Mercury Racing just upped the ante in the high-performance outboard engine game, introducing a 450-hp supercharged beast with what it says is the best power-to-weight ratio in the industry. Indeed, the new 450R weighs just 698 pounds, about the same as Merc’s formerly most-powerful 400-hp outboard, and several hundred pounds less than the competition, according to Mercury.
“It’s raw performance in a premiere package,” says Stuart Halley, the general manager of Mercury Marine.
Outboards are an increasingly popular power choice in a wide variety of boats. Even such traditional Down East builders as Hinckley, Sabre, Wilbur and MJM are building outboard-powered boats; the brand-new MJM 53z cruiser has four 400-hp Mercury Verados.
The new Mercury Racing 450 is a supercharged 4.6-liter V8, with 40 percent more torque than the Merc Racing 400. And it runs on 89-octane fuel. It has heavy-duty, stainless-steel guide plates, stiffened engine mounts and a new powerful 115-amp alternator to supply today’s marine electronics.
If you want more than two or three for your boat (and who doesn’t?), Mercury has Zero Effort Digital Controls, which can operate up to six outboards on a single lever. And Joystick Piloting is an option with Skyhook so you can stay in place while waiting for a bridge opening or space at the fuel dock.
The new 450 comes with a three-year factory warranty and three-year limited corrosion warranty, the same as other Merc outboards. Colors include Cold Fusion White and Mercury Phantom Black. Or you can customize the color to match your boat with an optional accent panel kit.
The new 450 costs from $54,000 to $64,000, depending on the gearcase and other options. That’s about 50 percent more than the Mercury Racing 400.
