3 JUNE 2021 — Adam Findlay is a charter boat operator with a difference.
In running his commercial charter business he has three boats with various purposes – and they each sport Mercury Marine outboards.
But this wasn’t always the case for the Townsville based skipper.
“I first became interested in Mercury engines about four years ago when we did a fit out on my 580 Southwind,” Adam said.
“In the process of doing this, the boat took on additional equipment and ended up being 100kgs heavier. The engine we had on it at the time could hardly push it through the water.
“I did a lot of research looking for something that would suit my needs and I settled on the Mercury SeaPro 75hp. Almost immediately I was impressed by the bigger gear box and better thrust.”
What Adam also found with the 75hp SeaPro was durability, fuel efficiency and a good power to weight ratio.
The Mercury SeaPro is engineered from the skeg to cowl to withstand the rigors of commercial use. Built using heavy-duty components, SeaPro engines are backed by a dedicated commercial warranty that includes protection against corrosion
When it came time to fitting out his next boat, he had some choices to make.
“In the case of the engine we already had on Audacity, we realised that any new version we bought within the same outboard brand would mean almost exactly the same technology,” Adam said.
“I had heard from some fisher friends that they had a Mercury 300hp on their boats and they absolutely loved the extra grunt that the engines provided.
“Because of this I began looking at the 300hp SeaPro – with its additional 1500-hour warranty being incredibly important to me as a commercial fisher.
“The tipping point was when we were told by a different outboard brand that their engines needed to be taken out of the water every time they were serviced. At $1000 a time to pull the boat out of the water, this was an absolute clincher.
“By comparison, the Mercury 300hp SeaPro is designed to be serviced on the water – which was a major factor in making my decision to repower to Mercury.
“My business partner had always been loyal to other outboard brands, but I was fully confident he’d see the sheer power of Mercury and change his mind. Since having them installed, we’ve both been incredibly happy with our choice.”
For Andre Giacobone at Motor Marine Townsville, fitting out Audacity was a rewarding process.
“This was Motor Marine’s first commercial application of a Mercury outboard,” Andre said.
“It came with the challenge of being a dual helm boat, with dual steering upstairs and downstairs.
“The hard work of fitting this out all paid off when Adam got to take the two 300hp SeaPros out on the water to see what they’re made of.
“He’s been so impressed by Mercury’s DTS (Digital Throttle and Shift) that I don’t think he’ll ever be able to go back. Cruising at 22 knots he’s running 30 litres an hour better than his old engines.”
The Audacity Charters boats collectively run 150,000 litres every year. For Adam, these savings are more than significant.
“With the savings made from the fuel economy, I could now pay for one brand new boat engine every two years,” Adam said.
And buying a new engine is exactly what Adam is in the process of doing. He has settled on a 115hp Mercury for his third boat, that runs for a 50/50 recreational and commercial use.
For the team at Motor Marine, they’re keen to keep fitting out as many commercial and recreational boats as they can with Mercury outboards.
“Townsville is concentrated with competitor brands, but the product that we’re selling with Mercury Marine outboards is a massive weapon to have in the fight for some market share,” Andre said.
“Everyone we’ve serviced has been really happy with their outboard. They’ve reported better performance, higher power, massive fuel savings and a quieter smoother engine.
“Mercury is an innovative company that continues to move into the future with the newest and best technology and machinery.”