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Mercury is the first major manufacturer of marine internal-combustion engines to offer an electric outboard option. The Avator 7.5e delivers comparable performance metrics to Mercury’s time-tested 3.5 hp four-stroke gasoline engine, minus the locally emitted carbon dioxide. The Avator 7.5e is also the only outboard currently on the market with a transverse flux motor, a design that Andrew Przybyl, Mercury’s technical manager and engineer for the Avator line, says has high-torque-density characteristics. The Avator 7.5e comes with a 1 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that nests inside the outboard’s flip-top cowl, and a color display with GPS that gives operators a wealth of real-time range information.

“One of the biggest challenges we had was setting up the overall architecture of the outboard,” Przybyl says. The solution involved auditioning different concepts and designs, and then choosing the right supporting technologies, including batteries, motor types and overall configurations. “In electrification, overall system efficiency is the name of the game,” he says. “The other aspect was sustainability. This outboard is highly recyclable.” Creating a recyclable design, Przybyl says, involved using componentry from nontraditional materials. “Sustainability is an important part of our culture,” Przybyl says.

While the Avator 7.5e is intended for use aboard smaller boats, Mercury plans to release the bigger Avator 20e and 35e outboards later this year. All three of these electric motors will employ similar architecture, displays and companion apps.

Charge and Go

The Mercury Marine Avator 7.5e can run for 60 minutes at full throttle off a charged-up 1 kilowatt-hour battery, or for as long as 2.8 hours at 75  percent throttle (or 6.2 hours at 50 percent throttle, or 19.4 hours at 25 percent throttle). Users can also change out batteries in seconds.

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Mercury Racing has introduced the Mercury Racing V8 500R outboard, which the company says it created “for no-compromise owners of the fastest luxury sport boats.”

Stuart Halley, Mercury Racing general manager, stated in a press release: “Capable of delivering more than 500 horsepower in a wide range of conditions and weighing as little as 720 pounds, the 500R establishes a new benchmark for outboard power density. This motor offers incredible mid-range punch and pulls with unrelenting authority all the way to wide-open throttle. This is the most exciting production outboard to ever emerge from the Mercury Racing shop.”

The 500R has more than 500 eager horsepower, which is 50 more horsepower plus 10 percent higher torque than the 450R model. Its 4.6-liter, 64-degree, V8 FourStroke powerhead is boosted by a Mercury Racing supercharger. The engine is designed to perform on pump fuel with a minimum 89-octane (95 RON) rating.

Also on the 500R are upgraded component designs in the powerhead, cooling system, midsection and steering system. A new, 5.9-inch diameter gearcase, available in R-Drive and R-Drive Sport configurations, transfers the power to the water.

What lengths are available for the Mercury Racing 500R? It can be ordered at 20 inches, 25 inches, 30 inches or 35 inches for single- or multi-engine applications.

Take the next step: go to mercuryracing.com

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Sea Ray has launched another model in its SLX Series: The SLX 280 Outboard, powered by twin Mercury 250 Verado engines.

“Last year, we introduced the SLX 260, which received accolades for design and innovation,” Keith Yunger, Sea Ray president, stated in a press release. “Our latest model maintains the sleek styling and premium features found on the 260, but with more space and additional amenities that help boaters enjoy a day on the water.”

Length overall is 31 feet, 5 inches. Features include a cockpit sole compartment for gear, along with upgrades for a drawer-style cockpit fridge, a dry-storage compartment and an end table with an inductive charging station.

An optional Power Tower can be electrically raised or lowered with an extendable sunshade, and can be ordered with a Fusion Signature Series package.

What other tech is on board? Joystick piloting, Dual Digital Dash with 9-inch Simrad touchscreen displays, Active Trim, CZone digital switching and more.

Take the next step: visit searay.com

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Back in 2018, Mercury Marine thrilled boaters with the introduction of its V-6 and V-8 outboard engines, the result of the largest new-product development program in the company’s nearly 80-year history.

