Mercury introduces fuel-saving propeller

Mercury Marine has introduced the new Enertia ECO propeller which it claims can save on fuel costs.

The Mercury Enertia ECO was specifically designed for high-horsepower outboard-powered boats, claiming boaters can get up to a 10 per cent increase in fuel economy at cruising speeds while also living up to the performance and reliability standards inherent with all Mercury propellers.

To maximise the fuel economy improvement provided by the Enertia ECO, Mercury Marine engineers designed a new propeller with a broad 16-inch diameter, large blade area and a high progressive rake, a combination made possible only through using Mercury’s proprietary X7 stainless steel alloy. Mercury says that while the Enertia ECO design results in reduced hull drag through increased bow lift at cruising speeds, it still matches the performance of other Mercury propellers such as the Enertia and Revolution 4.

"Mercury Marine already produces fuel-efficient engines, as well as driver aids such as the ECO Screen display," said Jared Reichenberger, brand manager for Mercury Propellers. "As marina (fuel) prices have continued to rise, however, customers are increasingly focused on fuel economy. We realised an appreciable fuel economy gain could be found in the design of the propeller itself."

While boaters continue to demand the best acceleration and top speed, there is also a growing requirement for efficiency and fuel economy at cruising speeds where a vast majority of their operating time is spent. 

Mercury says that at cruising speeds, the Enertia ECO posts a minimum of 10 per cent fuel economy gain compared to Mercury’s already-efficient line of offshore propellers. This gain translates to dollars.

In addition to saving money, the Enertia ECO provides additional range from each tank of fuel. boaters can now significantly extend their range with a simple propeller change.

These savings will be available to consumers beginning in January 2014 in right- and left-hand rotation across four pitches: 17, 19, 21 and 23 inches. All feature a 16-inch diameter.