Back in 2018, Mercury Marine thrilled boaters with the introduction of its V-6 and V-8 outboard engines, the result of the largest new-product development program in the company’s nearly 80-year history.
Now, the brand is adding the marine industry’s first V-10 outboard to its offerings. This Verado engine is available in 350 hp or 400 hp. It’s a 5.7-liter design that is compatible with Mercury SmartCraft technology. It also can be ordered with an optional dual-mode 48-volt/12-volt alternator to pair with Navico Group’s Fathom e-power system, an integrated lithium-ion auxiliary power management setup that lets boaters eliminate an onboard generator.
“They are powerful, smooth and quiet,” Chris Drees, president of Mercury Marine, said when introducing the V-10 Verado outboards. “They have many of the same fuel-efficiency-enhancing features that are synonymous with our high-horsepower lineup. They also deliver the same kind of premium boating experience that has made Verado outboards legendary.”
The company says it expects the V-10s to become a popular choice with owners of larger saltwater center-consoles, freshwater fishing boats that have single-engine setups, pontoon boats and smaller center-consoles. Each engine reportedly weighs 695 pounds and has the same 26-inch mount spacing as Mercury V-8 outboards, which means the V-10 is compatible with current boat designs. In addition, the V-10s are designed with multi-engine use or repowering in mind.
According to Mercury Marine, the new engines include the outboard industry’s first V-10 naturally aspirated powerhead. It uses 5.7-liter displacement and a quad-cam design to improve speed and acceleration. A 150-amp alternator is also part of the design and is intended to charge onboard batteries quickly while supporting the boat’s electrical system.
Also part of the V-10 design is a new hydrodynamic gear case and a new Revolution X propeller. Mercury Marine says the larger diameter and wider blades on the prop, combined with the deep ratio of the gear case, result in better handling and acceleration, and in high efficiency from low speed to wide-open throttle. Advanced Range Optimization is part of the package, as is Adaptive Speed Control, which maintains engine rpm despite changes in load or conditions. That means boaters climbing large swells should have an easier time.
The V-10 Verados will also be compatible with a Mercury electric steering system for multi-outboard vessels that is expected to start shipping this month.
“We challenged our engineers to improve acceleration and overall performance with the new V-10 Verado outboards while also making them quieter and lighter than competitors’ outboards in this horsepower range,” said Tim Reid, Mercury Marine vice president of product development and engineering. “Once again, they exceeded expectations.”
Investing in the Future
Creating new engines like this V-10 outboard, and then bringing those products to consumers in a safe and reliable way, is neither cheap nor easy. That’s why Mercury Marine has invested heavily in research and development for quite some time now. Since 2008, the company has invested $2 billion on that front, including expanding its manufacturing footprint to more than 3 million square feet.
