Mercury repowers Caribbean 26

BoatPoint and boatsales has more than 30 Caribbean 26s for sale and this repower option would suit any one of them!

Andrew Weekes is a well-known face in the ski-racing world and when he sold his 61ft timber displacement cruiser because family boating time was at a premium, he was after a smaller, faster craft. Andrew opted for a Caribbean 26 with a view to repowering it with Mercury's new 4.5L V6s.

"It’s a fantastic little boat. I actually bought it to do the conversion because the MerCruiser 4.5L engine lends itself to that role so perfectly," he said.

"The 26 is a very versatile boat," he said. "It’s an open fishing boat with no cooking equipment or internal galley, but a back deck BBQ takes care of that and I mean, really it's everything the family needs for a day boat/overnighter. It’s all about getting to the fish and catching them... and it’s such a pleasure to drive," he said.

Weighing about 4500 kilograms (with fuel, people and gear), Andrew says the repowered Caribbean is performing brilliantly.

Optimal cruising speed is around 27 knots at a combined fuel burn of just 62 litres per hour an hour, which gives the boat a range of 185 kilometres, with a comfortable margin.

During testing it reached a top speed on 45 knots at 5000rpm, and went from 0-20 knots in a mere eight seconds.

The new engines have been fitted with Mercury’s Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) technology which delivers smooth, precise shifting and lightning-fast throttle response. Mercury’s patented SeaCore anti-corrosion system will provide longer life and better performance.

The all new 4.5L V6s are also considerably quieter than the 4.3L engines they replaced, giving Andrew and his fellow fishers a more enjoyable on-water experience.

Another great aspect of the boat is that being less than eight metres in length (7.92m to be precise) it is not subject to the six knot speed restrictions in Queensland’s rivers.

It’s the rare configuration of the tried and trusted 26 Caribbean with the technology, performance and reliability of MerCruiser’s 4.5L 250hp V6s which has seen Andrew field many requests to sell his new boat.

"Of course, there’s a big difference between people asking to buy and actually handing over the money," Andrew laughed.

"But it’s still a nice compliment to know you’ve built something that other people appreciate."