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Quick specs
MERCURY 40 SUPER
ENGINE TYPE Loop charged 3
cylinder two-stroke outboard
RATED BHP/MHP* 39.9/40.5 at
5350rpm
WOT RPM RANGE 5000 to 5700rpm
DISPLACEMENT 697cc
BORE X STROKE 68 × 64mm
GEAR RATIO 1.85:1
WEIGHT – LONG SHAFT ONLY 72kg
RRP $4,940
OEDA STARS 1*Brake horsepower/metric
horsepower or PSsupplied the Brooker couldn't believe I started
the engine manually instead of using the electric
starter but as the 40 Super is such an easy engine
to start I couldn't resist.
The only drawback of the 40 Super is its side
gear shift, an upfront shift would make the engine
nicer to use.
All three engines were well finished with
excellent paintwork as expected of a Mercury
product.
THE WRAP
This year there has been a mad rush by
commercial operators to buy carbie two-strokes
before the ban on buying new outboards comes
into force in next year. One outboard importer
told me that a local hire boat company ordered 26
outboards to ensure it would still have lightweight
engines long after the ban came into force.
According to OEDA 92 per cent of all
outboards sold in Australia last year in the 40 to
60 horsepower market were low emission engines,
whether four-stroke or DFI two-stroke. So is
there a point in buying a 40 Super when down the
track its resale will be nowhere near as high as a
comparable output four-stroke?
The decision should be based on what type of
hull it will be mounted on and how frequently
the engine will be used. If you're re-powering
an older tinny, such as a Quintrex 4.3 metre
Seaman, which was never designed to take the
weight of a four-stroke 40, then the 40 Super
makes great sense as the additional weight will
damage the hull and in any case over capitalising
on an older boat is illogical (I've been caught
out this way). However, if your hull can take
the weight and you can afford the additional
purchase and servicing costs then a four-stroke
40 would be the answer.
At the moment Aussie boaters have a choice of
whether to go carbie two-stroke or low emission.
But as outboard manufacturers expect to close off
forward stock ordering by June this year it will be
increasingly hard to buy a new carbie two-stroke
outboard as existing stocks dwindle. That will just
be another example of the nanny state in which
we live where choices are taken from us without
asking if we agree or not. At least our mates across
The Ditch still have choices!
For your nearest dealer Google Mercury
Outboards Australia,click on Find a Dealer then
enter your postcode.Sea Trials
Single 40 Super on 4.45 metre Sea Jay Escape swinging
a 12.5-inch pitch alloy prop. Total displacement 540kg
including two adults, fishing tackle and full 60-litre
underfloor fuel tank. Average of two way runs on Lake
Macquarie NSW, calm water. Range is in nautical miles from
the standard 25 litre fuel tank with a 10% reserve, rounded
to nearest whole number.Single 40 Super on 4.8 metre Smartwave open dinghy
swinging 11 inch alloy prop. Total displacement 650kg
including two adults. Average of two way runs on Lake
Macquarie NSW, calm water. Range as above.RPM Kts L/h Range (NM)
700 (trolling) 1.9 1.3 33
4000 (two thirds) 18.0 8.5 48
5000 (WOT) 24.9 19.5 29RPM Kts L/h Range (NM)
800 (trolling) 1.9 1.3 33
3300 (planing) 18.0 8.5 48
5000 (three quarters) 24.9 19.5 29
5700 (WOT) 24.6 19.8 28