Advanced Outboards For Hardcore Anglers

We don't think much about motors when we're filming segments for In-Fisherman Television. We're focused on finding and catching fish, and demonstrating how to do it. The motor is just a tool to get us where we need to go.

Fortunately, most of our TV boats are equipped with Mercury OptiMax outboards. This line of advanced outboard motors achieves a near-perfect balance of power, dependability, and performance. They've proven on race courses around the world to be the fastest direct-fuel-injected outboards on the water.

But it isn't all about speed. OptiMax motors also deliver better fuel economy -- almost 50 percent better than traditional two-cycle outboards. And the 2-stage direct-fuel-injection process burns fuel more cleanly and consistently for a smooth, smoke-free operation.

If you're serious about fishing, then OptiMax outboard motors are worth a look. Unparalleled performance and dependability let you concentrate on catching fish, instead of worrying about getting back to the ramp.

Get Smart!

"Missed it by that much!" was Maxwell Smart's favorite line on the classic TV show Get Smart! Well, serious anglers can't afford to miss the mark by even a little, especially in the tournament game. Little things subtracted from your performance add up to big trouble by the end of the season, expensewise and performancewise.

Enter SmartCraft technology from the folks at Mercury, part of their OptiMax technology. When you buy an OptiMax outboard, you get a set of SmartCraft console gauges that are the envy of any airline pilot. With a touch of a button you get an instant read on fuel level and consumption; air, water and engine temperatures; engine speed, RPMs, water pressure, and trim level; plus speed and battery voltage. These gauges provide instant reference and peace of mind, letting you focus your attention on fishing.

Something as simple as monitoring fuel consumption on a long haul across the water can pay big dividends. If you back off the throttle a little, you might be surprised at how much less gas you burn, which puts money back in your pocket and extends your range for the day. Get Smart! -- watch the gauge.

Bigger Motors, Better Fuel Economy

You can run around all day with a 10 hp outboard and barely put a dent in the level of your 6-gallon fuel tank. But when you hang a couple hundred horses off the transom and put the pedal to the metal on long-distance runs, it's often painful to watch the fuel gauge free fall before your eyes. And with fishing rigs getting bigger all the time, it was high time for improved fuel economy.

Good news! New outboard technology, spurred by federal requirements for improved emissions, also has resulted in more miles per gallon for large outboards. Mercury's OptiMax technology is a case in point. Virtually doubling the gas mileage of traditional two-cycle engines, it takes the financial stress out of a long day on the water spent chasing fish across big lakes, rivers, reservoirs, or the Great Lakes.

It costs a bit more for your initial investment, but that's just what it is -- an investment. Every day on the water, you get a piece of it back in gas savings. Any tournament competitor knows that gasoline represents a huge portion of their expenses, and anything you can do to reduce the drain helps improve the big picture come season's end.

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