Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (December 2017)

John C. Pfeifer, President - Mercury Marine oices

Photo: Mercury Marine “

With the new engines, we can get as much torque out of a 4-stroke as a 2-stroke; the 2-stroke is popular because of torque, and in a marine propulsion system, torque is everything.

Photos (left & right: Greg Trauthwein 75% are recreational. The technical trend better ? t what they need.” You can have the greatest, most interest- ? shing or running a water taxi or ferry, driving the outboard market today is the Mercury developed the SeaPro out- ing, value orientated technology, but if it these operators want a smooth, quiet en- conversion from 2-stroke to 4-stroke board engine series, in a range from 40 doesn’t work, every single time, it’s not gine just like I do when I’m out with my technology, as he explains: “With the to 150 hp, engineered to be ultra-tough very valuable. It has to be reliable, and family.” new engines, we can get as much torque to meet commercial performance and that’s even more important in the com- out of a 4-stroke as a 2-stroke; the reliability demands. The SeaPro se- mercial sectors.” • Mercury has spark DIESEL OUTOARD 2-stroke is popular because of torque, ries is calibrated differently, and comes In addition to the company’s gas-fu- ignited diesel outboard engines based and in a marine propulsion system, equipped with unique components, for eled outboard engines, Mercury offers: on its Optimax platform. “It is light, it torque is everything.” example more durable brackets, to better is cost effective and it is being applied

With the 4-stroke owners get a lighter, handle more rigorous commercial appli- • in government (Navy) applications, as

JOYSTICK CONTROL & ‘SKYHOOK’ quieter and much more fuel ef? cient en- cations. “Our joystick allows well as commercial ? shing applications

VIRTUAL ANCHOR gine. “Commercial operators are notic- you to have extreme command authority, where they seek extreme fuel economy.” ing this. Absent of any emissions regula- Mercury Eyes Commercial Growth but also precision in terms of how ? nely While much of the discussion and fo- tions they are upgrading their ? eets.” As In looking at commercial and govern- you can move a boat with the joystick.” cus in on the outboard engines, Pfeifer an example he points to South Korea. “In ment potential in the 50 ft. vessel and noted that the company makes “diesel

South Korea they have no environmental under sector, Pfeifer and his team see • “Com- engines in partnership, primarily with

SMOOTH, QUIET ENGINES regulation that would require a 4-stroke, green ? elds of opportunity. “We see a mercial operators – just like recreational FPT. It has a 6.7L mechanical diesel en- yet they are almost 100% 4-stroke due lot of opportunity in commercial, but operators – want smooth and quiet en- gine that we put in the market in com- to the natural evolution of technology to technology is only good if it’s reliable. gines,” said Pfeifer. “Whether you are mercial applications; that one sells well 10 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • DECEMBER 2017

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