“MERCURY PRO XS FATAL FLAW! ARE YOU AT RISK?” video was released on YouTube October 28, 2023.

The video was produced by Team Marine Service, a La Crosse, Wisconsin based marine service & repair business.

It focuses on recently manufactured Mercury Marine Pro XS outboard motors breaking off and flipping into boats.

Andy Houser of TMS discusses several recent accidents in which large Mercury outboard motors broke off and flipped into boats.

TMS’s video is below. NOTE- THE LANGUAGE IS VERY COARSE

The video notes many of the Pro XS outboard motors have broken in exactly the same spot (the swivel bracket).

He appeals to Mercury to let him visit the plant for a sit down visit with them. He would like to be able to ask them, Why is this breaking?”

Suzuki and Yamaha have recently sent representatives to visit with him in La Crosse.

Houser notes the video is not an attack on Mercury. They just want Mercury to recognize the problem, fix it, and let the public know what they need to do to stay safe in their boat.

Houser recognizes outboard motors are abused. He notes that for those running nearby in the Mississippi River “its like a war zone out there.” People hit stuff all the time.

He presents “The Leash” as a means to stay safer at this time.

In efforts to keep his viewers safe, Houser said, “If you are running a Mercury, go get a Leash for me.”

Our Comments

Team Marine Service seems to think this is a recent problem with Mercury Pro XS outboard motors. Our list of large outboard motors breaking off and flipping into boats and our list of all sizes of outboard motors breaking off and flipping into boats show the problem goes back decades.

We previously produced two volumes of methods to prevent or mitigate this problem. Many of them already patented, but not used, by the boating industry.

1. Approaches to Prevent Outboard Motors From Flipping Into Boats After Striking Floating or Submerged Objects Third edition. 2018.
2. Approaches to Prevent Outboard Motors From Flipping Into Boats After Striking Floating or Submerged Objects Supplement #1. 7 November 2020.

We also produced:

• mode chart illustrating the modes by which an outboard motor can fail on impact as speeds increase or the object becomes more solid.
• Why Outboards Used in Bass Tournaments Disproportionately Break Off & Flip into Boats Compared to Other Outboard Motors

In closing, a big thanks to Andy Houser and his team at Team Marine Service. Their video will increase awareness of the issue and help save lives.