Now, the brand is adding the marine industry’s first V-10 outboard to its offerings. This Verado engine is available in 350 hp or 400 hp. It’s a 5.7-liter design that is compatible with Mercury SmartCraft technology. It also can be ordered with an optional dual-mode 48-volt/12-volt alternator to pair with Navico Group’s Fathom e-power system, an integrated lithium-ion auxiliary power management setup that lets boaters eliminate an onboard generator.

“They are powerful, smooth and quiet,” Chris Drees, president of Mercury Marine, said when introducing the V-10 Verado outboards. “They have many of the same fuel-efficiency-enhancing features that are synonymous with our high-horsepower lineup. They also deliver the same kind of premium boating experience that has made Verado outboards legendary.”

The company says it expects the V-10s to become a popular choice with owners of larger saltwater center-consoles, freshwater fishing boats that have single-engine setups, pontoon boats and smaller center-consoles. Each engine reportedly weighs 695 pounds and has the same 26-inch mount spacing as Mercury V-8 outboards, which means the V-10 is compatible with current boat designs. In addition, the V-10s are designed with multi-engine use or repowering in mind.

According to Mercury Marine, the new engines include the outboard industry’s first V-10 naturally aspirated powerhead. It uses 5.7-liter displacement and a quad-cam design to improve speed and acceleration. A 150-amp alternator is also part of the design and is intended to charge onboard batteries quickly while  supporting the boat’s electrical system.

Also part of the V-10 design is a new hydrodynamic gear case and a new Revolution X propeller. Mercury Marine says the larger diameter and wider blades on the prop, combined with the deep ratio of the gear case, result in better handling and acceleration, and in high efficiency from low speed to wide-open throttle. Advanced Range Optimization is part of the package, as is Adaptive Speed Control, which maintains engine rpm despite changes in load or conditions. That means boaters climbing large swells should have an easier time.

The V-10 Verados will also be compatible with a Mercury electric steering system for multi-outboard vessels that is expected to start shipping this month.

“We challenged our engineers to improve acceleration and overall performance with the new V-10 Verado outboards while also making them quieter and lighter than competitors’ outboards in this horsepower range,” said Tim Reid, Mercury Marine vice president of product development and engineering. “Once again, they exceeded expectations.”

Investing in the Future

Creating new engines like this V-10 outboard, and then bringing those products to consumers in a safe and reliable way, is neither cheap nor easy. That’s why Mercury Marine has invested heavily in research and development for quite some time now. Since 2008, the company has invested $2 billion on that front, including expanding its manufacturing footprint to more than 3 million square feet. 

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Mercury Racing is celebrating its 50-year milestone with events planned throughout the year to commemorate the anniversary.

A kickoff event was held at the Miami International Boat Show, with the introduction of the Mercury Racing V10 400R outboard and the Ventera performance propeller.

“For a half-century, the organization known today as Mercury Racing has been at the forefront of marine high performance,” Stuart Halley, Mercury Racing general manager, stated in a press release. “One constant has been the unwavering dedication of our employees, dealers and suppliers, and our boatbuilder partners, racers and customers who have always pushed us to lead the race and to lead the industry.”

The Mercury Marine Hi-Performance Products Department was established in 1973. It evolved to include outboard, sterndrive and performance products for racers and performance pleasure boaters alike.

Where’s the big party? In honor of the 50-year celebration, Mercury Racing is planning a Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge festival of powerboat racing in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, from August 11-13.

Where to learn more: go to mercuryracing.com

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Scout Boats unveiled its biggest boat yet at the 2023 Miami International Boat Show: the Scout 67’ LX Series, dubbed Project Everest.

