Mercury Marine: The Verado family hits 400
The Verado hits 400! (294 kW) Mercury Marine announced the launch of the latest addition to the Verado family: the 294 kW (400 hp) outboard engine. It is officially the company’s highest output Verado-branded outboard engine in its portfolio. Since the launch of the 257 kW (350 hp) Verado and the Mercury Racing 400R four […]
The Verado hits 400! (294 kW)
Mercury Marine announced the launch of the latest addition to the Verado family: the 294 kW (400 hp) outboard engine. It is officially the company’s highest output Verado-branded outboard engine in its portfolio. Since the launch of the 257 kW (350 hp) Verado and the Mercury Racing 400R four years ago, consumers have been requesting a higher output Verado engine, that’s why Mercury Marine decided to add this extension to the L6SC Verado platform.
John Pfeifer, Mercury Marine president, said: «The acceptance of the 350 hp (257 kW) Verado in the marketplace has been incredible and through extensive conversations with our global customers, we have learned that there is an appetite in the marketplace for a Verado-branded 400 hp (294 kW) four-stroke outboard engine. As boats continue to increase in size, so has the need for more power. This gives us an opportunity to provide an even higher output Verado in the market».
What about the applications? The new Verado can operate in a wide range of situations, including center consoles, pontoons, bay boats and larger sport boats. The power is higher, but the engine still keeps the standard smooth and quiet operation. The weight is the same as its predecessor and this makes the 294 kW Verado also the lightest outboard in the 290+ kW category.
More from Mercury: 3.6 kW Propane FourStroke
On the low output side, Mercury Marine decided to add a 3.6 kW Propane/LPG FourStroke outboard, that aims to deliver no-hassle portability, reliability and convenience running on alternative fuel, whether it’s powering aluminum boats, inflatables or sailboats. Starting at just 27.2 kilograms the Propane FourStroke is light and easy to carry or transport. And it can also most likely run on the same conventional propane everyone is probably using in their backyard grill.
The idea behind it is a safety-first approach, which means that it comes standard with a propane auto shut-off valve on the engine and in the fuel hose connector. Starting is easier with the manual choke, which enriches the fuel-to-air ratio for fast and reliable starts, particularly when the engine is cold. Auto decompression reduces the pull force when using the starter rope.
New products to celebrate the 80th birthday
All these news come in during a very particular year: Mercury Marine is, in fact, celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2019. On January 22, 1939, Carl Kiekhaefer purchased a bankrupt engine manufacturing plant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. Now, 80 years later, the business that emerged from those modest beginnings, Mercury Marine, is a company with 7,000 global employees.
John Pfeifer, talking about this anniversary, said: «80 years ago, Carl Kiekhaefer had a vision for Mercury based around product innovation and technology, and it’s that vision that built the foundation for us to continue to innovate today. Mercury has come a long way over the past eight decades because of the hard work and dedication of everyone who has been a part of our journey».
