Mercury’s new 600Hp V-12 was designed from the ground up to answer the needs of ever larger outboard powered yachts.
The increase in popularity of outboards and a bigger and faster is better mentality, it seems only natural that outboard horsepower should increase with the size of the boats they power. As twins, triples, quads and even quint outboards grew in popularity so did the demand for performance. Mercury answered that demand with the all new 600hp V-12 Verado outboard.
A completely new design, Mercury created an outboard unlike anything in its history. Chock full of innovation and years in the making, the result is an outboard that can power an all-new class of yacht while delivering performance and efficiency. This engine is a beast. When first laying eyes on it, the sheer size of the V-12 is impressive. It is all relative however, as when hung on the kind of yacht it was designed for, the look is well proportioned and right in place. Built around a new narrow V-12 block that is manufactured in house at Mercury in the largest die cast mold in the country, this outboard is big but slim and is designed to run as a multi engine setup. The 27 inches on center mounting of these engines means more room on the transom. This is achieved by the engines themselves not moving. Instead, the gear cases are steerable - the first of their kind. This allows for the gearcases under joystick control to swing an impressive 45 degrees, giving larger outboard craft unprecedented control and close quarters maneuvering.
Innovations also include another first with production outboards, a two-speed automatic transmission. With a first gear 20% lower than second gear, this new transmission allows for seamless acceleration with incredible initial thrust and a smooth fast transition to plane with no lag. The lower gear allows sufficient torque to get large and heavy boats up on plane quickly and efficiently. When it shifts seamlessly into second gear there is a smooth power curve raising rpms and speed with only a split-second fluctuation on the rpm gauge to let you know the engine shifted. The power curve from inception to top speed is smooth and seamless and makes a large heavy yacht feel more like a smaller, nimble center console.
Other technology that makes these new outboards perform is Mercury’s new contra-rotating props. Made up of two props rotating in opposite directions this system helps power the boat on plane quickly and efficiently. These props also save fuel when running at midrange speeds.
One of the most notable and instantly recognizable innovations the Mercury v-12 600hp motors possesses is their quietness. Stepping aboard with these motors running you can barely tell they are powered up. When underway the wind sound and the sound of the water running under the hull is loader than the engines. This has all been accomplished with a huge amount of research and development accomplished at Mercury’s state of the art facilities. The engines are so quiet that the normal water cooling tell-tail stream found on other outboards was removed from the design because they were loud and that is all you could hear when the engines sat at idle. Running flat out on several test yachts I was able to hold a conversation and ask questions in a completely normal unelevated voice.
With all the innovations combined these new 600hp outboards are impressive not just for their power and ability to push ever larger yachts at performance levels not previously accomplished, but also for how well they do it in an unassuming and effortless way. If you are in the market for the very best in high output outboards the Mercury Verado 600hp V-12 is worth considering.
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