Mercury 9.9 – Operational test of Yukon

Many travelers almost always with a grin scroll through paragraphs of tests for fresh “motorboats” and haughtily sentence: “That would be you, gentlemen, in the Arctic, and then to talk about the ship and consumer qualities of the new motorboat products.”

To weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the new building or the engine and to give some recommendations to knowledgeable and meticulous reader is possible with no doubt only during long-term operating and navigating test. That is why “KiY” readily responded to the unexpected proposal of the American company «Mercury Marine» to conduct field tests of their new inflatable boat“Mercury 310”with a four-stroke engine of 9.9 hp. This boat was to be used in high-latitude expedition in the Canadian portion of the Yukon River – the fifth largest artery in North America.

On the vicissitudes of the trip we will tell in more detail in the next issue of “cue”, and now only focus on the technical data of the motor of the boat and.

The presence of nine “horses” on the transom in the Yukon roads is difficult to overestimate, because his massive speed and capricious river – from 8 to 12 km / h, and on the muscular thrust is not to go and serious fishing Exercise on both sides of the bed or getting acquainted with numerous historical consequences of the famous “Gold rush”, which happened in this part of Canada in the late XIX -. the beginning of the XX century, there is nothing to think about.

In recent years, in Russia, we are so used to the products of the Chinese comrades, I was surprised when “merkurievskoy” naduvnushke found neat seams, perfectly cast fittings, and indeed Gorny gray PVHashny materialchik was totally unlike the usual “shagreen” from the Chinese proletarians . If you add on to the original system mezhpayolnyh compounds reasonable load drain hole, the valve for five-plus, it becomes immediately clear why in my mind flashed a stray thought, if in high school a South Korean worker finished obviously a couple of classes more than his all-powerful Communist neighbor.

Habitability of this model for two people and luggage for ten days complicated way very, very decent, although the quality zapletki lifelines we Lena had some questions. But such incidents we have met before on naduvnushkah both domestic and of capitalist production itself, so that the defect eliminated in a few minutes right in the course of the play.

The choice chetyrehtaktnika was also not accidental: and by weight, and the economy is almost 10-horsepower outboards US-Japanese blood with a head of 209 cm3 has the best performance in its class. Travelers Friends will support me, because 38 kilograms – is, as you may say, figure, especially when you have to haul 800 meters of such a piece of iron on their own backs on the wooded slope. This compact motor, as well as its 15-horsepower two-stroke counterpart, has an elongated and very comfortable “mnogostanochny” tiller with six functions. But, in contrast to the eldest child, completely silent and does bezdymen, so intoxicatingly familiar to all fishers-track, for many hours at a time using the duple-cycle at low speed.

Besides «Mercury 9.9» unbelievable economical, especially in field conditions when you can not really plan in advance with all the running day and intermediate parking lot. Gas issue was before us most sharply, because during the first 400 km of a way not foreseen any civilized refueling or any intelligible human habitation. In addition, we are on the Yukon scenario had to cross the whole lake Labarzh length of 50 km, since the days of Jack London known for its unpredictable and bad temper.

According to the weather and all the other circumstances of what happened – six hours, our inflatable “Dreadnought” spent on the passage of many kilometers of the reservoir, held in dreary fight with opposing north wind and the short medium-sized wave-comb that completely knocks from any remaining brain was in the second hour of the run. Maximum speed on the lake, with our 300-pound load was 12.5 km / h, while the average – 9.3 km / h, so, you know, neither of which the beautiful “cock” over the transom to speak simply was not necessary. With the passage of the Wayward Labarzha contact was recorded and the most significant fuel consumption throughout the Yukon route – about 8 liters 93rd gasoline for six and a half hours of engine operation.

To finish with the figures reported that the downstream maximum speed boats laden with two tired people was 21.2 km / h. At full planing this “package” comes out at 22 km / h and the flow with two adults on board, but with no cargo, “Mercury” is salable, making 36.7 km / h.

In calm water the maximum speed alone and without load – 31.4 km / h, and it alone is very famously – 38 km / h.

The most stable and obedient boat was light when one person in the cockpit, t. E. At the aft trim. In the presence of the passenger naduvnushka little griping at the exchange rate in the planing mode. When fully loaded the cockpit no pranks boats for the whole expedition was noted.

The average speed on the route as a whole was 16 km / h and fuel consumption in a ragged fishing and museum mode proved just 400 g per hour tarahtenie engine!

Such attention of the arithmetic because naduvnushki this series have not yet been tested in our country, and in combination with a four-stroke engine, the “Mercury” can be very useful in the most remote areas of the Russian off-road.

During our test run, we did not hesitate to go not only to all the tributaries on fishing interest, but even went a few times against the current when slipped marked in guidebooks required “parking caveman.”

The expedition luggage have been in watertight trunks, which were tightly fastened rubber ties to Leer and rymam inflatable boat. This allowed us to quietly experience and the vagaries of weather and the occasional absurdity when suddenly zacherpnesh cold water over the side.

After the expedition my report on the sea trials of the new inflatable boat was listened with close attention at the headquarters of «Mercury Marine», which is located in the US state of Wisconsin. Overseas capitalists were particularly interested in the design shortcomings of the inflatable creations that have been identified by us during these tests. I Similar tests carried out more than once in Russia, but such meticulousness and sensitivity on the part of developers met for the first time.

So I have no doubt left that very soon there will be a great new generation of inflatable boat in our market.

Andrew Giants

Source: Boats and yachts, №6 (210) 2007