Top 7 boats tapping into Mercury V12 Verado power

However, there have been a few boat-makers who obviously were in the know before the new 600hp outboard engine dropped, while yet others are rushing back to the design table to see what it looks like installed on their transoms.

Mercury has already fitted out a number of boats with its new range-topper, and given them a shakedown run to see how they perform with the reborn tower of power – yeah, these things each stand 2.3 metres tall.

Let’s take a quick look at who’s who in the new bent-12 zoo, and how they measure up.

The Valhalla V-46 is a 46-foot centre console from US boat brand Viking Boatworks, an offshoot of sports-fishing boat specialist Viking Boats.

Valhalla is the more cruisy brand, and the V-46 is the newest, and crowning, model in the four-strong V-Series range.

Originally equipped with four 450hp outboard engines providing 1800hp of performance, Mercury has fitted a test boat with an extra 600hp using four of its new V12 Verados and hit the waters of Lake X, its longtime proving ground for new-engine technology.

On test, the 21-tonne boat hit a speed of 62 knots at full noise sitting on 6400rpm, or about 115km/h in the new money, where it was drinking an average of almost 800 litres an hour (it has a 2600-litre tank, so in three hours at this speed it could range almost 200nm before needing a top-up) . From rest to 26 knots took less than 7.0 seconds.

Maximum range on test was 350nm, sitting on 42.0 knots at 4500rpm and sipping 311 litres an hour.

Here’s a boat that has been able to ditch one of its five Mercury Verado outboard engines for just four of the Mercury V12 Verados, gaining 200hp into the bargain.

Curiously, at the boat’s launch, US-based Formula Boats was very quiet on just how much performance this boat could pack.

This beast of a centre console is at the absolute pinnacle of the genre, featuring a luxurious layout spread across a number of entertainment-focussed zones throughout – probably why Mercury chose it as the classy model on which to drape its new 600hp jewellery.

Top speed on test for this 14.5-tonne behemoth was a rather crisp 64 knots at its 6400rpm wide-open throttle, or just shy of 120km/h, with the big Mercs will drink a combined 790 litres an hour.

From rest to 26 knots, the Formula 500 SSC wasn’t exactly crisp, posting a 12.8-second performance figure.

At 4500rpm, on test this boat hit a maximum range of 280nm, with the boat hitting 41.6 knots and using 366L/h.

Here’s a boat downsizing from quad Mercury 350s to just three Mercury V12 Verado outboard engines.

The Boston Whaler 420 Outrage centre console has been around for a while, so it’s good to see one of the industry’s heavy lifters so willing to adapt to the new Mercury V12 Verado.

Tipping the scale at around 14.1 tonnes, it’s the largest boat in the Outrage line-up and the first of our offshore saltwater boats to only pack a triple punch on the transom. Its 1800hp V12 serve compared with 1600hp provided via four 350hp Mercury Verado outboard engines.

The downsizing has a visible impact on flat-out performance, with the top speed of the boat falling to just 55 knots at 6350rpm, or a crack more than 100km/h.

Not to worry, because the benefits all swing into focus once we look at cruising range. At 4500rpm the Boston Whaler 420 Outrage is comfortably sitting at more than 37 knots, and running to almost 400 nautical miles while sipping only 250L/h.

It’s not shy to get to speed, either, posting just a 8.1-second run from rest to 26 knots.

Let’s go cruising, starting with the all-new Sea Ray SLX 400 Outboard. This is a boat designed more for economical running than outright pace, so strapping on a pair of Merc V12s should have a very different result.

Which it does. This thing is quick onto the plane, pushing the 9.5-tonne sports cruiser to 26 knots in a tidy 7.2 seconds. However, once up and running, it will hit a maximum speed of 51 knots at 6390rpm.

The Sea Ray SLX 400 Outboard is the largest model in the US brand’s sport bowrider line-up, and before packing a V12 punch featured three 350hp Mercury Verado engines. The boat includes a fold-down patio wings that greatly increase the amount of cockpit space on the boat at rest.

It is also available with twin inboard 380hp Mercury MerCruiser engines.

But with the V12s, the Sea Ray SLX 400 Outboard will max out at a 285nm range while travelling at just over 30 knots and at 4000rpm, and using a trim 252L/h.

This beast of a boat from the US east-coast is the largest outboard-engined motor yacht to wear the Tiara name. As the flagship model, it’s no surprise it has tapped into a trio of merc V12s to power itself along.

With more of a focus on luxury trim, it’s the heaviest of our triple-engine rigs here at 14.6 tonnes. Acceleration is brisk, though, with a flat 8.0 seconds from 0-26 knots on test.

Flat stick, the Tiara 48LS will hit 52 knots, or around 97km/h, at its maximum 6400rpm limit.

At a cruisy 4000rpm, this boat has long legs, with a 340nm range at a brisk 55.6kt and with a surprisingly efficient fuel use of 219 litres of fuel an hour.

Here’s a boat that’s ditched six Mercury Verado outboards – yep, when it launched in the US, this thing was packing up to 2550hp of firepower across the stern – for just 1200hp of Mercury V12 Verado.

Scout’s biggest model dropped jaws everywhere when it finally emerged from the factory early last year, with Scout’s early hints suggesting that the boat would be a beast with up to five 425hp Yamaha Offshore XTO outboard engines powering it.

Yeah, well, they blew that idea out of the water.

At 10.8 tonnes, this is the lightest boat of this lot, sporting only a pair of the 500kg-plus Mercury V12 Verado outboard engines to give a modest 1200hp.

It’s something of a high-speed runner, with Mercury’s tests showing at 4500rpm the Scout 425 LFX will hunt along at 35.8 knots – around 66km/h – while using around 200 litres an hour. Range is estimated at 337 nautical miles.

Tap the twin engine set-up’s full potential, and the Scout 425 LFX will hit 53.7 knots, meaning it will run hard at a speed that’s just a smidge less than 100km/h and burn through around 280 litres an hour.

7.

Marell 11

Twin Mercury V12 Verado outboard engines, 1200hp

Swedish go-fast alloy boat maker Marell has revealed an all-new model, the Marell 11, wearing optional twin Mercury V12 Verado outboard engines.

Sleek and long, Marell promises that the 11 is “absolutely the best regarding comfort, technology and performance”. 

As it’s only a concept and we’re yet to see the new model in the metal, we’ll hold our judgement on that.