OnBoard Magazine - Issue XIII - 2021 Season

Baxter Lusink, a veteran of Mercury Marine’s saltwater initiatives and Sales Manager for Bluewater Yacht Sales, was invited to the unveiling of Mercury’s new 600hp outboard and demo rides aboard the Valhalla V-46. “The hole shot is incredible with these new engines,” Lusink reports. “The quad-engine 46 jumped out of the gate with only three engines in the water and ten people on board.” Bluewater partner Earle Hall also attended the demo event and marveled at the boat’s ability to run at over 40 knots with only three engines. MORE FIRSTS The industry-first two-speed transmission allows these outboards to produce torque across the range of speeds, providing a quick start and consistent power while underway. Another trait of the new transmission is that the shifts are almost imperceptible while operating the boat. Lusink continues, “During test runs we tried to feel the shift and it was barely noticeable at best, and there was absolutely no ‘clunk’ when engaging into gear.” The innovative steerable gearcase allows these enormous engines to remain stationary on the transom, while only the lower units rotate underwater. This system is compatible with Mercury’s latest joystick controls and features greater range of motion over standard outboards. Another innovation includes the twin contra-rotating Mercury props: The dual prop carries more total blade area than a single large 4 blade propeller, and the 7 blades (4 blades in the front and 3 behind) use a smaller torpedo than a standard single prop. This configuration provides more surface area in contact with the water, which equates to more “bite” and power when accelerating, backing down and other high torque moments. Finally, the new engines have a completely redesigned look when compared to the previous Verado designs. It does away with the standard engine cowling dome for a gas-assisted hood that pops open for service and maintenance. Speaking of maintenance, the first service occurs past 200 hours while the second service is not performed until 1,000 hours or five years. WOW FACTOR By all accounts, Mercury appears to have delivered a true game-changer. “It's not very often you see something that actually revolutionizes the industry,” Lusink explains. “The new Mercury V12 has brought true innovation to the market at a time when power figures have increased but the wow factor has not.” To back up this revolutionary new powerplant, Mercury is providing a factory-certified technician to every customer when they take delivery of their new V12-powered boat. This tech will offer a thorough orientation of all engine- related systems on the boat. Owners also gain access to a special toll-free, direct tech support line along with a 3-year exclusive warranty, while Mercury covers the cost of the first 200-hour maintenance. Mercury’s new powerhead is designed to be incredibly versatile with multiple outputs becoming available including a commercial boat edition rated at 500 horsepower. Everyone seems excited to see hull 2 of the Valhalla V-46 outfitted with these impressive new engines and anticipate more Valhalla models accepting this powerplant in triple and quad configurations. If the opportunity for a ride aboard a boat powered by Mercury’s new revolutionary outboards presents itself, Hall and Lusink highly recommend you seize it! 2,400hp of Verado outboards were demonstrated on hull 2 of the Valhalla V-46 at Mercury Marine's secluded "Lake X" testing site. "It's not very often you see something that actually revolutionizes the industry." 23 2021 SEASON