O
n the performance side,
well, what else would
you expect from a twin
400hp supercharged rig?
Try big balls and serious
gumption, because that’s exactly
what you get from the Mercury
Racing’s Verado 400R supercharged
outboards. It still amazes me how the
horsepower grows, and the motors
get lighter.
W hat I find unique with the
Verados and in particular the 400R is
how they pack the horsepower into
less cylinders with smaller bores.
I suppose when you look at the
transformation from high-output
V8s to the latest four-cylinder turbo-
diesels in vehicles, it’s a similar
scenario. Everything is getting
smaller, lighter, and pumps out the
kW as time moves along.TWIN TREATS
What impresses me is the
supercharged twin 400hp Verados
eliminate the need for a triple setup
on the Wellcraft 302 Fisherman to
maximise performance. Compare
800hp twins with 900hp in triples,
and I don’t think there’s going to be
a massive difference in the overall
performance and top end. At the
end of the day you’re saving on theSea TrialsWind 5 to 12kts variable. Sea moderate to rough 2m easterly swell.
RPM SPEED (KTS) FUEL BURN (LT/H)
600 3.6 4.7
1000 6.38 9.2
1500 7.29 14.4
2000 8.59 23.5
2500 9.4 38.7
3000 12.3 57
3500 16.7 69
4000 27 86 (optimum cruise speeed)
4500 31 101
5000 36 127
5500 40 179
6000 44.9 249
6500 48 279
6550 48.6 281
7020 49 298 (WOT)
*Sea-trial data supplied by the author. Fuel burn figures combined for both motors.“It’s a sexy motor
and powerhouse
performer that's
surprisingly quiet”
extra outlay of the third motor and
running costs.
So where does the 400hp come
from considering the inline six-
cylinder starts at a 200hp. Well, it’s
quite involved but to cut a long story
short there’s a multitude of racing
components packed into the 400R,
and in a recreational form that
revs out to 7000rpm on premium
unleaded fuel to maximise the
298kW of power and torque.
It’s a sexy motor and powerhouse
performer that’s surprisingly
quiet. And with digital controlsand electronic steering assist it
provides a really smooth drive. Fuel
consumption on the 302 from idle
to the mid-range revs and speed is
also relatively low considering the
horsepower and hull size/weight.
Topping out at 49kts you will chew
the gas but that’s to be expected.
Naturally, the 400Rs have more
grunt and top end than the 300 and
350hp models, but surprisingly
the fuel consumption only varies
between 10 to 25 per cent less on
a similar weighted hull with twin
300hp Verados.tradeboats.com.au 115