Mercury Marine has taken out a 2026 National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) Innovation Award in the Outboard Engines Category, with the prize presented at the Miami International Boat Show. The Miami Innovation Awards recognise manufacturers and suppliers whose work represents genuinely meaningful progress for the marine industry.
The product behind the win is Boost, a software-based engine calibration delivering a 5% to 21% improvement in mid-range acceleration and zero-to-top-speed performance, enhancing one of the most thrilling aspects of the boating experience. Rather than requiring any aftermarket hardware, Boost is offered as a dealer-installed upgrade for a wide range of existing Mercury outboards, giving owners a manufacturer-backed route to sharper, more responsive performance from engines they already use and trust.
From later this year, select new Mercury outboards will also come with Boost installed from the outset. Mercury positions the platform as a significant step in its shift towards digital product experiences, one that enriches the ownership journey while laying the groundwork for a broader range of software-enabled performance upgrades down the track.
"Boost represents the next step in how we deliver performance to our customers," said Will Nicklas, Category Manager of digital and connective products. "By unlocking meaningful acceleration gains through software, we're giving boaters a new way to enhance their experience with the engines they already trust. We're honored to be recognized for an innovation that brings real, everyday benefits to so many Mercury owners."
Kelsey Bailey, associate editor of BoatU.S. Magazine and a member of the 2026 Innovation Awards judging panel, explained what distinguished Boost in its category: "Not only did Mercury target an aspect of engine performance that's frequently overlooked, they made their improvements in midrange acceleration available at a low price and to older models as well as brand new motors. Thousands of boaters will now have easy, affordable access to fine tuning that gets them out of the hole and up to top speed faster."
Based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Mercury Marine holds the position of the world's leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines and operates as a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC). Its product range spans engines, boats, services, and parts serving recreational, commercial, and government marine applications. The brand portfolio includes Mercury outboard engines, Mercury MerCruiser sterndrive and inboard packages, Mercury propellers, Mercury inflatable boats, Mercury SmartCraft electronics, Land 'N' Sea marine parts distribution, and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils.
