Advice on new motor

[cold one sd]

I am looking at buying a new boat with a 150 verado on it and would like any advice about the verado engines. I realize that the 150 is a new engine, but I would like to hear about the existing verados.

[Satchmo]

They have been simply awesome motors. While they are not as fuel efficient as the Yamaha or Honda 4-strokes, they offer better hole shot, accelleration and top end performance. They are a bit spendy compared to the other 4-strokes however. You will definately want to shop around.

[Ray Esboldt]

I went to the Bass Expo at the Bassmasters Classic a few weeks ago and talked to a Mercury rep. He did have lots of enthusiasm for 150 Verado, but liked the 150 Optimax quite a bit better - lighter, almost equally as fuel efficient, proven technology, and bit easier on the pocket book. I did not ask about top end comparison, but I bet the Verado get the edge. It's got a turbo charger - it's got to be fast.

[TSCTSC]

Well...Verado....

If you are in the market, you are in good shape.

The Verado is basically a supercharged...not turbocharged, version of a 4 stroke engine. As we all know, the 4 strokes have poor hole shots, whereas the 2 strokes are a little noisier. In essence, the Verado tries to maximise the best of both worlds by supercharging a 4 stroke so that it has more torque, thus giving a 4 stroke a better hole shot. In addition, the Verado is like the Optimax in that it also has digital RPM and speed controls if you buy the smart gauges so that you can fix the RPM or speed at which you want the motor to be at. To me....it is like a dream motor.

I cannot comment tho about reliability etc. But this is what I know about all its capabilities from talking to merc guys and reading their brochures. And it helps that the motor look good....big and menacing!!

[PierBridge]

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And it helps that the motor look good....big and menacing!!

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That's the thing I can't stand about the Verado, it so big and ugly.

Good Luck!

[Juan Grande]

Is there a big difference between a Merc 4 stroke and say a Yamaha four stroke? I just got a new boat and got a 115 hp 4 stoke Merc on it. I wanted a Yamaha, but they only had two 2005 boats and they were both prerigged for a Merc. I guess I don't really know that much about motors and just wanted a Yamaha because that's what everyone seems to recommend. The sales guy said the Merc 115 and the Yamaha 115 were basically the same motor in 2005.

Did I make a bad decision?

[cold one sd]

I have heard that the Merc 115 four stroke is a great engine. The reason that I am looking at the Verado instead of the Optimax is that my wife gets a very bad headache if she is around a two stroke. I have been running inboard/outboards for 25 tears because of this. Now that the world of four strokes is here I am switching back to an outboard. I hope I won't be making a mistake. I just want to fish a little later in the fall and earlier in the spring than you do with an I/O.

[PierBridge]

Sounds like a good choice then Cold One!

Juan Grande Excellant motor, Yamaha used to suply Merc with the power heads but I believe they make there own now either way it's a great motor just like all the 4-strokes are.

[marine_man]

I believe that Mercury is still buying the 115 Yamaha powerhead for their motors through this year... then they're going to be doing something else... although I haven't heard what that is yet...

marine_man

[kjgmh]

The new 115 will be a 150 Verado without the charger on it. 200 - 250hp inline 6 with charger, 135-175 inline 4 with charger and 90-125 inline 4 without charger.

[marine_man]

Thanks for the info kjgmh...

Any early reports on the performance of the new smaller verados (115-135?)

marine_man

[cold one sd]

I bought a Lund 1800 Fisherman today with a 150 Verado, Smart Guages, Power Pedistals and other stuff. I think I'll be pretty happy. Thanks guys!

[marine_man]

Sounds like you got a great rig... you'll really enjoy the smartcraft gauges... more info than you could ever use, plus the ability to adjust your trolling speed from the dash without trying to get it set with the drive control...

Congrats!

marine_man

[cold one sd]

marine man, I don't know if I will be able to adjust idle speed an a four stroke like you can with the Optimax due to oil pressure with the four stroke. I would be interested in knowing if anyone has this info. Also the new Verados are 135, 150 and 175. So far the 115 isn't supercharged.

[kjgmh]

Yes you should be able to adjust your trolling speed on the Verado. I do not think that you will be able to slow in down more than normal, but will be able to set at a certain RPM, or if equiped will be able to set a speed.

[cold one sd]

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Yes you should be able to adjust your trolling speed on the Verado. I do not think that you will be able to slow in down more than normal, but will be able to set at a certain RPM, or if equiped will be able to set a speed.

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I should be able to find out more an Monday. My dealer's mechanic is away at Verado school at this time. I did a little checking on the Mercury home page and there are 56 pages of instructions for the smart guages. Wow, I hope an old coot like me can handle it.

[TSCTSC]

Dun sweat it. I think Mercs are probably OK now. You gonna have a nice quiet 4 stroke although it will not have the holeshot of the 2 stroke or verado. But I think the difference between Yam and Merc is probably not that large.

Also, when sales people tell you that Yam and Mercs are essentially the same, they are basically glazing over a lot of stuff. As far as I know, certain components of Mercs are made by Yammy and the converse is true for Yammy. But in the end, Mercs had a bad run of reliability. I think it turned out to be some bad fuel system or rail or something like that that blew their powerheads. So...sometimes, the weakest link is something else.

But I think they have that sorted out now so I think you should be fine.