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A Mercury Racing propeller isn't simply a standard Mercury prop with a different logo. Mercury Racing develops specific propeller families for performance applications, with changes to blade geometry, barrel length, diameter, pitch availability and finishing depending on what the prop is intended to accomplish. That includes well-known names such as the Mercury Racing Bravo I FS, Bravo I XS, Bravo I XC, MAX5, MAX5 ST and Revolution 4 XP. Mercury Racing currently offers numerous propeller familie …

A MerCruiser sterndrive combines an inboard engine with an external drive mounted through the boat's transom. The engine stays inside the boat, while the sterndrive transfers that power through the transom and down to the propeller. If you own a MerCruiser, you'll commonly see four drive names: Alpha One, Bravo One, Bravo Two and Bravo Three. They may look similar at first glance, but they aren't interchangeable versions of the same drive. Each was designed around different power levels, propell …

If your outboard is going to sit for several months, parking the boat and waiting for spring isn't the best plan. Fuel can deteriorate, batteries discharge, corrosion continues, and water hiding inside a gearcase becomes especially concerning where freezing temperatures are possible. Mercury's exact winterization procedure varies by engine, so your owner's manual should always be the final reference for your model. But whether you're storing a Mercury FourStroke, Verado, Pro XS, or an older Merc …

Why You Should Change Your Lower Unit Oil Every Year Changing your engine oil is a maintenance item most boat owners remember. Lower unit oil, however, is often overlooked. The lower unit, also called the gearcase, contains a set of precision gears and bearings that transfer power from the engine to the propeller. Unlike the powerhead, these components are completely dependent on clean gear lube for lubrication and protection. Replacing lower unit oil every year is one of the easiest and most af …

A lower unit problem doesn't always start with a dramatic failure. Sometimes the first clue is a new noise, difficulty shifting, unusual vibration, or something you notice while changing the gear lube. The important part is figuring out whether the problem is actually inside the Mercury lower unit, something that can be repaired individually, or damage significant enough to consider replacing the complete gearcase. If you're looking for the basics of how a lower unit works, gear ratios, fitment, …