The South Carolina-based boatbuilder’s 67-foot, outboard-powered flagship is a sportfishing yacht that comes in three variations: the 670 LXF (luxury fish model), the 670 LXS (luxury sport model) and the 670 LXC (luxury cruiser model). The primary difference between each version is what’s overhead. On the fish version, there’s a flybridge; on the sport version, there’s a hardtop; and the upper station is pushed forward on the cruiser version.

The 67 LX measures 66 feet, 9 inches, length overall, with a 16-foot beam. Powered with five 600 hp Mercury V-12 outboards, Scout projects the top speed to be about 52 knots, with a 434-nautical-mile range at a 35-knot cruise speed. Fuel capacity is 1,500 gallons. Scout says there are no plans to build the 67’ LX Series with inboard power.

The helm is to starboard, and four steps lead belowdecks to an entertainment/theater room. The forepeak master stateroom with en suite head is accessed via double sliding doors that open at the push of a button.

Scout partnered with superyacht design studio Harrison Eidsgaard for Project Everest. Each 670 LX yacht will be built in carbon fiber epoxy, with construction expected to start in the third quarter of 2023. Scout says Hull No. 1 is expected to debut at the 2024 Miami Boat Show, and full production is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2024.

“People look at outboard-powered boats as being trailerable boats ‘cause an outboard-powered boat has typically always been trailerable boats. … People think of a center-console being a utility or fishing boat that has a console in the center,” Scout Boats CEO Steve Potts said at the Miami Show. “I believe that we as designers and builders of these boats have to design and build things that reach people’s imagination. And it’s time for us to develop things that are reaching people’s imagination.”

What is the base price of a Scout 67’ LX Series yacht? $5 million.

Take the next step: scoutboats.com

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Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corp., has introduced the marine industry’s first V-10 outboard.

The V-10 Verado is a 5.7-liter engine that comes in 350 and 400 horsepower. According to the manufacturer, the V-10 runs 45 percent quieter than competing outboards at cruise speed.

These new outboards are compatible with Mercury SmartCraft technology and are available with an optional dual-mode 48-volt/12-volt alternator to pair with Navico Group’s Fathom e-power system. It’s a lithium-ion auxiliary power-management setup that lets boaters eliminate the need for an onboard generator.

“The all-new Mercury V-10 Verado outboards are exactly what boaters have been asking for in a 350- and 400-horsepower platform,” Chris Drees, Mercury Marine’s president, stated in a press release. “They are powerful, smooth and quiet. They have many of the same fuel efficiency-enhancing features that are synonymous with our high-horsepower lineup.”

Each of the new engines weighs 695 pounds and has the same 26-inch mount spacing as the company’s V-8 outboards. That means compatibility with current boat designs.

Will these V-10 Verados also be compatible with Mercury’s forthcoming electric steering system? Yes. That steering system for multi-outboard boats is scheduled to start shipping in February 2023.

Take the next step: click over to mercurymarine.com

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When someone’s shopping for brokerage boats with outboard motors, one thing they’ll hear over and over is that they should check engine compression before making any purchases. But, what is a compression test in the first place? What do the results mean? And, just what does it tell potential boat owners?

A compression check measures how much pressure is built up by the motion of the pistons in each individual cylinder. As a piston goes up and down inside the cylinder, the piston rings create a seal against the cylinder wall. At the top of the piston’s upstroke, fuel and air are compressed before ignition via the spark plug. With age and use, the engine’s internal parts can wear and over time their compression abilities degrade. The compression test is a great way to find out if a cylinder is damaged and is losing compression, without having to open the engine up and look inside.

If you’re worried that learning how to check compression for your outboard will be difficult, it’s actually very simple. That said, it’s best done with two people, so one can turn the key and crank the engine while the other person operates the gauge. Otherwise, if you’re alone you’ll have to go back and forth from the helm to the motor over and over again. When performing a compression test, some pros recommend warming up the engine first, but some others don’t. Same goes for advancing the throttle versus leaving it in the neutral position. In any case, neither step is critical to getting informative results.

