As the United States returned to peace following WWII, outboard racing (which had been a rather exclusive and expensive sport with special racing motors) took a completely democratic turn. Because racers weren't getting their rigs out of mothballs quick enough, some race promoters allowed classes for regular fishing motors. Mercury's sleek modern designs had advantages over the most of their competitors and easily won many races.

OMC, controlled by business man Stephen Briggs was stuck on ...

One of the most important (and often confusing) decisions we make as performance boaters is the lubricating oil we choose to run in our high performance engines. Weather you run a highly-modified or stock engine, the importance of using high quality lubricants is just as great. We began using Aerospace Lubricant’s Alisyn oils almost two years ago, and have been using their products exclusively ever since that time. With the kind of abuse our driver Helmut Freitag can subject our test engine to, we aim to report ...

The hobby and sport of powerboating has brought with it an entire culture, just like motorcycling or hot rod events and gatherings. These are social happenings where people go boating, learn from each other, and have a good time. One crucial element at these events (other than the people themselves and boats) is the photos that are taken, which preserves the memories for years of cold winters to come.
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The 2006 Bombardier Recreational Products Writers’ Event proved to be an Evinrude E-Tec eye-opener for many journalists who were invited to learn more about BRP’s 2007 lineup and to experience the latest products in the waters off Key Largo, Florida. We spent a few days trying everything from family/fishing engine packages to a triple E-Tec powered performance sport-fishing hull, and we also spent some hands-on time with BRP employees and Team Evinrude anglers, discussing engines, accessories, performance, and the new I-Command digital gauges.
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The importance of trimming the engine or drive unit in a performance boat is well-known. The trim angle affects the overall running attitude of the boat, and in a high performance application, proper trimming is crucial for maximum performance and safety.

For the above reasons, high performance boats generally have the trim controls situated in a location where it is most accessible, without the driver having to look for them. Since performance-minded boaters are always adjusting the drive unit trim angle, a common location for mounting the trim switches has been on the steering wheel itself. ...

Oil. Regardless of horsepower rating, lubricating oil is the one thing all internal combustion engines depend on as a core element of their function. The quality of oil used is a key variable in how well an engine performs under demanding conditions and for extended periods of operation. While there are other obvious factors that determine engine life, using a quality ...

The dashboard instruments in your boat are one of the most important guides you have in determining your engine and boat's operating condition. Faulty or inaccurate gauges can not only cost you performance, they can result in engine damage. While standard instruments such as tachometers, speedometers, and temperature gauges have come ...

The electrical system of your boat is its lifeline. Every system on the boat depends on it, including the engine, yet it is often neglected or its importance is underestimated. You need reliable gauges and wiring to monitor engine operating status and other vital information. Since your wiring is the only link between your gauges and engine, faulty wiring ...

For most people reading this article, an introduction to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) or Electronic Control Module (ECM) of an electronically fuel injected engine is not necessary. Automobiles have been equipped with these units for over twenty years now, in varying levels of sophistication.

Essentially, the ECU or ECM is an onboard computer system that receives input from various sensors and actuators on and in the engine and delivers the programmed amount of fuel based on this input. As computer technology has increased, so has the ability to more accurately monitor engine operations. The result is more performance from less fuel.
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High performance outboard-powered boats are not just the toys of racers anymore. For the past twenty years, racing outboards have become increasingly popular in the consumer market, and the presence of these high-performance powerplants is a common sight at boat launch ramps these days.

These outboards appeal to many performance boaters for many reasons – the main one being increased power without the extra weight. For example, a 200 horsepower Mercury 2.5 liter engine weighs roughly the same as its 280 horsepower counterpart, yet produces almost a third ...

If you're like most performance boaters, you have a love for boating in general - not just high performance engines, the smell of race fuel, and the feeling of ultimate speed on the water.

Classic boats and outboards are the foundations for the boats we use today... They were the tools that established the ...