TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2018) – As part of this morning’s kickoff of IBEX, the largest marine-industry trade event in North America, organizers of the annual IBEX Innovation Awards announced that Mercury Marine’s tiller handle assembly for portable outboard motors has won the 2018 award in the “Propulsion Parts” category.

Brought to market in January, this new tiller handle features several remarkable advancements to make the steering, shifting and throttle operation of portable outboards more intuitive, comfortable and responsive. Designed to pair with Mercury’s 15hp and 20hp outboard engines with electronic fuel ignition, the new tiller handle assembly is the world’s first portable outboard tiller that offers ambidextrous operation.

In addition to offering adjustable horizontal yaw angles for left-handed or right-handed operation, this tiller handle features reversible throttle rotation with hard stop at idle, adjustable vertical operating angles, and stylishly designed key controls and touch points ergonomically positioned for intuitive access and control.

“We put a lot of research into the design of this new handle,” said Jim Hergert, Mercury’s product manager overseeing the development of this product. “We studied boater preferences regarding left-handed or right-handed operation, the optimal positioning and mounting of the handle arm, upward and downward adjustments to accommodate people of different heights and shapes, intuitiveness of shift operation, and safety considerations. Those studies highly influenced the development of a product that redefines ergonomics for operators of portable outboard engines,” he said.

Learn more details about Mercury Marine’s new tiller handle for portable outboards motors.

 About Mercury Marine

Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wis., Mercury Marine is the world’s leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines. A $2.6 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury provides engines, boats, services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications, empowering boaters with products that are easy to use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world. Mercury’s industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages; MotorGuide trolling motors; Mercury propellers; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics; Attwood marine parts; Land ‘N’ Sea marine parts distribution; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.