Mercury Marine was the only marine engine manufacturer to receive three “Best Buy” outboard designations from Consumer Digest in its July/August issue published this week.
Mercury winners included the new 150 FourStroke in the 150-199 hp category, the 9.9 hp Bigfoot in the Below 50 hp category and the 75 hp OptiMax in the 75-99 hp division.
A total of six outboards received Best Buy recognition from the magazine.
Mercury’s new 150 FourStroke engine was acknowledged for its lightweight, compact design and exceptional value. It was also recognized for its ease of maintenance, which includes a no-spill oil change system, easy-access fuel filter and QR codes that link to do-it-yourself videos.
The 150 FourStroke is designed, built, and tested to be the most reliable and durable 150 hp four-stroke on the planet, which means it will start and run consistently and last longer on any body of water anywhere in the world. The new 150 FourStroke has endured severe field testing in applications as varied as cold 20-foot saltwater swells off the west coast of Canada to commercial fishing in the warm waters of the Bahamas and the unprotected seas around Guadeloupe in the French West Indies. The 150 FourStroke handled thousands of hours of hard-core severe duty, real-world testing in applications the average boat operator should never endure – all with flying colors.
The 150 hp weighs just 455 pounds and is the lightest 150 hp four-stroke outboard in the world. The 150 FourStroke offers a class-leading 3.0L of displacement. It also comes with a three-year warranty.
Mercury’s 75 hp OptiMax direct-injected engine was recognized for its superb acceleration and great value. It consistently outperforms other Direct-Injected engines in holeshot, mid-range acceleration and top-end speed.
The 75 hp OptiMax weighs just 375 pounds – making it perfect for small bass boats and open skiffs. It is a direct injected three-cylinder two-stroke with 1,562 cc of displacement. It comes with a three-year warranty.
Mercury’s 9.9 hp BigFoot offers surprisingly powerful punch due to an extended lower section, a large anti-ventilation plate and an over-sized, high-thrust propeller. BigFoot gear sizes and ratio are boosted, so the engine can turn a 20-percent larger prop than other engines of the same horsepower. That makes it particularly effective at pushing boats that are heavier and larger than a 9.9 hp engine typically can handle.
The 9.9 hp Bigfoot is a two-cylinder FourStroke with 208 cc of displacement. It weighs just 96 pounds and comes with a three-year warranty.
Consumer Digest says it chooses not to highlight premium, midrange and economy selections because of the limited size and price range of the outboard-engine market for each of six groups based on hp. The groups follow National Marine Manufacturers Association statistics – below-50 hp, 50-74 hp, 75-99 hp, 100-149 hp, 150-199 hp, and 200 hp and up.
“Best Buy” outboard engines were selected based on design, efficiency, performance and price. In all cases, the number in the model name reflects the amount of hp for each engine.
