939, when 33-year-old E. Carl Kiekhaefer purchased a defunct engine manufacturing plant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, he couldn t have known the magnitude of what he was stumbling into. In fact, he made the purchase with every intention of building magnetic separators to help milk cows. But it is through bold choices disguised as sheer luck that Mercury Marine stands today as an icon in the boating community. And the very first of these choices came in the form of 300 defective Thor outboard engines that came with the purchase of the plant. Fortunately, where others saw trash, Kiekhaefer saw opportunity. On Feb. 8, 1939, just two weeks after purchasing the bankrupt manufacturing plant, Kiekhaefer sketched a rendering of an improved engine. As hard work would have it, he was so good at fixing engines that people bought all he had fixed and asked for more. And well, the rest is history. CARL KIEKHAEFER LAKE X: KIEKHAEFER S LAB Every great legend has its secrets Mercury Marine is no exception. Over 1,000 miles away from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, tucked among the alligators, snakes, and panthers of central Florida s swamplands, lies Lake Conlin. Or as Mercury dubbed it, Lake X. It s there that every new Mercury outboard, racing engine, and performance product was tested from 1958 to the mid-2000 s. Accessible only by dirt road, and hidden from the prying eyes of competitors, Lake X spanned 1,400 acres and included seawalls, boat launches, work buildings, and some of the best bass fishing in the world. At full capacity, it was home to 30 Needing more space, Kiekhaefer subsequently purchased a larger factory in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. men sworn to secrecy who lived in trailers or the on-site six-room motel for weeks at a time. Ultimately, the work of these men produced some of the most influential product development and testing in the marine-engine industry, particularly in the area of bass fishing. In the early 1970s, as the popularity of competitive bass fishing grew, Mercury shifted its focus to satisfy the expanded demand. Take, for example, the ubiquitous Mercury 250 Pro XS, an outboard engine originally developed by Mercury Racing as a 250 XF, a full-blown racing engine. From the Trophy Plus to the Pro Max, the extensive propeller development that was done at Lake X that has enabled some of today s advances in engine technology. One only has to look to the Fury 4 propeller the fastest bass propeller in the world for heavy tournament-loaded boats to see their impact. In 2007, as a bittersweet result of the lake s size being too small for the ever-increasing speeds being produced, Lake X finally shut down, but its legacy still lives on. Propelling us forward. We ve come a long way, but we ll never forget where we started TROPHY PLUS 1994 TEMPEST PLUS 2008 FURY 2010 BRAVO I XS 2013 PRO MAX 2016 FURY 4 LAKE X BASE

XR4 DFI OPTIMAX PRO XS The first production V6 outboard from Mercury

At 122 cubic inches, the 60-degree vee-type block produced 175hp.

Mercury at the time and remained the flagship engine for nearly two

The 200hp V-2000 Black Max was the most powerful production outboard

XR2 became the standard for professional bass fishing.

in the XR4 XR4 outboards featured Mercury-exclusive XK360 aluminum

Mercury brought the first Direct Fuel Injected (DFI) two-stroke

DFI technology provided greatly improved fuel economy, smoother

3 ALWAYS MOVING FORWARD ROY ROGERS BLACK MAX V-2000 XR2 XR4 DFI OPTIMAX PRO XS The first production V6 outboard from Mercury Marine. At 122 cubic inches, the 60-degree vee-type block produced 175hp. Black Max was the most powerful recreational outboard offered by Mercury at the time and remained the flagship engine for nearly two decades. The 200hp V-2000 Black Max was the most powerful production outboard Mercury had ever produced since launching the 175hp Black Max outboard in The next generation of Black Max technology took shape in the XR2 outboard. Featuring oil pre-injection for increased performance and durability, XR2 became the standard for professional bass fishing. The second generation of Extreme Response (XR) technology took shape in the XR4 outboard. XR4 outboards featured Mercury-exclusive XK360 aluminum alloy for unmatched corrosion resistance. Mercury brought the first Direct Fuel Injected (DFI) two-stroke lowemissions outboard to market. DFI technology provided greatly improved fuel economy, smoother running, and a reduction in emissions despite great speed and torque. OptiMax became the brand name of Mercuryexclusive DFI twostroke technology. The low-emission outboard was the flagship engine for better fuel economy, smooth operation and low-emissions. Pro XS offers tournament-grade technology with remarkable acceleration, awesome performance and extreme reliability. Pro XS is the standard for professional bass fisherman and serious anglers. It s all in the engine. From motorized tables to top-of-theline bass boats, Mercury has a history of providing showstopping performance.

staged the greatest comeback in Bassmaster Classic history.

