By Chris Knauss
Mariner Editor

  Two-hundred-and-fifty horsepower and you wouldn't even know the motor was running. That's the most impressive feature -- nearly silent performance -- in my opinion, of the new Mercury Verado outboard motors. I got a chance to test one at Riverside Marine's Open House & Demo Sale on the South River in Annapolis.
  Second on the list of Verado's most impressive features is the digital throttle and shift which, if they were any more responsive, they'd read your mind.
Third is the supercharger technology. The Verado is the first production outboard to feature a supercharger, providing incredible torque and acceleration.
Fourth are the extremely low emissions, common in the new breed of outboards these days, but nonetheless mighty impressive.
  Mercury Marine officially introduced Verado, its family of new 4-stroke outboard engines at last February's Miami International Boat Show. The launch was the pinnacle of a five-year, $100 million effort, formerly known as Project X, to produce the most sophisticated marine propulsion system in history.
Verado outboards feature an in-line six-cylinder power plant with a displacement of 2.6 liters, or 158.5 cubic inches. The general configuration is used for 200, 225, 250 and 275 horsepower models. Mercury began volume production of all four models last April to assure that retailers will receive adequate supplies for the 2005 model year.
  At the upcoming 2005 Miami show, Mercury plans to unveil a four-cylinder version of Verado, covering the 135, 150 and 175 horsepower categories.
Verado's remarkable torque and acceleration are the result of an exclusive supercharged induction system with charge-air cooling and electronic boost pressure control. The supercharger, co-developed by Mercury and IHI Turbo America, significantly boosts power by forcing a higher air volume into the combustion chamber than that delivered by a naturally aspirated system.
Traditionally, a minimum of 3.0 liters has been required to mass produce a 250 hp outboard engine. Verado's smaller-displacement/higher-horsepower strategy allows it, in many cases, to outperform two-stroke engines of equal horsepower. That clearly differentiates Verado from standard, V-block four-stroke marine engines.
  "The supercharger boosts the air pressure going into the intake. The more air you jam in there, and you add that amount of more fuel, the better the compression and the more horsepower," says Steve Soverns, shop foreman at Riverside's White Marsh location.
  "If you've ever seen some of the movies or funny cars where they have that blower up on the top of the hood sticking out, belt driven, and when they need it they hit a button, that's similar to what this thing has, except it runs constantly. In this engine, the supercharger is always turning, always building air, it just has a waste gate on it, so if you don't need it, it just bypasses and gets sucked in like a normal 4-stroke engine. But when you give it the gas, it senses it's under a heady load and shuts that gate off and then it takes the compressed air in."
  Verado's valve train features four valves for each of its six cylinders with a double-overhead cam design. The engine blocks, cylinder head and crankcases are cast in Mercury's Pressurized Lost Foam Foundry in Fond du Lac, Wis.
Supplying fuel to this state-of-the-art engine is a computer-controlled, sequential, multi-port fuel-injection system. Precise fuel-delivery and metering provides Verado maximum fuel efficiency, no-smoke operation and outstanding acceleration. The injector system also eliminates the need for a primer bulb, a first for the marine industry.
  Under the cowl, an idle exhaust-relief system with a low-pass acoustic system produces a best-in-class idle sound level. At idle the engine can't be heard by most passengers. At wide-open throttle, the loudest sound detected by operators is often the wind or the waves. A patented supercharger air-induction system, with a highly-tuned intake resonator, reduces intake noise by up to 14 dBA in the midrange to full-throttle levels, without sacrificing engine performance.
  Additionally, high-performance acoustic foam lining is used extensively in the top cowl, with closed-cell acoustic foam lining the chaps and essentially absorbing high-frequency, mechanical engine and driveshaft noise.
  Verado's world-class noise-vibration-harshness level is achieved through a number of unique design features, including cowling, exhaust and a high-performance Advanced Midsection progressive-rate mounting system. The AMS mount cradle is strategically placed around the engine's center of gravity, and the engine mounts isolate and reduce vibration transmitted to the boat by 50 percent, while improving overall handling at high speeds.
"This purpose-built engine was designed from the ground up with powerful software, such as Computer Aided Design, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Conjugate Heat Transfer and Finite Element Analysis to ensure maximum reliability and durability in any marine environment," says Steve Miller, marketing product manager for Verado.

A Smart engine
  Every Verado features Mercury's exclusive SmartCraft Digital Throttle and Shift, originally introduced into the OptiMax product line in model year 2002. Tested to 45,000-plus hours of reliability, DTS eliminates traditional mechanical cables to connect throttle controls to transom-mounted engines. DTS is easy to install and calibrate, yet provides unmatched throttle response and smooth, unrestricted shifting.
  SmartCraft also arms Verado with programmable two-speed trim and tilt, allowing boat operators to program the trim and tilt range to maximize performance and convenience.
Verado further enhances the driving experience through its exclusive Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering system with an integral hydraulic cylinder. With a small pump mounted inside the vessel, this system eliminates undesirable steering torque without sacrificing engine feel, crucial for boat control, especially at high speeds.
  Verado's all-new gear case is the product of Mercury's hydrodynamics expertise. Its diameter and length are slightly greater than Mercury's 3.0L gear case in order to package larger, stronger gears with virtually no loss of top speed. Its gears are 50 percent more durable than traditional gears, with stiffer prop shafts, stronger spline connections and a stronger gear housing.
  The internal water passages are electrodeposition painted for added corrosion resistance.
  The gear case is more wear-resistant than traditional gear cases, and its seals can withstand higher temperatures than previous seals. The gear case also features dual water pickups to ensure proper cooling under all running conditions. The Verado gear case features a gear ratio of 1.85:1.

New looks
  Verado's "swept-forward" design features a two-piece cowling that offers good looks and functionality. Because many of the key maintenance points are located front and center on the powerhead, the upper section of the cowling is easily removed via a single, spring-loaded latch for simple access.
  Verado is designed to be a perfect fit for virtually all applications, from single, dual or triple offshore fishing rigs to bass boats. All models are available in 20-inch (L) and 25-inch (XL) shaft lengths. Also, 30-inch (XXL) configurations are available in 225, 250 and 275 horsepower models. The 25-inch and 30-inch models are available in both right- and left-hand propeller rotations.
Verado is backed by a three-year limited warranty and the industry's only three-year limited corrosion-failure warranty.
  For more information visit www.mercurymarine.com or one of the many Mercury Marine dealers in the Delmarva region. 

Specifications
Test Engine: 200 HP to 275 HP models
Displacement: 2.6 liters
Block: In-line 6-cylinder
Induction: Cooled supercharger, multiport fuel injection
RPM range: 5,800-6,400
Shaft lengths: 20", 25", 30"
Weight/shaft length: 635 lb./20", 649 lb./25", 667 lb./30"
Gear ratio: 1.85:1
Oil capacity: 8.5 quarts
MSRP: $15,895 to $19,797
Contact: Mercury Marine; Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; 920-929-5040

At wide-open throttle the loudest sound detected by operators is often the wind or the waves.