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My 2004 210 VENTURA is currently powered by a 2005 Mercury 225-HP VERADO. I may re-power with a Mercury FOURSTROKE 225-HP 3.4-liter.

Q1: will a current model Mercury 225 FOURSTROKE 3.4-liter produce as much power as a 2005 Mercury 225-HP VERADO?

Q2: if I re-power with a current model Mercury 225-HP FOURSTROKE 3.4-liter will there be a loss of power at low engine speeds?

Q3: if there were to be a loss of power at low engine speeds, can that loss of power at low engine speeds be compensated for by [changing to a different propeller of some unspecified type and pitch]?

Q4: should I consider re-powering with a V8 engine?

My focus is for best acceleration onto plane from a standing start.

The current VERADO 225 engine is very strong. The current propeller is a Mercury MIRAGE II [later clarified to be a MIRAGEplus ]17-pitch.


[Moderator's note: move to the PERFORMANCE forum for discussion. The topic of re-powering and performance outcomes is best discussed in the PERFORMANCE forum.]

As you say the VERADO 225-HP is very strong with excellent acceleration onto plane from a standing start at full-throttle. Before considering a replacement engine I would ensure the engine mounting height and propeller choice are optimum. I'm unsure what you want to accomplish, but the right propeller choice can make a significant difference.

In order to assess your several questions, some background information is needed.

The c.2005 Mercury VERADO 225-HP engine is a four-stroke-power-cycle in-line six-cylinder engine with only 2.6-liter displacement. The use of supercharging was necessary to produce performance that would be similar to the the classic two-stroke-power-cycle engines of larger displacement. A c.2005 engine may be from the first-generation of VERADO. In subsequent generations the VERADO 2.6-liter engine was boosted to 400-HP in some special models. Second-generation VERADO engines also improved the fuel-economy of the engine compared to the first models.

The current Mercury FOURSTROKE 225-HP engine is a four-stroke-power-cycler V6 engine with 3.4-liter displacement, but without any supercharging. In this series the 225-HP is the highest power model offered.

To get a V8 engine from Mercury's current line-up, you would need to buy their VERADO 4.6-liter V8 engine, either 250-HP or 300-HP variants. In must be noted that the badge name VERADO no longer means the engine must include a supercharger. The VERADO tag now refers to features like the Advanced Mid-Section and to electronic shift and throttle controls. The 250-HP or 300-HP models do not have a supercharger. However, they have increased displacement (4.6-liters) compared to the FOURSTROKE 225 (3.4-liters). The larger displacement and higher horsepower ratings should deliver more power than the FOURSTROKE 225 model, but at higher weight and cost.

Now to your questions.

bhipfl6247 wrote:Q1: will a current model Mercury 225 FOURSTROKE 3.4-liter produce as much power as a 2005 Mercury 225-HP VERADO?

Both engine should produce 225-HP with the usual tolerance for rated power in outboard engines.

bhipfl6247 wrote:Q2: if I re-power with a current model Mercury 225-HP FOURSTROKE 3.4-liter will there be a loss of power at low engine speeds?

The use of a supercharger generally comes into play at the higher engine speed ranges, so I would not expect that the 2005 VERADO 225 2.6-liter engine would have had MORE power than the latest model 225-HP FOURSTROKE larger displacement at low engine speeds.

bhipfl6247 wrote:Q3: if there were to be a loss of power at low engine speeds, can that loss of power at low engine speeds be compensated for by [changing to a different propeller of some unspecified type and pitch]?

The total power at the propeller shaft is a combination of the engine's power curve and the gear ratio used. Generally if you want the fastest acceleration the propeller type and pitch is selected to produce those characteristics, which then might not produces the highest possible full-throttle boat speed.

bhipfl6247 wrote:Q4: should I consider re-powering a V8 engine?

Here I have to infer that "V8" engine means a VERADO 250-HP or 300-HP engine. If 250-HP or 300-HP is permitted on the 2005 210 VENTURA, if the increased engine weight is permitted, and if the greater cost is permitted, then re-powering with a more powerful engine may be attractive for you.

bhipfl6247 wrote:The current propeller is a Mercury MIRAGE II 17-pitch.

I am unfamiliar with any propeller from Mercury under the model designator "MIRAGE II." Perhaps you are referring to the MIRAGEplus propeller.

Thank you all for the replies and clarifications.

The propeller is a MIRAGEplus. .

The three-bladed stainless steel MIRAGEplus propeller is a good all-round choice. Whether or not the current propeller and its pitch would be the optimum for a new engine is difficult to predict. A 17-pitch MIRAGEplus would be typical for a boat with a top speed of around 40 to 45-MPH.