Trade-A-Boat - July 2018

THE 350 VERADO CONTINUES TO PERFORM EVEN AMONGST ITS V8

COMPETITORS

Mercurial Survivor

I

n news that shook up

the boating industry,

Mercury recently

announced their new

engine lineup and the

move to big block V8 power.

The only survivors of the

supercharged generation are

the 350 and 400 Verados.

THE TECH

These continuing 2.6-litre

Verados produce their

power from an in-line six

cylinder block with forced

induction technology — a

supercharger. This supplies

a denser fuel-air mix to

the combustion chamber

and delivers an increase in

energy without the extra

weight of a high capacity

engine.

Although the Verado

range was unveiled in 2004,

it wasn’t until 2015 that the

350hp version hit the water.

Gradual changes during

the model run saw the

company refine the process

of getting more power out

of the design. The 350 uses

improved airflow, higher lift

cams, bigger fuel injectors, a

water-cooled supercharger

and computerised injectors

to produce the jump in

output, over the similar

sized engines in the range.

Their electronic boost

pressure control monitors

boost airflow within the

system and automatically

feeds excess air back

through the intake, for

maximum efficiency. Anti-

knock sensors allow the use

of 91 and even 89 Ron fuel,

but for maximum power,

you will need 95.

THE

PERFORMANCE

On the water, the 350 Verado

is a whispering beast and

the twin setup on our Chris-

Craft Catalina 30 showed

why the model has survived

the cut. Acceleration from

a standstill is scintillating,

even with the effort of

launching over five tonnes

of American fibreglass onto

the plane.

Best cruising efficiency was

at 4000rpm and 27kts, with

a fuel burn of 84lph from

both engines, for a range of

216nm with 10 per cent in

reserve. Acceleration right

through the range is smooth

and rapid, and at 6000rpm

we saw an impressive 46kts.

THE WRAP

Verado lives on in the 350

and 400hp models, and

they still win the power

stakes across the Mercury

range. How long this will be

72 tradeaboat.com.au

outboard

test

THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BOATS

Mercury 350 Verado

STORY & PHOTOS JOHN FORD