Since the beginning of my career, Mercury Marine has been my outboard of choice. I couldn’t imagine running anything else.
I started with a 150 Black Max. Then, as B.A.S.S. rules allowed for higher horsepower, I progressed to 200 and 225 EFIs, then the 250 Optimax. And now I’m running their latest creation — the V8 250hp Pro XS four-stroke.
For more than 30 years, Mercury outboards have propelled my Ranger boats — both in fresh and saltwater. And because of that loyalty, I was recently presented with a unique opportunity.
A trip to Fond du Lac
I was invited to the first-ever Mercury Marine Influencer Summit — a pro staff gathering held at company headquarters in Fond Du Lac, Wisc.
Other invitees included TV personalities Hank Parker, Jimmy Houston, Mark Zona, George Poveromo, Carter Andrews and Peter Miller. Among the Bassmaster Elite Series pros were Drew Benton, Jake Whitaker, Bill Weidler, Brock Mosely and Todd Auten. Also in attendance was reigning Bassmaster Classic champion Ott DeFoe,
The purpose of the gathering was multifaceted. It started with a boardroom presentation by Mercury’s marketing team recognizing the efforts of the pro staff, then moved to a discussion of Mercury’s future marketing and promotional strategies. After that, various department heads shared some logistics on how Mercury and Quicksilver products are engineered and produced.
Then came the plant tour.
Talk about big! The first building we entered measured more than a million square feet. And after walking aisle after aisle for hours, I believe that number is accurate.
I’ve toured numerous production facilities throughout my career, but none as massive or impressive as that of Mercury Marine’s. From futuristic robotics to a science-based sound room and on-the-water performance testing, the scope of Mercury’s production is truly overwhelming.
Equally impressive was the morale of the employees I encountered. From upper management to those I met on the assembly line, all were clearly committed and passionate about their jobs.
Mercury Marine employs more than 6,000 people worldwide, and 3,300 of them work at their Fond du Lac facilities. That’s a lot of people to keep on task, but everyone I saw was busy at their job.
There was a sense of pride and purpose in what they were trying to accomplish. And for me, that personified the American way — a reminder that what we make in this country matters.
The Kiekhaefer legacy
Now in its eighth decade of production, Mercury is one of America’s oldest outboard brands.
It began as the brainchild of E. Carl Kiekhaefer, when he acquired Cedarburg Manufacturing Company — makers of “Thor” outboard engines. Back then, the tiny company had only one key account: Montgomery Ward department stores. After growing sales with them, Kiekhaefer formed an alliance with Western Auto to build its exclusive “Wizard” brand of outboards. Seeing sales numbers rise through these two chain stores, Kiekhaefer decided it was time to market his own brand. That’s how Mercury came to be.
Throughout this period, Evinrude was the dominant brand in outboard motors. As Mercury gained popularity, heated marketing battles ensued. In an effort to prove Mercury was superior, Kiekhaefer arranged a test to demonstrate that his engines could outperform the competition — both in speed and endurance.
Labeled as “Operation Atlas,” his idea was to run a Mercury outboard, nonstop, at a distance equal to the circumference of the globe (25,000 miles).
Although the project suffered some setbacks, Kiekhaefer eventually reached his goal … 34 days later. Not with one, but with two engines. The press that followed touted Mercury’s success and silenced Kiekhaefer’s critics.
As time moved forward, Kiekhaefer’s obsession with speed led to many new design innovations. Mercury engines became lighter yet more powerful, and over time, they set speed records in every class imaginable.
Back to the future
Performance and durability remain a priority at Mercury Marine.
I witnessed this firsthand during my tour of its Fond du Lac facilities. Every department was supercharged with energy and purpose — working together to build the best products possible. And the new V8 Pro XS engines are an example of that commitment to excellence.
As pro staffers, we, too, factor in. Although our primary focus may be fishing, we’re also an integral part of product testing and various promotional endeavors.
This year, Mercury is serving as my title sponsor on the Bassmaster Elite Series, and I couldn’t be prouder to represent such a regal brand.
For more on the history of Mercury Marine, read my previous column titled Mercury: 75 Years of Excellence. And be sure to check out my video on the new Pro XS with Mercury Marine National Service Tech, Scotty Beattie.
