Mercury Report
Need A Propeller Change? Your Mercury Dealer May Offer Test Drives
A stainless steel propeller can last many seasons, but for most boat owners the cost is not insignificant, especially for boats with more than one engine.
With this in mind, Mercury Marine has created a Propeller Demo Program for its dealers that allows a boat owner to test drive stainless steel Mercury propellers. The demo program makes it possible to zero in on the best all-around propeller model and pitch size for your boat before you make that purchase.
Mercury dealers participating in the Propeller Demo Program have on hand a selection of popular stainless steel propeller models in a range of pitch sizes dedicated to demo use. Each dealership devises its own demo program policy, but most request a modest deposit, which may often be applied to the purchase of a new prop. If you decide to make a purchase, the dealer will order you a brand-new prop. The demo props go back on the shelf for the next boater to try.
By BoatUS
Are You Running the Right Prop on Your Fishing Rig?
Any practical boat owner knows to change the engine oil, swap out the impeller every year or two, and change worn belts before they break. But the propeller is much more likely to be overlooked. Choosing the wrong prop or continuing to use a damaged prop can decrease boat performance, increase fuel consumption, and potentially damage your engine and transmission. Here are five conditions that warrant a closer look at your prop.
With the prop out of the water, tap each blade in turn with block of wood. A different tone may indicate a serious problem.
If your prop has too much pitch (see "A Few Important Definitions" below) like the one above, the engine will have a lousy "hole-shot" — the ability to jump up on plane quickly — and will lug (or drag). It's like starting from a stoplight with your car in third gear — not only will it take much longer to accelerate, the engine has to work hard at low speeds, which places a tremendous load on the pistons, crankshaft, and bearings. This, in turn, can cause detonation, piston seizure, and other engine damage.
Mercury Report
Mercury Site Helps You Select the Proper Outboard Propeller
Boat dealers and service experts will tell you that incorrect prop selection is a leading cause of poor engine and boat performance.
Mercury Marine, the world’s largest supplier of propellers for recreational and commercial boats and engines, provides a wide array of propeller options to ensure there is a propeller for every boat application.
The Mercury Propeller Selector tool on www.MercuryMarine.com helps boaters select the best propeller model and pitch for their boat. The Prop Selector is essentially a digital catalog that aids in selecting the most appropriate propeller.
To find your propeller on www.MercuryMarine.com, click on Propellers, then click on Mercury Prop Selector. Once there, follow the simple steps to select your boat type, boat usage and engine information, and the Selector will provide a recommended prop family. The Selector then helps you determine the correct pitch of your propeller.
Garmin Report
Garmin LiveScope Earns Top Honors as Best New Electronics
Garmin International, Inc. earned the coveted “Best of Show” award for its new Panoptix LiveScope at the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), held recently in in Orlando, Fla.
Prior to being selected as the Best of Show, Panoptix LiveScope was first voted by media and buyers in attendance as the “Best Electronics” in the ICAST New Product Showcase where 974 products were entered by 331 companies, all vying for the ICAST 2018 Best of Show award.
“To not only win the ICAST Best Electronics award, but the Best of Show award, too – it’s an honor we’re incredibly proud of,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales. “Panoptix LiveScope delivers the best of both scanning and live sonar technologies and there’s nothing out there even close to it. These awards solidify our commitment to giving anglers and mariners the most innovative technology on the water, and they further strengthen our desire to be the top marine electronics brand in the world.”