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Cetacea Page 77

February 16, 2004

Miami Boat Show

I had the pleasure of attending the Miami Boat Show last week. Here is a quick photo-tour of what we saw and did down there. First have a peak at the new Verado engine from Mercury, then take a tour of Boston Whaler's new 305 CONQUEST and other boats at their show display.

VERADO Engine

Of course, the main event on Thursday, February 12th, was the announcement of the new Mercury 4-stroke engine. Formerly "Project-X" in pre-release publicity and secretly "Family-3" in internal Mercury documents, the new engine was given the brand name VERADO.

For more about the VERADO engines and the rest of the show, see my article in the forum.

 

Photo: Mercury Verado Engine Display
Cut-Away Verado Engine Display
A nicely chromed and polished cut-away display of the new 2.6-Litre VERADO engine attracted a steady stream of onlookers. The supercharger outlet and downstream aftercooler with copper radiator for the boost air are seen in this view. (Sorry for the slightly soft image. A number of the indoor pictures did not turn out well; I guess I was too excited and didn't notice the slow shutter speed!)
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-01

 

Photo: Mercury Verado Engine Display with JWH
Nothing "Shrimpy" About This Engine
Elevated about a foot by a stand, the VERADO engine really towers over me. I'm 5-ft 10-inches and 200 lbs. The Verado is taller and more than three times my weight.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-02

 

Photo: Mercury Verado Engine at On-Water Test Drive Dock
Research and Development
On the way out on the pier where Mercury was giving test rides on the new Verado engines, we had to stop to take this picture of a nice set up on a Hell's Bay center console. The SmartCraft gauges and DTS throttle are nicely laid out on the console. The Steering wheel appears to be an Edson style "racing wheel". These VERADO engines seemed to be attracting a lot of attention. As I mentioned, the show has quite an international flavor. (Thanks to pmucciolo for identifying that boat!)
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-03

 

Photo: Mercury Verado Engine at On-Water Test Drive Dock--Yamaha Engineer taking pictures
More Research
You can see the DTS throttle and shift controls on the console.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-04

 

Photo: Mercury Verado Engine Digital Throttle and Shift Controls
Electro-Hydraulic Steering
I was trying to get a good shot of the new electro-hydraulic steering but I seem to have included Mr. Hidetaka Kobayashi of the Yamaha Watercraft Group in the frame. The console is rigged with an SC5000 display, twin SC1000 multiple gauge displays, and five individual gauges. The combinations are endless.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-05

 

Photo: Mercury Verado Engines on Transom of Boston Whaler 320 Outrage
500-HP on the Transom
A pair of the new Verado 250-HP 4-strokes on the transom of a Boston Whaler 320 makes for a very clean installation. The port engine is counter-rotating and does not have the integral hydraulic steering unit. The hydraulic actuator is on the mounting mechanism and remains stationary as the motor pivots, thus the connecting cables can be short and do not need slack to move around the splash well. Tiller extensions are added to the engines and coupled with a tie bar for dual engine installations like this. The engine graphics are very nicely styled.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-06

 

Photo: Wake of Boston Whaler 320 with twin VERADO 250-HP engines
Clean Wake
The 320 OUTRAGE from Boston Whaler is 13,000 pounds of boat in this trim. It leaves a nice clean wake as we cruise along about 40-MPH at Government Cut in the Port of Miami.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-07

 

Photo: Mercury Verado Engine at slow speed
Clean Flow
The unusual shape of the mid-cowling and upper lower unit seem to facilitate very clean water flow at low speeds.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-08

 

Photo: Mercury Verado Engine at On-Water Test Drive Dock--LHG in the Splash Well
LHG Went Overboard
LHG was impressed with the new engines, but he was not quite going overboard. The weight is a concern when re-powering older hulls. On the transom of this 32-foot boat they look more in proportion than indoors on the model stands.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-09

 

305 CONQUEST

Boston Whaler had a very large display and brought their newest model, the 305 CONQUEST, to the show. With a MSRP of $185,000—boat-show priced at $176,781—the big Conquest is at the upper end of the "outboard" boat range. This pushes Boston Whaler into the big cabin boat category with Grady-White's 30-foot-plus boats. The 305 Conquest is just over 32-feet LOA including the bow pulpit. The boat carries 300-gallons of gasoline in three tanks. (Imagine what a fill-up at marine gas prices would cost!) Just the fuel on this Boston Whaler weighs as much as most 18-Outrage hulls. This particular boat also has the Cruise Package which adds a diesel generator and another (15-gallon) fuel tank.

