![]() ![]() In 1984, Carl Kiekhaefer sold the 1,440-acre Lake X and the more than 10,000 wetland acres surrounding it to the Kirchman Foundation, and Mercury leased the test facility back from it. Lake X has played an important part in the history of outboard development. The performance of the 175, 200 and 225 hp FourStroke outboards is as important to boating today as that of those developed in the early days of Mercury’s history at this secret facility. Lake X was the perfect place to reveal Mercury’s newest outboards. The ambidextrous ability to use digital or mechanical and analog systems make repowering any boat as easy as unbolting the old one and bolting on this new Mercury plant. Further, these new FourStrokes output signals to analog gauges. The throttle lever controlled the digital actuators under the cowl, and all the digital functions of the engine, including Adaptive Speed Control, operate nearly as smoothly as when controlled with DTS. The Mako sported a mechanical cable throttle system, giving us a feel for that economical setup. Now you have not 50 shades of gray but an unlimited number of color combinations thanks to four factory, optional color panels, plus a primer-coated panel to custom-paint to match your boat. At top speed in the open 21-foot Mako 21 LTS, we were able to converse comfortably. Further, hefty new vibration-dampening motor mounts isolate more noise. Tuned multichambered air intakes further decrease sound (while improving performance), and a new system of seals and vents prevents mechanical noise from escaping and sea spray or water from being ingested when backing down. Special injector covers eliminate the high-pitched noise typically heard from them. And it worked equally well on single applications, like Mako’s 21 LTS and Lowe’s 230 Retreat pontoon. In speed runs, it exceeded 50 mph and accelerated to 20 in just about 3 seconds. The most experienced captain couldn’t do this better. One of Merc’s new “haves” is Adaptive Speed Control, and with it the boat held its rpm all the way through the turn as we watched the tachometers hold steadily on 4,000. Next, we throttled up to a fast cruising speed of about 4,000 rpm and wound the boat into a sharp turn. Our top speed was just over 50 mph, and the economy gauge read 2.7 mpg when we settled on the most economical cruise speed. We idled out of the basin and kicked it up on plane in just a few seconds. Like past Verados, it’s best to start and stop the motors with the start/stop buttons leave the key on so the electronics stay active. ![]() It outputs 20 amps at 650 rpm, but when extra amps are required, the motor automatically boosts idle rpm. The 85-amp alternator is nested between cylinder banks for a slim profile. Our engines were linked to the navigation system to display gauge information on the big navigation displays or VesselView screens. There are five trim profiles for the boat, and if you find load or sea conditions require more or less trim, you can select a more- or less-aggressive trim profile from the VesselView gauge. Another new advantage: If you override Active Trim, it re-engages when you stop trimming. Merc has offered that for a while, but now it can be set and operated through the VesselView gauge. Also on board was Mercury’s Active Trim, an automatic system that trims the motors to the ideal position based on an acceleration profile custom-calibrated to any boat. The silky controls enhance the experience because they are so easy to operate and can be adjusted to give just the right amount of friction. We jumped aboard a Scout 275 Dorado with dual 200s and digital throttle and shift. And these panels are applicable to cowls of black or three shades of fusion white.īut we were about to experience what the new motors had gotten as well as what was gone.Įngine functions can be monitored on digital or analog gauge systems for easy repowering. Gone is the monochrome color choice of black or white. These are angular, sharp and poised like a hatchet to attack the competition. Gone is the leaning, lightbulb shape of the Verado motors. Mercury’s new motors, while operating on coveted but expensive digital throttle systems, have cable-capable controls inside, so repowering a boat is possible with a choice of digital throttle and shift or standard cable controls likely already installed on the repowered boat. ![]() Gone is the demand for pricier digital throttle and shift controls. The 24-valve system is ultra-responsive and provides rewarding power and smooth idling. ![]()
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