Outboard engines continue to take over the world in terms of recreational power preference, and the demand for bigger and bolder outboards has grown exponentially. The idea of twin 300 hp outboards on the transom seems quaint in a world when so many new boat models come armed with quadruple 350s. It is in this new reality that Mercury Marine saw the need to introduce its 400 Verado outboard.
“As boats continue to increase in size, so has the need for more power,” said Mercury’s president John Pfeifer at the 400 Verado’s official unveiling at the Miami International Boat Show last February.
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The 400 Verado is based on the 350 Verado, which debuted four years ago. It features the proven 2.6L inline-six powerhead with a dual overhead cam and 24 valves. It also has a supercharger to boost power and efficiency. Paired with a 5.44-inch 1.75 HD gear case (meaning it has a gear ratio of 1.75-to-1), the 400 Verado is designed for a max rpm of between 6,200 and 6,800, depending on installation and prop selection.
The engine is expected to fill the gap in Mercury’s lineup between the existing 350 and the Mercury Racing 400R, which is designed more for speed and performance — you know, racing — than for offshore recreational use.
Mercury boasts that the new 400 Verado is the lightest in the monster class, and with a starting weight of 668 pounds for its lightest version, it is. Compare that to the 952-pound Yamaha 425 XTO, a V-8. (Within the mega-horsepower range, Suzuki’s V-6 DF350 hits the scales at 727 pounds, and Seven Marine’s V-8 527 weighs in at 1,094 pounds.) It also boasts the best horsepower-to-weight ratio at 1.67 ponies per pound.
While there are several engineering differences between the new 400 Verado and its 400 Racing sibling, one of the most noticeable proved to be the smoothness and quietness of operation. We tested the 400 Verado and several boat models at Mercury’s storied Lake X and recorded decibel sound levels in the low 60s at idle speeds. On an Axopar 37 T-top with a twin 400 Verado installation (see Boat Doc Special on page 50), we recorded a sound level of just 62 db at 1,000 rpm. At 3,500 rpm and around 27 mph, our decibel recording still measured in at just 80 — and a big part of that was from wind noise.
As for performance numbers, the twin 400 Verados pushed the Axopar 37 to a top speed of 62.7 mph at 6,800 rpm, burning a combined 76 gph. At 4,000 rpm, the engines produced a 34 mph speed while burning 21.3 gph. At the helm, it was easy to note how silky and smooth the engines felt during acceleration and also while in close-quarters handling at docking speeds, thanks to Mercury’s DTS throttles.
The 400 Verado is available in Mercury’s classic black and also three different shades of white. Expect to see them on boats ranging from pontoons on the lake up to mega-center-consoles far offshore ($34,135, mercurymarine.com).
