The new Mercury 150 FourStroke is designed to be the ultimate 150hp EFI outboard engine, with durability, allied to light weight and economy. Small surprise then that the 150 has picked up an innovation award from the International Boatbuilders Exhibition and Conference (IBEX) in Louisville, Kentucky. IBEX innovation awards judge Zuzana Procheska, said: “Mercury Marine has found a way to trim 11kg off their new 150 four-stroke, while helping to satisfy the growing need for superb fuel efficiency and performance.”

Mercury 150

Mercury's new 150 will be available in the UK in early 2012.



Available in both Mariner and Mercury brands, the 150 has a four-cylinder in-line configuration that can be used as either a single or twin application. It has more displacement than any other 150hp four-stroke engine and yet it delivers fuel efficiency at cruising speeds that the manufacturers claim no other engine can beat. The engine has also endured some severe field-testing, from the west coast of Canada to commercial fishing in the warm waters of the Bahamas and the unprotected sea around Guadeloupe in the French West Indies. And despite thousands of hours of harsh, real life testing applications, the engine has reportedly come through with excellent results.

The huge torque curve of the new 150 ensures that even the heaviest boats will plane quickly, but its low weight and compact size mean it is also a great option for boaters choosing to re-power their boats - especially on older models with transoms ill-suited to the weight of conventional four-strokes. David Foulkes, Vice President of Engineering at Mercury, said: “The new 150 FourStroke is class-leading in every respect but we particularly focused our attention on being ‘stand-out’ in the areas that our customers told us really matter to them: quality and reliability; smooth operation; a great torque curve; low weight and compact size; excellent fuel economy and easy maintenance.” The new Mercury and Mariner 150 FourStrokes will be available in the UK in early 2012.

Boats.com's "outboard expert" in the USA Charles Plueddeman, has more detail in his piece on the new Mercury here, and speculates about its readiness for catalytic converter in his blog.

Written by: Alex Smith
Alex Smith is a journalist, copywriter and magazine editor with a long history in boating and a happy addiction to the water. He’s worked on boats, lived on boats, bought boats, sold boats and – when he’s not actually on board a boat – he can generally be found in his Folkestone office, tapping away at the computer and gazing out to sea.