Mercury verado series outboards - reliability etc

[julians]

Hi All,

Just looking at new (to me) boats, and they typically come with one of the following combinations of outboard engines

- Single mercury 300
- SIngle mercury 350
- Twin mercury 200

I'm not very familiar with the current mercury outboards, so was wondering does anyone know if these motors have any significant issues/reliability concerns, anything to be aware of etc etc.

I think we're favouring a single engine setup rather than the twin - simply because I would anticipate the overall servicing and fuel costs would be lower with one larger engine versus 2 smaller ones, but maybe thats an incorrect assumption? I appreciate that two motors gives a safety benefit, but I dont think this is a big concern.

Anyone got any input about these motors?

Cheers

 

[Mr Googler]

Done loads of reading on American forums and very well respected motors.

Gen 2 onwards (2007) are better and can identified by all silver lettering on the cowling. Gen 1 2005/2006 had a red shadow on the lettering. Still wasn’t bad but was the first so bugs worked out. The newer generation you go.....the less fuel they use.

 

[julians]

Done loads of reading on American forums and very well respected motors.

Gen 2 onwards (2007) are better and can identified by all silver lettering on the cowling. Gen 1 2005/2006 had a red shadow on the lettering. Still wasn’t bad but was the first so bugs worked out. The newer generation you go.....the less fuel they use.

Would be 2016+ motors - so relatively new....probably likely to be 2018 models

 

[[2068]]

Mercury Verado Problems: What You Need To Know About Verados - Born Again Boating

 

[julians]

Mercury Verado Problems: What You Need To Know About Verados - Born Again Boating

Now why didnt that come I when I searched for something like that

 

[Mr Googler]

Hardly a damning list ?

I do like this....

“Note that if you run an engine at wide-open throttle and go directly back into reverse, the motion of the boat and the propeller can cause the engine to jump timing. You can also blow up the lower unit.”

only in the yee haa US of A do you need to tell people that ???

 

[julians]

Mercury Verado Problems: What You Need To Know About Verados - Born Again Boating

As Mr googler said - it all looks ok, a few issues with the older engines but nothing major. newer engines look fine too.

 

[julians]

Hardly a damning list ?

I do like this....

“Note that if you run an engine at wide-open throttle and go directly back into reverse, the motion of the boat and the propeller can cause the engine to jump timing. You can also blow up the lower unit.”

only in the yee haa US of A do you need to tell people that ???

yeah - no surprise that doing that can cause problems. I'm surprised it doesnt bust the gear casing wide open as well.

 

[spannerman]

We are a Mercury dealer and I get all the troubleshooting jobs, and honestly there are no real problems we that have experienced, the older straight 6 engines are pretty bullet proof, and the newer V 6/8’s seem to be fine too, only problem we have encountered is covered by a bulletin regarding an oil leak from the upper crankshaft oil seal under the flywheel.

 

[[2068]]

Hardly a damning list ?
I do like this....
“Note that if you run an engine at wide-open throttle and go directly back into reverse, the motion of the boat and the propeller can cause the engine to jump timing. You can also blow up the lower unit.”
only in the yee haa US of A do you need to tell people that ???

There is certain type of American boater that seems to give their boat really quite a hard time.
As above, all the issues appear to be fairly minor, and they do have a good reputation.

 

[Hot Property]

I have a Gen 1, 200 hp Verado which is a straight 6 cylinder.

It had 186 hrs on it when I bought it and 3 years later 386.

I changed the impeller initially and oils and filters annually.

2 anodes changed, serpentine belt changed but the original looked like new.

The poppet valve needed cleaning as it wasn't closing at low revs causing temporary overheating.

This is just normal maintenance on an engine. I'm sufficiently confident with reliability I went from Hamble to Brixham and back in 2019. Straight across Lyme Bay.

As it's supercharged you get rather a lot of acceleration from a standing start which can be addictive.

Would I buy another Verado, you bet!!!!

 

[JB]

I had 2x 275 mercs from 2007 which were a total disaster. I never had a day that there was no alarm - they were a total nightmare. We replaced them with 2x 300 Mercurys last year and they were a huge success, no faults whatsoever