In Our Wake: Hail to the King
Nearly 60 years before the 1,260 pound, V12 Mercury 600 ruled the seas, there was the Mark 5. Not inexpensive for its day, the 40-pound, five horsepower monster from Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin required an angler to pony up $197 and 50 cents (equivalent to about $1,817 today). Back then an owner could throw a couple packs of Camels in their pocket—then marketed as being good for your health—load up on some Schlitz Beer and chase fish with their neighbor Robert while recapping the new blockbuster film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Just 9 years after the boys returned home from World War II, it was a new era for fishing, boating and outdoor recreation. An issue of Motor Boating from that year showcases a fleet of boats from Chris-Craft ranging from 20- to 63-feet. To many, the Mark 5 represented Americana and freedom for the masses. The biggest innovation incorporated into this model, which appeared in all their ads, was the single push-button clutch that enabled owners to idle in neutral. Also featured in all their ads around this year was the ability for customers to write in and receive the builder’s illustrated catalog and the fact that they could find their local Mercury dealer in the yellow pages of their phone book.
A wildly popular outboard with a distinctive look from a bygone era, the Mark 5 remains a favorite among outboard restorers and enthusiasts around the world. It’s easy to see why.
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This article originally appeared in the August 2023 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
Source: https://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/column/in-our-wake-hail-to-the-king
