Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

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jimh
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Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

Postby jimh » Sat May 05, 2018 8:55 pm

People familiar with an upcoming major boat show in New Zealand say:

Mercury Marine has chosen the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, which runs from May 17-20 at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds, to unveil their most significant new [outboard] engine in years. While many media and dealers have been able to test the new engine package, the world premiere has been embargoed until May 18. This follows the release of the new V6 four-strokes released in February at the Miami boat show.


Inasmuch as Mercury just revealed an entirely new line of V6 four-stroke-power-cycle engines three months ago at the Miami International Boat Show which were claimed (by one enthusiastic journalist) to disrupt the entire outboard engine marketplace, for these new engines to be cited as "the most significant new engines in years" would require them to be quite a following act.

The well-informed are hinting the new Mercury outboard engines will be V8 four-stroke-power-cycle engines with horsepower ratings of 250-HP and with some models possibly rated as high as 400-HP or more. The anticipation is these engines would be extension of the recently introduced V6 engines. Those V6 engines used a newly designed 64-degree V6 3.4-liter block with four valves per cylinder and dual overhead cams. If a V8 is proportional, it would have 4.53-liter displacement.

Further details rumored include offering three options for the midsection with different steering:

  • VERADO-style power steering
  • conventional steering
  • racing version

Competitor Yamaha has already been offering a 350-HP V8 5.3-liter outboard engine.

jimh
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Re: Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

Postby jimh » Sun May 06, 2018 5:11 pm

In an earlier article in which I described the new FOURSTROKE model engines revealed by Mercury, I noted:

The new engine is said to be manufactured in Fond du lac, Wisconsin, at Mercury's facilities there, and on an entirely new production line built for this new model.


It makes perfect sense that the rumored V8 engines will be built on this same new production line and will use similar parts and tooling as used in the V6 models. The cost to create an entirely new production line to just build two or three engine models of a V6 is too high to be practical; I bet the new engines to be shown on May 18, if they are V8 engines, will be built on this same new production line in Fond du lac.

But I see a new problem: if (as enthusiastic journalists and Mercury fans have insisted) the new V6 engines will completely disrupt the outboard engine market and will sell in such enormous volume that in just two or three months of being on the market will sell out the entire production capacity for a year or more, where will Mercury ever find the production capacity to make these new V8 engines? Maybe they will have to build another new production line to make these new engines, already said to be the "most significant new [outboard] engine in years" to come to the USA market.

dtmackey
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Re: Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

Postby dtmackey » Fri May 18, 2018 10:43 am

Several days prior to the Merc V8 release, Yamaha spilled the details on their new V8 at 425-HP and nearly 1,000-lbs with a transom bracket and steering system that looks nearly identical to the Evinrude G2. The Yamaha weight seems excessive and makes the 1,100-lbs 7 Marine 627-HP engine look like the better option for larger boats.

Mercury released their much hyped V8 today, which fell short on many expectations except two:

--weight: At 600-lbs it's lighter than the outgoing Verado
--charging output: 115-Amperes is impressive

To see if Mercury plan to increase the output of this motor, or increases the displacement to compete in the larger boat segment will be interesting. A rumor: the Supercharged Verado could be going away due to EPA regs and will now only be offered in 350 and 400 models.

D-

jimh
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Re: Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

Postby jimh » Fri May 18, 2018 3:19 pm

According to one source, " The new [engines] replace the 2.5L and 3.0L OptiMax, L4 Verado and L6 Verado models in the same horsepower ratings."

The new engines come with horsepower ratings of 200 to 300-HP. On that basis, a lot of VERADO FOURSTROKE engines appear to be now obsolete.

The supercharged VERADO FOURSTROKE apparently will remain in the 350-HP and 400R versions.

Whalerdog
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Re: Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

Postby Whalerdog » Fri May 18, 2018 6:59 pm

Cost cutting engines with new designs and manufacturing technics. Be interesting to see reviews on them.

dtmackey
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Re: Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

Postby dtmackey » Fri May 18, 2018 10:39 pm

Whalerdog wrote:Cost cutting engines with new designs and manufacturing technics. Be interesting to see reviews on them.


Great point since supercharging an engine to achieve a horsepower rating is not as cost effective as moving to a normally aspirated design that is of lighter weight, simplicity and increased reliability. Let's wait and see what Merc does with the larger HP rating to meeting the EPA standards going forward.

D-

Whalerdog
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Re: Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

Postby Whalerdog » Sat May 19, 2018 6:09 am

Mercury OptiMax is now dead. No more two strokes except one commercial motor.

jimh
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Re: Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

Postby jimh » Mon May 21, 2018 7:43 am

The Mercury website was updated on May 18, following the introduction of their new engine, to have all the details, specifications, images, drawings, and so on for the new engine.

These new V8 engines are available in three families with four variations:
  • FOURSTROKE
  • SEAPRO
    • CMS or conventional mid-section
    • AMS or advanced mid-section
  • PRO XS

To get a handle on what is different, we investigate the 300-HP model. All models have the same basic engine: a V8 4.6-liter 64-degree block with dual overhead cams and 32-valves. All use electronic fuel injection (but not direct injection) with a long-runner intake manifold. All have 85-Ampere alternator charging, except the SEA PRO AMS model has 115-Ampere alternator charging. All need the same fuel, regular grade 87-Octane.

The biggest differences are in maximum engine speed. The full throttle RPM for the several models varies:
  • FOURSTROKE 5200 to 6000 RPM
  • SEAPRO 4800 to 5600
  • PRO XS 5600 to 6200

If you want a cowling color other than black, you have to get a FOURSTROKE model. They're available in three shades of white and the standard black.

Shaft lengths of 20 and 25-inches are available in all models. A 30-inch shaft is available in the SEA PRO models.

Engine weight ranges from 505-lbs (PRO XS 20-inch), 527-lbs (other 20-inch models) to 600-lbs (SEA PRO AMS 20-inch) with longer shaft models adding more unspecified weight. The heaviest engine must be the SEA PRO AMS 30-inch model, but its weight is not given in the initial specification listings.

Steering options are in three tiers. Non-power hydraulic steering is standard and power hydraulic steering is optional in the FOURSTROKE, SEAPRO CMS, and PRO XS models. The SEAPRO AMS provides "Joystick Piloting" as its standard configuration; this is apparently only useful in twin engine or multiple engine rigging.

FOURSTROKE engine are apparently the basic line, intended for recreational use.

SEA PRO engines are described as being ideal for "commercial fishing, commercial workboats[,] and law-enforcement boats."

PRO XS engines are apparently a performance upgrade from the recreational and commercial level, and offer "professional level" performance. They are apparently mandatory for professional anglers or would-be professional anglers. The 20-inch model uses the Mercury TorqueMaster gear case, which accounts for the weight reduction of about 22-lbs compared to the other 20-inch shaft models.

Whalerdog
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Re: Mercury to Reveal New V8 Outboard Engines in New Zealand

Postby Whalerdog » Fri May 25, 2018 10:27 pm

Any pricing announced?