HomeReturn Home
Huntsville, AL – August 6, 2019 – T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., of Huntsville, Alabama, announces the complete redesign and reintroduction of their STEER STOP® Outboard Hydraulic Steering Lock. Using two stabilizer clips that attach to an outboard motor's hydraulic steering rams, STEER STOP® works by keeping the engine centered and preventing damage that occurs when a motor swings left and right during transport. The new and improved STEER STOP® is now available online and will also be available through a variety of retailers.
“The original STEER STOP® paved the way, but it was time to make improvements so it could be even more reliable, more durable, and easier to use,” said T-H Marine President and CEO, Jeff Huntley. “Now boaters will notice several ways the new STEER STOP® stands apart from imitation and performs better than any other hydraulic steering lock on the market.”
After introducing the STEER STOP® in 2012 as the first hydraulic steering lock available for outboard motors, T-H Marine’s product development team focused on how they could provide boaters with a product that they could count on for years to come. The resulting product would function similarly to the original STEER STOP®, but it would be more robust, easier to grip, and better overall for keeping outboards from wandering when trailering.
To use the STEER STOP® for your outboard motor equipped with hydraulic steering, center your motor and snap one STEER STOP® clip on the left-side hydraulic steering rod and one on the right-side hydraulic steering rod. Once installed, STEER STOP® will help keep your motor centered, reduce potential damage to the motor supports, and prevent the motor from “clunking” left and right.
With the new design, it’s not only easier to install STEER STOP®, it’s also easier and safer for your hands when removing it. Simply grab the grip molded into the new clip and pull. For additional leverage, you may also pull on the tether cord.
Since distribution and sales are in full swing, boaters can expect to see increased availability and information from their choice of retailers, online stores, or directly from T-H Marine at thmarine.com/steerstop.
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (June 18, 2019) –The new Mercury Racing 450R outboard is purpose designed for the high-performance disciple craving unrelenting power. Steeped in Mercury Racing DNA, the 450R features a 4.6-liter V8 FourStroke powerhead boosted by an exclusive Mercury Racing supercharger to produce 450 peak propshaft horsepower and 40 percent higher torque than the powerful 400R. At over 300 pounds lighter than the nearest competitor, the new 450R delivers industry leading power-to-weight in a compact, efficient package. The 450R writes a power prescription that combines unprecedented acceleration and top speed potential with rugged reliability and the latest technology from Mercury Racing. Multiple gearcase, control system, tie bar, and styling options are available to create the ultimate customized outboard performance package, ready to run Wide Open all day long. Best of all, the Mercury Racing 450R delivers all of its performance on readily available 89-octane (95 RON) pump fuel.
Supercharged Performance
Designed and developed in-house and manufactured in Wisconsin on a dedicated Mercury Racing production line, the 450R is based on the same 4.6-liter V8 powerhead used for the normally aspirated Mercury Racing 300R outboard models. The proprietary 64-degree aluminum block is topped with aluminum cylinder heads with a Mercury Racing Quad Cam Four Valve (QC4) design and double overhead camshafts (DOHC).The valve train features a high-performance intake cam profile and race-spec Inconel exhaust valves. The camshafts are chain-driven and run in an oil bath so there is no timing belt to maintain.
Mercury Racing applies its supercharging expertise to extract incredible power from the 4.6-liter V8. A 2.4-liter belt-driven twin-screw supercharger delivers pressure charging with zero lag for instant throttle response. The supercharger is water-cooled to reduce the temperature of the intake charge and increase power. Twin charge-air coolers engineered by Mercury Racing reduce the temperature of the compressed intake charge to further increase air density and power output. A custom designed intake attenuator is tuned to cancel the harshest high-frequency supercharger noise while retaining a throaty high-performance sound.
