320 OUTRAGE CUDDY Twin 275 Verado: Fuel Economy, Reliability

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Author Topic:   320 OUTRAGE CUDDY Twin 275 Verado: Fuel Economy, Reliability

leon posted 05-18-2006 09:17 AM ET (US)
I [purchased a Boston Whaler 320 OUTRAGE CUDDY with twin 275-HP Verado engines] a few months ago. The mileage [I] get from the boat is around 25% less than reported in [some unspecified] boating magazine article, although [I] run the boat under exactly the same conditions, propellers, and weight, [as the unspecified boating magazine test article].
What is wrong?
Does [the boat and engine installation] need some special tuning?
I use 97-octane leadfree gas.
Are the [275-HP Mercury Verado] engines reliable? Is the Northstar system reliable? Are they reliable so I can safely take [the boat] to open seas and island-hop around the Mediterranean for 2,000 [nautical miles] within three weeks?
elaelap posted 05-18-2006 10:12 AM ET (US)
I know those big Verados are supposed to be powerful motors, Leon, but I really don't think they'll get your boat up to 2000 knots--I mean, that's about three times the speed of sound, and most Whalers don't even break the sound barrier, no matter how they're powered ;-)
Welcome to this forum and to your first little taste of friendly abuse. I know that you were talking about cruising about 2000 nautical or statute miles, but just couldn't resist (and I know you know that a 'knot' is a designation of speed, not distance, representing nautical miles per hour). I'm sure one our knowledgeable gear-heads will give you some suggestions about fuel economy and engine tuning, perhaps involving raising your motors an inch or two on the transom or working on the trim of your vessel. Good luck...I envy you your cruise.
Tony
bsmotril posted 05-18-2006 12:04 PM ET (US)
Are you running the same propellors that were used in the test article? That would be the first place I would look. BillS
VI Jamie 22 posted 05-18-2006 08:55 PM ET (US)
You might want to consider the new Mercury Enertia props. They look promising. As far as reliability goes, the small experience I have had with Verados is that they have problems like everyone else, but not an engine for you to be worried about. Hope you have fun!!
jimh posted 05-18-2006 11:22 PM ET (US)
In addition to the weight, other variables which could affect the performance of the boat as compared to that reported in the test article are:
--air temperature
--water temperature
Lower air and water temperatures tend to improve performance. If your conditions are different that those in the unspecified boating magazine article, your results may be different.
There is no known published information on the reliability of the Verado engines. All reports of this engine are anecdotal. (Of course, you can say this about every outboard engine. Manufacturers have never provided any reliable data about rate of failure, and this is nothing unique to the Verado outboard motors.) There have been a number of anecdotal reports of problems related to the electric fuel pump. This may be indicative of a potential problem area with the Verado motor.
rocket posted 05-19-2006 04:17 PM ET (US)
Several [Verado] owners have reported loosing one of their engines while offshore fishing and having to come way back to port on one engine, slowly. There is supposed to be a fix from Mercury that came out in the last two weeks for a float switch in the fuel vapor separator tank. From what I could gather, the float switch needle and seat arrangement was sticking "up" causing the fuel level in the tank to get low, in turn allowing the high-pressure fuel pump to run dry and be damaged. In your case it might make sense to inquire of your dealer about verifying there is such a [service adisory] and then having this [modification] installed up front instead of waiting to find out thru the school of hard knocks that you have one of the (few) engines with this specific problem. Your dealer will have an electronic link into Mercury Marine's web site that will allow him to see any/all updates that are appropriate for your specific engines.
Have a safe & enjoyable voyage
Rocket
[This article contained a recommendation to move this discussion to another website, but I have to observe that there is a great deal of content on CONTINUOUSWAVE about the Verado engine--and there has been, still is, and will be in the future, a great deal of discussion about the Mercury Verado engines. In the context of how they perform on a Boston Whaler boat, I can think of no more appropriate place to discuss the Verado than right here--jimh.]
fourdfish posted 05-19-2006 07:12 PM ET (US)
My friend's [Verado fuel pump] was replaced by the dealer over a month and a half ago!
jimh posted 05-19-2006 07:56 PM ET (US)
It is good to hear that this fuel pump problem is being handled routinely by dealers.

