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" The wraps are finally off Mercury&amp;#039;s new family of big 4-stroke outboards. Merc had been teasing everybody with these motors, code-named Project X (to coincide with the company&amp;#039;s secret testing area--Lake X). The real name--Verado (for the motors, not the lake)--was revealed on February 12 at the 2004 Miami International Boat Show. We didn&amp;#039;t have a chance to take Verado for a spin at the show, because the boats that were displayed inside the Miami Beach Convention Center don&amp;#039;t perform as well on carpeting as they do on water. Nevertheless, we were as impressed as every other showgoer with the new engines on their stands. The Verado line is a family of 2.6-liter inline 6-cylinder 4-stroke outboards that range in power from 200 to 275 hp. Verado is the world&amp;#039;s first production outboard to feature a supercharger. Its impressive torque figures and acceleration numbers are the result of an exclusive supercharged induction system with intercooling and electronic boost-pressure control. Verado&amp;#039;s supercharger, co-developed by Mercury and IHI Turbo America, significantly boosts power output by forcing a larger volume of air into the combustion chambers than that delivered by a naturally aspirated system. The supercharger enables Verado to create outstanding horsepower from a smaller-displacement cylinder block. Traditionally, a minimum of 3.0 liters has been required for the typical mass-produced 250-hp outboard engine. Verado&amp;#039;s strategy of more horsepower from less displacement allows it, in many cases, to outperform 2-stroke engines of equal oomph. That clearly differentiates Verado from standard V-block 4-stroke marine engines. Verado&amp;#039;s valvetrain features four valves per cylinder driven by double overhead camshafts. The engine block, cylinder head and crankcase are cast in Mercury&amp;#039;s Pressurized Lost Foam Foundry in Fond du Lac, Wis.  Supplying fuel to this state-of-the-art engine is a computer-controlled, sequential, multiport fuel-injection system. Precise fuel delivery and metering provide Verado with maximum fuel efficiency, no-smoke operation and outstanding acceleration. The injection system also eliminates the need for a primer bulb, a first for the marine industry. Under the cowl, an idle-exhaust relief system with low-pass acoustics control produces a best-in-class idle sound level. In fact, says Mercury, at idle the engine can&amp;#039;t be heard by most passengers on the boat. At wide-open throttle, the loudest sound detected by your ears is typically the wind or the waves, according to Merc. The patented air-induction system, with its tuned resonator, is claimed to reduce intake noise by up to 14 decibels (on average) from midrange to full throttle, without sacrificing engine performance. Additionally, high-performance acoustic foam lining is used extensively in Verado&amp;#039;s top cowl area. Closed-cell acoustic foam lines the chaps, essentially absorbing high-frequency mechanical engine and driveshaft noise. Verado&amp;#039;s world-class noise/vibration/harshness (NVH) level is also helped by the Advanced Midsection (AMS) progressive-rate mounting system. The AMS mount cradle is strategically placed around the engine&amp;#039;s center of gravity, and the engine mounts themselves isolate and reduce vibration being transmitted into the boat by 50 percent--while improving overall handling at high speeds. Verado further enhances the navigating experience through its exclusive Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering system, which has an integral hydraulic cylinder. With a small pump mounted inside the vessel, this system eliminates undesirable steering torque without sacrificing engine feel--crucial for boat control, especially at high speeds. Verado&amp;#039;s all-new gearcase is the product of Mercury&amp;#039;s hydrodynamics expertise. Its diameter and length are slightly greater than Mercury&amp;#039;s 3.0-liter gearcase. This allows Merc to package beefier gears without losing top-speed performance. Verado&amp;#039;s gears are 50 percent more durable than the traditional setup, with a stiffer propshaft and stronger housing and spline connections. The internal water passages are electrodeposition painted (EDP) for added corrosion resistance. This gearcase is more resistant to wear than traditional types, and its seals can withstand higher temperatures than before. It features dual water pickups to ensure proper cooling under all running conditions, and a gear ratio of 1.85:1. Verado&amp;#039;s &amp;quot;swept-forward&amp;quot; design uses a 2-piece cowling. Because many of the key maintenance points are located front and center on the powerhead, the upper section of the cowling is easily removed via a single spring-loaded latch for access in the driveway or on the water. Verado is intended to fit any application, from single, dual or triple offshore fishing rigs to bass boats. All models are available with 20-in. (L) and 25-in. (XL) shaft lengths. In addition, 30-in.-long (XXL) configurations are available in 225-, 250- and 275-hp models. The 25-in. and 30-in. motors can be had with both right- and lefthand propeller rotations. For more information, check out Mercury&amp;#039;s Web site at www.mercurymarine.com. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/a187/1277251/>