To maintain peak performance, a boost bypass valve automatically adjusts maximum boost pressure in response to changing ambient conditions. To better manage engine heat, the Mercury Racing 450R is fitted with a special high-capacity oil cooler and an exclusive poppet valve in the midsection to provide a higher volume of cooling-water flow on-demand. Electronics and other engine components are designed and positioned to create the tightest package possible while maintaining good service access. The carefully considered design and placement of the new supercharger and charge-air coolers allow the 450R to use the same slim-line cowl as the 300R model while incorporating higher flow intake vents. Like all Mercury Racing outboards, the 450R accommodates 26-inch center-to-center mounting on multi-engine transoms, perfect for maximizing transom space on brand new boats or re-power installations.
Mercury Racing engineers addressed every aspect of performance in designing the 450R outboard, and the weight and design of each component was scrutinized to achieve maximum power with minimal weight. The result is outstanding power density; 450 horsepower from an outboard that weighs as little as 689 pounds (313 Kg), the best power-to-weight ratio for outboards rated 400 horsepower and above.
The wide-open throttle (WOT) operating range extends from 5800-6400 rpm, allowing for a full complement of Mercury Racing propellers to optimize acceleration, efficiency, and top speed.
Read more: NEW MERCURY RACING 450R DELIVERS UNRELENTING OUTBOARD PERFORMANCE
|
Legendary marlin man, Captain Charles Perry talks “wiring” and reflects on a remarkable life on the ocean Destin, FL (June 17, 2019) – “I’m a member of the overboard wireman’s club,” says Captain Charles Perry, with a good-natured grin. Perry, a legendary bluewater angler, wire-man and captain with 28 black and 3 blue marlin over 1,000-pounds to his credit, recalls one of numerous times he went overboard, Australian black marlin still attached to the business end of a rod and reel. “When I hit the water, I looked around and found myself 25-feet from the boat,” recounts Perry. “Still had the leader wrapped around one hand, but was also concerned a loop might have made its way around my neck, given all the slack wire behind me. Soon as I cleared it, the fish dove, dragging me down for a ride. Finally got the double wraps off my hand and began swimming toward the surface. The boat looked like a little dingy from 35-feet below. Whole thing happened in less than 5 seconds. Marlin are crazy-fast swimmers, mate. Powerful, too.” |
FOND DU LAC, Wisc. (June 3, 2019)– Mercury Marine, the world leader in marine propulsion and technology has officially opened its 23,500 square foot expansion to its diecasting facility. The $9M investment provides needed space for capacity increases, allowing the company to make complex blocks, driveshafts, and gearcases for Mercury’s outboards. The addition will be filled with large tonnage die casting equipment containing cutting edge technologies that will drive higher quality and better throughput to keep up with increased engine demand especially with the V8 and V6 product lines.
In addition, Mercury will add another 4,500-ton die-cast machine giving the company two of the largest of its kind in North America.
“Demand for both our V6 and V8 engines have been incredible and we have consistently said that we will increase our capacity to ensure we continue to meet and exceed the needs of our customers,” said John Buelow, Mercury Marine vice president of global operations. “This expansion will allow us to stay true to our promise of manufacturing the most reliable engines in the world.”
Each of the cells being installed will be fully automated with three or four robots in each die casting cell – robots will complete metal pouring, die lube spraying, liner insertion and part extraction. The cells will include automated sawing and part marking that will allow traceability throughout the supply chain.
“This expansion will provide the foundry much needed space to assemble and work on extremely large die casting tools,” said Buelow. “The V8 block tool weighs in excess of 100,000 pounds and is more than 16-feet across. Storage and pre-assembly of these massive tools is required for quick change-over in the die casting machines.”
Mercury has now exceeded $1.14 billion in investment for expansion and R&D since 2008.
Read more: Mercury Marine expands diecast capabilities with new $9M expansion
"We film only in public waters and my favorite thing to do is provide in depth information that will really help viewers catch more fish. I love to teach and share what I have learned over the years as a professional angler" - Timmy Horton
