From Fishing Tackle Retailer | Original Article
LOS ANGELES, California – Since Lehr Outboard’s entrance into the marine industry just a few years ago, the rapidly expanding company has been turning heads and winning technology awards for its innovative small, clean-burning, propane-fueled four-stroke engines.
Lehr, is continuing its success with its latest advancement; a new 15 hp outboard. The reliable engine is making its debut at Lehr’s exhibit (#U55) in the main show hall at the Miami International Boat Show Feb. 13 – 17. It will be on display with Lehr’s 2.5, 5 and 9.9 hp units.
New for 2014 – world’s first internal battery; truly portable OB for small craft & sailboats
Lehr’s new 15 and its 9.9 feature the world’s first internal electric start battery weighing less than two lbs., eliminating extra weight or clutter of a typical lead acid battery in the boat. It comes in eight, 15” or 20” shaft models using a typical five gal., BBQ propane tank.
Lehr Outboards are sold at marine dealerships nationwide and over 300 West Marine stores.
The visionary behind Lehr is Capt. Bernardo Herzer, a world-traveled captain with a passion for engines, air quality and the marine environment. He led the research of Lehr’s earth-friendly technology to produce the world’s first OEM propane-powered outboards. His mission: a cleaner planet through environmentally “green” technology.
Upon seeing the positive impact his first green products had on the environment, Herzer was inspired even more to continue applying his patents to create products with higher power and cleaner emissions which could run more efficiently on propane.
“There has been a lot of media coverage about the negative impacts on marine engines of today’s gasoline blended with corn ethanol,” said Herzer. “It has ruined many outboards.”
“Propane has so many benefits over gasoline: higher 110 octane and lasts indefinitely, it’s lower in cost, there’s no risk of gas polluting the water, no ethanol or fuel-related issues, zero evaporative emissions, easy no-choke starts, no priming, no carburetor gum-up and no winterizing,” he said. “Gas is difficult to transport and store. Most sail boaters’ disdain gas, plus the carbon monoxide fumes it produces can be harmful to boaters and the environment.”
Among its many awards and accolades Lehr won the EPA clean-air excellence award for helping to improve the nation’s air and water quality. Herzer and his new technology were also recently featured on engine enthusiast Jay Leno’s Garage TV show, with a green segment of Lehr’s environmentally friendly products. Leno, like Herzer, is a long-time proponent of propane which is plentiful in North America reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Besides outboards, which have a warranty of three years, Lehr also designs and engineers propane-powered generators, leaf blowers, lawn trimmers and lawn mowers.