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Author	Topic: 320 OUTRAGE CUDDY Twin 275 Verado: Fuel Economy, Reliability
leon	posted 05-18-2006 09:17 AM ET (US) I [purchased a Boston Whaler 320 OUTRAGE CUDDY with twin 275-HP Verado engines] a few months ago. The mileage [I] get from the boat is around 25% less than reported in [some unspecified] boating magazine article, although [I] run the boat under exactly the same conditions, propellers, and weight, [as the unspecified boating magazine test article]. What is wrong? Does [the boat and engine installation] need some special tuning? I use 97-octane leadfree gas. Are the [275-HP Mercury Verado] engines reliable? Is the Northstar system reliable? Are they reliable so I can safely take [the boat] to open seas and island-hop around the Mediterranean for 2,000 [nautical miles] within three weeks?
elaelap	posted 05-18-2006 10:12 AM ET (US) I know those big Verados are supposed to be powerful motors, Leon, but I really don't think they'll get your boat up to 2000 knots--I mean, that's about three times the speed of sound, and most Whalers don't even break the sound barrier, no matter how they're powered ;-) Welcome to this forum and to your first little taste of friendly abuse. I know that you were talking about cruising about 2000 nautical or statute miles, but just couldn't resist (and I know you know that a 'knot' is a designation of speed, not distance, representing nautical miles per hour). I'm sure one our knowledgeable gear-heads will give you some suggestions about fuel economy and engine tuning, perhaps involving raising your motors an inch or two on the transom or working on the trim of your vessel. Good luck...I envy you your cruise. Tony
bsmotril	posted 05-18-2006 12:04 PM ET (US) Are you running the same propellors that were used in the test article? That would be the first place I would look. BillS
VI Jamie 22	posted 05-18-2006 08:55 PM ET (US) You might want to consider the new Mercury Enertia props. They look promising. As far as reliability goes, the small experience I have had with Verados is that they have problems like everyone else, but not an engine for you to be worried about. Hope you have fun!!
jimh	posted 05-18-2006 11:22 PM ET (US) In addition to the weight, other variables which could affect the performance of the boat as compared to that reported in the test article are: --air temperature --water temperature Lower air and water temperatures tend to improve performance. If your conditions are different that those in the unspecified boating magazine article, your results may be different. There is no known published information on the reliability of the Verado engines. All reports of this engine are anecdotal. (Of course, you can say this about every outboard engine. Manufacturers have never provided any reliable data about rate of failure, and this is nothing unique to the Verado outboard motors.) There have been a number of anecdotal reports of problems related to the electric fuel pump. This may be indicative of a potential problem area with the Verado motor.
rocket	posted 05-19-2006 04:17 PM ET (US) Several [Verado] owners have reported loosing one of their engines while offshore fishing and having to come way back to port on one engine, slowly. There is supposed to be a fix from Mercury that came out in the last two weeks for a float switch in the fuel vapor separator tank. From what I could gather, the float switch needle and seat arrangement was sticking "up" causing the fuel level in the tank to get low, in turn allowing the high-pressure fuel pump to run dry and be damaged. In your case it might make sense to inquire of your dealer about verifying there is such a [service adisory] and then having this [modification] installed up front instead of waiting to find out thru the school of hard knocks that you have one of the (few) engines with this specific problem. Your dealer will have an electronic link into Mercury Marine's web site that will allow him to see any/all updates that are appropriate for your specific engines. Have a safe & enjoyable voyage Rocket [This article contained a recommendation to move this discussion to another website, but I have to observe that there is a great deal of content on CONTINUOUSWAVE about the Verado engine--and there has been, still is, and will be in the future, a great deal of discussion about the Mercury Verado engines. In the context of how they perform on a Boston Whaler boat, I can think of no more appropriate place to discuss the Verado than right here--jimh.]
fourdfish	posted 05-19-2006 07:12 PM ET (US) My friend's [Verado fuel pump] was replaced by the dealer over a month and a half ago!
jimh	posted 05-19-2006 07:56 PM ET (US) It is good to hear that this fuel pump problem is being handled routinely by dealers.