Coming from my modest 20 REVENGE, this new Conquest was a giant step in size, weight, and price, but I had to go aboard to give it a look.

 

Photo: 2004 Boston Whaler 305 CONQUEST cockpit view from stern
305 CONQUEST
The wrap-around companion seat opposite the helm is what sells my wife on this boat.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-10

 

Photo: 2004 Boston Whaler 305 CONQUEST cockpit view from helm
Cockpit
The cockpit has plenty of room. The transom has a hideaway bench seat.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-11

 

Photo: 2004 Boston Whaler 305 CONQUEST Helm Console
Helm Console
This boat did not have the now-standard SmartCraft guage package, but instead was rigged with this nice layout of conventional instrumentation (possibly due to it being rigged with the 4-stroke engines of Yamaha heritage). There are three fuel tank level gauges in the center column. Twin tachometers, trim, water pressure, and temperature gauges fill out the panel. Lenco trim tabs are standard, and you can see the controls between the wheel and the throttle/shift. Again, the faux instruments are just cut-out vinyl appliques.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-12

 

Photo: 2004 Boston Whaler 305 CONQUEST with Mercury 225-HP Four-stroke engine
Engine Rigging
This boat has the 225-HP 4-stroke optional engines. They are steered with a single center-mount hydraulic cylinder. A nicely hinged tie bar connects the engines. Note the primer bulb in the rigging, oriented vertically just before the fuel line enters the cowling.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-13

 

Photo: 2004 Boston Whaler 305 CONQUEST Cabin Port Side
Cabin Port Side
The cabin has very nice accommodations and includes a galley set up.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-14

 

Photo: 2004 Boston Whaler 305 CONQUEST cabin with table rigged
Cabin Dining
For the boat show manufacturers always dress up the cabin table like this, but I wonder if anyone has ever taken a meal at sea on a small boat with this much tableware.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-15

 

Photo: 2004 Boston Whaler 305 CONQUEST Cabin Starboard Side
Cabin Commode
The starboard side of the cabin has an enclosed head compartment.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-16

 

Photo: 2004 Boston Whaler 305 CONQUEST Mid Cabin berth
Mid Cabin Berth
The big advantage of outboard-powered boats of this size is the space saved in the mid-cabin area by not having to use it for the propulsion plant. Instead of a pair of V-8's you get this nice mid-cabin berth.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-17

 

Photo: 2004 Miami International Boat Show display of Boston Whaler
Boston Whaler Boat Show Display
Boston Whaler had a large indoor exhibit at the Miami Convention Center with a dozen or more boats. That signage in the center shows a 320 OUTRAGE being towed as a tender. Surprisingly, sales of that boat into the luxury yacht tender market have been good!
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-18

 

Photo: 2004 Miami International Boat Show display of Boston Whaler
New 110 Sport
The new 110 SPORT was also prominently featured, but did not seem to attract as much interest as the larger boats.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-19

 

Photo: 2004 Miami International Boat Show, LHG and Will Rogers of Boston Whaler
Whaler's Southern Hospitality
LHG had a long conversation with Will Rogers, S.E. Regional Sales Manager at Boston Whaler. He encouraged us to return in April for the factory sponsored Boston Whaler Owners Open Fishing Tournament in Stuart, Florida. The event drew a nice crowd last year—don't miss it! It will be April 16-18. There will be plenty of prizes and promotions, and a host of Boston Whaler and Mercury people will be on hand, along with many other Whaler owners. For more information call 800-WHALER9.
PhotoCredit: James W. Hebert - Reference: 77-20

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This article first appeared Febrary 16, 2004.
Last modified: Sunday, 22-Feb-2004 09:05:35 EST
Author: James W. Hebert