 
The success of Mercury Marine has not occurred by chance. Since the company was founded in 1939, Mercury has consistently emphasized quality, performance, innovation and reliability. Today, that pledge remains as strong as ever. Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation of Lake Forest, Illinois, began as the Kiekhaefer Corporation of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, when Carl Kiekhaefer and a small but dedicated staff of employees sought to design and produce the best possible boat engine.
Sixty-five years old in 2004, Mercury Marine is the most recognized name in the marine industry, and the memory of its founder lives on in the hearts and minds of engineers and boat enthusiasts alike.
As each goal was accomplished, it was replaced by another. That tradition has resulted in a literal embodiment of the Great American Dream. From a modest and inauspicious start, Mercury has grown into an industry leader recognized worldwide for its ability to foresee and fulfill the needs of its consumers. Its product brands include Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; Mercury Racing high-performance outboards and sterndrives; MotorGuide trolling motors; Mercury and Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. In 2006, Mercury Marine’s OptiMax engine was ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Two-Stroke Outboard Engines" by J.D. Power and Associates, and Mercury MerCruiser engines were ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Sterndrive Engines."
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View the history of Mercury Marine, decade by decade
1947 - “Full-Jeweled Power:” anti-friction ball, roller and needle bearings in all major bearing locations -- connecting rods, crankshaft, driveshaft and propeller shaft.
1949 - First forged aluminum clamp brackets for secure transom mounting.
1952
Splined propeller drive eliminates shear pin for attaching propeller to shaft.
1957 - The two-cylinder, 10-hp Mercury Mark 10, incorporates such outboard firsts as “Jet Prop Exhaust,” underwater exhaust through the propeller hub, and slanted lower-unit design to help eliminate snarling on vegetation.
1961 - MerCruiser is introduced with the first production sterndrive propulsion system over 100 horsepower.
1962 - The Mercury 1000 is the world’s first 100-hp production outboard.
1966 - Thunderbolt CD ignition, the industry’s first capacitor discharge ignition system, delivers up to 40,000 volts of starting power.
1967 - MerCathode corrosion protection is introduced. It’s the most advanced corrosion protection available.
1969 - Bearing-quality steel: High-grade steel alloy – the same as in precision ball and roller bearings – is used for gears, crankshafts and connecting rods.
1970 - Perma-gap spark plugs reduce fouling and virtually eliminate tune-ups.
1973 - First power ported pistons: An extra fuel charge just before combustion improves performance.
First factory-installed power trim system.
First cam-turned piston improves piston durability and increases engine life.
1984 - Exclusive Electro-Deposition Painting (EDP) is introduced. Critical components exposed to corrosion receive the best protection available.
1986 - The Bravo One sterndrive is introduced, handling more power with improved durability.
1988 - Mercury brings Electronic Fuel Injection to the boating industry with the premier of the Mercury® Laser Xri and Mariner Magnum® EFI.
1996 - First OptiMax Direct Fuel Injected engines hit the water, offering unprecedented fuel efficiency and running quality while exceeding EPA emissions standards by a decade.
2002 - Mercury OptiMax outboards set new world speed records in all Pro Stock bass boat horsepower categories.
Mercury Digital Throttle & Shift Control brings digital precision and reliability to throttle and shift functions.
2004 - Introduced in 2004, the supercharged FourStroke Verado revolutionized the outboard industry. Combining awesome power, unbelievably low sound levels and an unmatched driving experience, Verado set new standards for outboard performance.
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