JRP wrote:
In another re-power thread here on Whaler Central, I mentioned some possible upcoming new Mercury outboard offerings.

On Thursday, February 15, Mercury is expected to make an announcement about a new 4-Stroke engine or possibly a line-up of new 4-Stroke engines at the Miami Boatshow.

There are a lot of rumors flying, and nothing is confirmed yet. So keep that in mind. However, there have been glimpses of the new engine(s) on boats in some new Merc ads. Based on that and other info circulating...

The current speculation centers around the 175-250 HP range. The thinking is these would be a naturally aspirated 6-cylinder configuration. It would be a lightweight, relatively simple, and more affordable design like the existing 115 and 150 Fourstroke models. Possibly these will be badged as "ProXS," replacing the exisiting 2-stroke ProXS models. (The 115 ProXS is already a 4-stroke.)

Of course, this speculation could be way off base. We should know in a couple days. But if true, it would be of interest to the Boston Whaler community, since these will likely show up on the transoms of new Whalers and -- if the weight is right -- may be good candidates for the re-power market on some of the larger classic Whalers.

virgilb wrote:
I want a 400lbs 150

virgilb wrote:
I want a 400lbs 150

virgilb wrote:
I want a 400lbs 150

...The 3.4L V-6 employs a large displacement, naturally aspirated powerhead and proven mid-section and drive-system designs. Additionally, the 3.4L V-6 outboards are exceptionally versatile, offering the option of mechanical or digital controls, hydraulic or power steering, and black or white cowls on FourStroke-branded products, as well as a variety of accent panel colors. This versatility makes the new V-6 an ideal engine for repower applications.

“These outboards set a new benchmark in the marine industry,” said Pfeifer. “They are the quietest, lightest, smoothest, quickest and most fuel-efficient engines we have produced in this range.”

The new FourStroke engine not only provides large displacement at 200hp, but is also exceptionally light weight at 475 pounds – the lightest weight in its class by more than 10 pounds. Lean and mean, the 3.4L V-6 FourStroke boasts Mercury’s best acceleration and 20 percent more torque than the closest four-cylinder competitor at cruise. Fuel efficiency is also unmatched – the new 3.4L V-6 FourStroke is calibrated to maximize fuel economy at cruise, yielding an advantage of up to a 15 percent compared to the closest four-cylinder competitor.

Other innovations that further differentiate the 3.4L V-6 are:

A top cowl service door that provides easy oil check and fill (if needed) without removing the cowl, making routine maintenance easier than ever before;

Idle charge battery-management capability that protects against consumers draining batteries while operating multiple electronic devices, and best-in-class net charging output of 20 Amp at 650 RPM;

Adaptive Speed Control that maintains RPM regardless of load or condition changes, improving the driving experience

....

V-6 lineup of Mercury FourStrokes (175-225hp)

Mercury’s 3.4L, 200hp FourStroke is the company’s largest displacement in 200hp class. At 475 pounds, the engine is also the lightest in its class, and is 35 pounds lighter than current product in this range. With its performance-inspired dual overhead cam (quad cam) and four- valve design, the engine will reach higher speeds, faster. In addition, this outboard is the only one of its kind that maintains rpm regardless of load or condition changes and provides a “sportier” feel to the drivers.

Superior Fuel Economy

In addition, the new engines provide fuel savings to the consumer. At cruise and at WOT, the new four-stroke outboards take advantage of Mercury’s proprietary “Advanced Range Optimization” (ARO) calibration to generate greater fuel efficiency than the engine it is replacing and the closest four-cylinder competitor.

Additional Color Options

In addition to Mercury’s legendary black engines, this new lineup offers three shades of white available for the 200hp and 225hp outboards. For the first time, Mercury will also offer four accent panel colors plus ready-for-paint panels, which allow for personalization.

Noise, Vibration and Harshness

The new 3.4L V-6 boasts excellent NVH quality, and represents an advancement from current products. Key NVH-enhancing features include:

The V-6 design is naturally balanced.
Multi-chamber air-intake quiets induction noise.
Fuel injector covers reduce high-frequency noise.
Specific cowl features prevent noise from reaching the operator.
....

Weatherly wrote:
Will the motors have auto-trim? What about digital shifting? And integrated power steering? Will the loud shift noise go away? Does it self-winterize in less than two minutes?