How Does Mercury Marine Become the Leader in Marine Outboard Industry?

The right boat and outboard selection can seem like a challenging task. The search for the “best boat model for me” on or off the web can eat days from your schedule. However, with correct guidance and a bit of professional help, you can narrow down the choices and bring your most suitable vessel and outboard. It not only saves your time but also can help you spend less on your favourite marine products.

You can find a few big brands providing various models of outboards in different categories. But among all of them, one name that stands out is “Mercury Marine.” Since 1939, the company has been manufacturing world-class sterndrives and outboard motors. Here, we will look at the prolific history of this dominating brand.

How did it all start?

E. Carl Kiekhaefer, born on June 4, 1906, had an immense attraction to machines. He chose electrical engineering and started his career as a draftsman. After changing his jobs at a few places, he landed at Stern Magnetic and worked more than a decade with the company. He then founded a company that later on became “Mercury Marine.”

In 1939, he purchased a manufacturing plant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. He got 300 rejected outboard engines named “Thor” as assets with the plant. He and his team upgraded the machines and increased the outboard motors’ performance. He sold them under a different brand name, which led to his entry into the boat engine industry. In April 1939, he launched new Thor outboard engines at a fair in Milwaukee.

Since then, Mercury Marine has produced some of the best marine products with unrelenting high standards.

An Impressive Array of Boat Engine Categories

The most significant advantage of choosing Mercury outboards is that you can get a highly rated model for any boating need. The range from a compact 2.5HP FourStroke engine to a 600HP boat motor with unwavering strength allows you to spend only the required amount of money for repowering your boat.

During the decade of 1960, the company manufactured snowmobiles, like many other businesses in the field. A 250CC two men chainsaw motor was the first one to be incorporated.

In 1994, the company introduced the 9.9HP and 50HP FourStroke models to shatter the low-emissions outboard barrier. It was precisely 54 years after the first line of Mercury outboards made it to the boating world. This new range decreased the fuel consumption almost by 30% than the two-stroke engines.

In 1996, the brand came with a full range of the best FourStroke outboard motors. Talking about the Mercury 150HP FourStroke, it is prevalent for its lightweight design and durability. The Mercury Verado - the only inline six-cylinder boat engine globally, is the most technologically advanced outboard in the industry.

Today you get a comprehensive line of sterndrives, inboards, diesel engines, and outboards in Pro XS, Verado, SeaPro, and FourStroke brands with Mercury Marine. And it is nearly impossible to get the reliability, power, and efficiency with any other brand.

Numbers Tell the Story

In the first 24 years, Mercury Marine could sell one million units of sterndrive models. But to reach the following one million number, it took them only ten years. It indicates the popularity and reception among anglers and boat dealerships.

Even though the outboard engines were on the top of the list in 1961, the new and advanced technology with higher horsepower did not get the expected acknowledgment in the community. However, the first-place finish by Mercury’s John Bakos in the famous Miami-to-Nassau offshore boat race paved the way to the success journey of the engines that were the synonyms of speed, performance, and reliability.

Every time you search on google about “Mercury outboard dealers near me,” you might get at least a few options irrespective of the area you live. But the journey to be omnipresent was not that easy for the company. It took John to go door-to-door to the dealers to sell the first MerCruiser in 1961. However, in 1985, the assembly workers celebrated the production of a one-millionth unit of this best-in-class sterndrive engines! After the ten years of this mammoth achievement, the two-millionth sterndrive, a 454 EFI/MP Magnum boat motor coupled with a MerCruiser Bravo Three Drive inboard-outboard, got into production; in 1995!! Soon by 2021, the three-millionth MerCruiser was produced despite the slow economy in recent past years. It shows the popularity of this fantastic marine product among boat builders and boaters.

Conclusion

Mercury Marine is not only limited to providing top-of-the-line engines for vessels. The company also offers a wide range of boat propellers, parts, and accessories. In the current era, the brand is among the world’s largest manufacturers of marine engines. If you are looking for trusted boat dealers in BC, Canada, meet the team of Alberni Power and Marine. We offer a comprehensive range of Mercury outboards and sterndrives and top-brand boats, propellers, marine electronics, and other accessories. Visit us TODAY!