Mercury Optimizes Time on the Water with Verado 350:
When Mercury Marine launched its Verado line more than a decade ago, these supercharged FourStroke engines revolutionized outboard boat owners’ experience on the water. All types of boaters – especially anglers – love the powerful holeshot, torque and mid-range punch delivered by Verado, along with unequaled smooth, quiet and fuel-efficient performance.
Now the Verado line has a new lead dog. In February, Mercury introduced the Mercury Verado® 350 outboard engine, now the most powerful member of Mercury’s class-leading Verado family of four- and six-cylinder supercharged recreational FourStroke outboards, ranging from 175hp to 350hp. Built on Mercury’s proven supercharged inline six-cylinder Verado engine, the Verado 350 delivers unsurpassed speed and overall performance without sacrificing durability and fuel economy. (Mercury Racing also offers a 400R Verado outboard.)
The highly efficient Verado 350, which operates on 89 octane gas (with 91 octane recommended for full performance), provides up to 10 percent better fuel economy than competing outboards – which translates into 100 miles or more in additional range per fill-up and hundreds of dollars saved at the pump each year.
The secret to the unbeatable combination of performance and fuel economy delivered by the Verado 350 begins with its lightweight, compact footprint. Weighing in at just 668 pounds, this engine is 95 pounds lighter than its nearest four-stroke outboard competitor. This enables the Verado 350 to deliver superior torque across the operating range, creating rocket-like holeshot and faster top-end speed. It also features Mercury’s all-new intelligent design enhancements, leading to an outstanding overall driving experience.
New features include an innovative cold-air intake system designed to collect cool, fresh air from outside the cowl and deliver it efficiently to the supercharger. The larger, straighter airflow path was engineered to create less-turbulent airflow. The water-cooled supercharger delivers greater boost by using water from the engine cooling system to provide a cooling jacket around the supercharger components, reducing the work required to compress the air induction and extending engine life.
The top cowl’s unique labyrinth design keeps the powerhead dry, while the efficiency and durability of the engine and its components also are enhanced by the new styled vented flywheel cover, which allows engine heat to dissipate more easily.
Optimized guide plates maximize driver handling at high speeds, providing greater confidence when you’re running hard and fast. Verado’s robust and proven 5.44-inch-diameter gearcase is built to handle offshore seas and to provide extra lift for longer, heavier center-console and walk-around boats. Gears are precision-machined at Mercury Marine to ensure the highest levels of quality and durability.
Verado is the easiest four-stroke outboard to maintain on the market today. Verado outboards come standard with Mercury’s exclusive lifetime maintenance-free valve train, which means owners never have to take their engine in for pricey valve-lash adjustments.
Like the rest of the Verado line, the new 350 is compatible with Mercury’s SmartCraft® Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS) system, which offers smooth, instantaneous, quiet shifting and ultra-responsive throttle control. Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Outboards, Skyhook and VesselView are options that can make the driving experience even more enjoyable.
Every Verado engine also comes with Mercury’s class-leading corrosion protection, utilizing low-copper aluminum silicon alloys, and its high-tech paint system, which features irridite metal prep and sealing, electro-deposition paint (EDP) priming and powder-paint top coat. Peace of mind is standard, thanks to Mercury’s industry-exclusive three-year limited corrosion warranty. For more information, visit www.mercurymarine.com