In the end, his tenacity earned him a three-day total of 56 pounds, 10 ounces

It s anglers like Jordan who embody and embrace the spirit of Go Boldly.

This bold philosophy was built on the idea that you can take whatever you are

And every lunker, hawg, and bucket-mouth out there should sleep less soundly

Photographs and historical information courtesy of B.A.S.

competitors to become the very first Bassmaster Classic champion.

Still considered one of the best bass anglers of all time, Clunn has won the

In 2016, he became the oldest angler ever to win a Bassmaster Elite title.

Prior to winning the Bassmaster Classic in 1972, Butler helped jumpstart the

In addition, he has hosted his TV series Hank Parker s Outdoor Magazine since

During the 1982 Classic, Elias introduced his Kneel N Reel technique for deep

4 BASS MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE. For the fifth consecutive year, a Mercury-sponsored angler has won the Bassmaster Classic. Against all odds, 25-year-old Jordan Lee, outfitted with a Mercury 250 Pro XS, staged the greatest comeback in Bassmaster Classic history. After a disappointing first day that landed him in 37th place, Lee, the youngest competitor on the B.A.S.S. Elite Series, caught five bass on the final day. In the end, his tenacity earned him a three-day total of 56 pounds, 10 ounces and the $300,000 grand prize. And we couldn t be prouder. It s anglers like Jordan who embody and embrace the spirit of Go Boldly. From the start, Mercury has taken every challenge head on. This bold philosophy was built on the idea that you can take whatever you are given and come out with the upper-hand. This is what we live for. And every lunker, hawg, and bucket-mouth out there should sleep less soundly tonight knowing Jordan is up there, casting. Photographs and historical information courtesy of B.A.S.S RICK CLUNN BOBBY MURRAY At just 25 years old, Murray beat 23 competitors to become the very first Bassmaster Classic champion. He went on to win the title again in Still considered one of the best bass anglers of all time, Clunn has won the Bassmaster Classic title four times. In 2016, he became the oldest angler ever to win a Bassmaster Elite title HANK PARKER JORDAN LEE 2017 BASSMASTER CLASSIC WINNER DON BUTLER Prior to winning the Bassmaster Classic in 1972, Butler helped jumpstart the industry by organizing the first bass club in America and later becoming the first member of B.A.S.S. in Parker is a two-time Bassmaster Classic champion. In addition, he has hosted his TV series Hank Parker s Outdoor Magazine since PAUL ELIAS TOMMY MARTIN In 1974, Martin became the first professional angler in B.A.S.S. tournament history to win both a B.A.S.S. Classic and a regular season tournament during the same season. During the 1982 Classic, Elias introduced his Kneel N Reel technique for deep cranking POWERING CHAMPIONS FOR 46 YEARS. With 27 Bassmaster wins to our name, it s hard to fit them all on one page. Here are just a few of the past Mercury-sponsored Bassmaster champions. REELING IN THE HIGHLIGHTS. 27 Number of Mercury sponsored Bassmaster Classic victories. For 5 consecutive years Mercury sponsored anglers have won the Bassmaster Classic. Mercury s Fury 4, the fastest propeller in the world for heavy tournament-loaded boats, was introduced at the 2016 Bassmaster Classic. Rick Clunn, a Mercury sponsored angler, broke the record for heaviest classic-winning weight at 75 pounds, 9 ounces in 1984.

Corporation. Bassmaster Classic is a registered trademark of B.A.S.S. (IP), LLC.

5 BOLDLY GONE. Circle M Logo, Mercury, Mercury Marine, ProXS, and Go Boldly are trademarks of Brunswick Corporation. Bassmaster Classic is a registered trademark of B.A.S.S. (IP), LLC. All other product names and logos may be trademarks of their respective owners MERCURY MARINE, All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

100% Marine. THE ULTIMATE 150 FOURSTROKE Tough enough for the most extreme conditions, yet compact enough for fuel efficient performance

100% Marine. THE ULTIMATE 150 FOURSTROKE Tough enough for the most extreme conditions, yet compact enough for fuel efficient performance 150 THE ULTIMATE 150 FOURSTROKE Tough enough for the most extreme conditions, yet compact enough for fuel efficient performance 100% Marine 70 years of the world s best marine engineering, build and marine