The first step is to remove the engine’s cowl and then all of the spark plugs. Next, screw the end of the compression gauge (they’re inexpensive and readily available in most auto parts stores, though you may need to purchase an adaptor to fit different threads) into the first cylinder. Crank the engine for about five seconds so it turns at least five times, then look at the gauge and record the psi reading. After you’ve written the results down, remove the gauge and screw it into the next cylinder. Repeat the process until you’ve recorded the compression readings for all the cylinders.

Note that the engine won’t be able to fire up because the spark plugs have been removed. However, on many outboard models fuel will still be injected into the cylinder. So, a compression test should never be performed near an open flame or while smoking.

Read More: Yacht Maintenance

Okay: now you have a set of numbers written down, but just what do they mean? It would be nice if we could say they should be between “X” and “Y” psi, but different outboard sizes, makes and models will produce different results. The critical thing to look for is variation in the readings. All of the cylinders should show a psi within about 10 percent of each other. A lot of variation in the readings indicates that one or more of the cylinders has a problem, and therefore, running the engine could be a risky proposition.

Deviations in compression can be caused by a number or problems, but all of them are significant. A cylinder could be scored, the rings could be worn, or one of them could be broken (in which case there’s a good chance you also have a scored cylinder), or there could be a carbon buildup causing the rings to stick. If two adjacent cylinders show low compression, there’s a strong possibility the head gasket is bad between those two cylinders. In any of these cases, however, the bottom line is the same: significant repair bills will likely be in the future. And if you ignore the problem and continue using the engine, catastrophic damage could be the end result.

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Mercury Marine has introduced next-generation 25- and 30-horsepower four-stroke outboards.

The manufacturer says these outboards are engineered to be lighter, faster, and easier to operate and maintain. They have a three-cylinder, 500-cc powerhead with electronic fuel injection. For the first time, electric-start models come standard with Mercury SmartCraft digital technologies, allowing boaters to connect to digital gauges and to mobile devices through VesselView Mobile.

“In addition to being lighter, faster and quieter, the new engines in this lineup deliver what boaters have asked for, with exciting new options like digital technologies and an ergonomically positioned tiller handle,” Chris Drees, Mercury Marine president, stated in a press release.

The engines start at a weight of 132 pounds, making them 16 percent lighter than the previous generation. They’re ideally suited for 11- to 16-foot V-bottom boats and inflatables.

What options are available: Electric or manual start, tiller or remote controls, manual or power trim, and propeller or jet propulsion. Tiller models have a nearly 23-inch, ergonomically designed tiller handle that is adjustable for right- or left-handed operation.

Routine maintenance made easier: These engines have a no-spill oil-change system with a drip tray under the oil filter, and water can be quickly drained from the fuel filter without tools.

Take the next step: go to mercurymarine.com

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Sea Ray just launched its SLX 260 and SLX 260 Outboard, the company’s first boat designed by an all-women design team.

“This launch not only sets a new benchmark for design but further celebrates the advantages that a diverse workforce brings to the marine industry,” Aine Denari, Brunswick Boat Group president, stated in a press release.

The design team was led by Sea Ray Senior Design Manager Carrie Fodor and Brunswick Boat Group Senior Industrial Designer Kristin McGinnis. Fodor grew up boating on the Great Lakes and has been with the company since 2008. McGinnis earned a design degree and did an internship with Brunswick Boat Group brands Sea Ray and Boston Whaler before being hired in 2016.

“This SLX 260 project has been a long time in the making, and I’m so excited to finally be able to share this new boat with the world,” Fodor stated in the release. “For any woman or minority that didn’t realize a career in the marine industry or the ability to design a boat was an option, this is proof that you can do something great.”

What kind of power does the SLX 260 have? The outboard version comes with a 300-horsepower Mercury Verado. The sterndrive version has a 300-horsepower MerCruiser 6.2L MPI ECT Bravo Three with DTS.

Where to learn more: Go to searay.com

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