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Posts: 2089
| Like they say about they best laid plans....they change. Looking at a used rig with a 2005, 250 Verado. I've done a little poking around, but now am looking for feedback on this motor. Oh heck, any Verado for that matter. I know very little about this product .Hole shot? Fuel economy? How is it in bitter cold? Anything I should know, both positive and negative.I appreciate the input, one and all. Oh, yeah, the hull is a 2025 LE. Steve |
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| hey Steve,
the Boats/Motors forum on WalleyeFirst would be a good place to ask that question; you'll probably get more tourney walleye guys who have experience with that motor.
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/forum-view.asp?fid=7
you might also post something in the Lund boats forum asking about the combo of that hull and motor specifically.
http://walleye.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/forum-view.asp?fid=14
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| Steve,
I have had my Verado in the water 3 times and so far I am 100% impressed, but don't have tons of experience with it yet..FAST, quiet, great on fuel and you get so much more for the motor, it is a complete system..
The person that sold me on the Verado is Matt Hollenbrook, he has been running one for several years and did tons of research before he bought his.. If you don't know Matt's email either call me or Maxey.. Matt knows everything there is to know about that motor..
I do know that Merc changed many things on the Verado around 2007, and the newer Verado gets much better fuel economy..
Here is a good website, most people who own a Verado say that they will not own another motor..
http://www.veradoclub.com/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=gianjocnk5nfdb2s7... |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Zach ran a 250 Verado on his 2060 a couple years back and loved it. Fast, strong, quiet, and fun to run. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | I have had a Verado 150 on a Lund Tyee for a year. It's an awesome engine...can't put it any other way. And the new ones (Gen II) are even better. I have a Gen I (1st generation), without the crankcase and piston modifications, so the fuel economy isn't quite what it is now. As for hole shot...it will put you right back in your seat. In fact, cruising at about 5000 RPM and about 36-38 MPH, I can firewall the throttle and put you right back in your seat on the way up to about 50. My boat's rated for a 175 horse, so I think the extra 25hp would get me several MPH, but it isn't worth the cost to upgrade. But the supercharger really makes a difference in overall performance.
Fuel economy is pretty good, although I have never owned a DI two-stroke to compare it to. I have owned both Yamaha and Honda four strokes, and the Verado seems every bit as good, after my first season anyway.
Other than that, there isn't much I could tell you except that I would buy another in a heart beat (at least after my first season). I haven't run one of the six cylinder units, but guys I have talked to that have tell me they are ultra smooth--though the 4-cylinder I have is extremely smooth as well. If you haven't been there already, check out the Verado site linked above. You will find an incredible amount of information on that site, along with guys that have hundreds & hundreds of hours worth of experience running those engines.
TB
Edited by tcbetka 5/1/2008 7:06 PM
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Another thing to add, the DTS system is awesome. The Digital Throttle System is so smooth and like nothing else you've experienced. When I first got to use one, it was like a jet taking off. You really have to have a feathery touch with the throttle because like tcbetka said, it'll put you back in your seat in a heart beat. There isn't a system to compare to it. |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | Great points TJ... The DTS system is outstanding, as are the SMART gauges. Of course you can get all of that with the Opti's as well, but the Verados come stock with them.
TB |
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | Steve:
I'd be a little cautious about gas mileage on 2005 Verado. Some folks that I know didn't have good things to say about their MPG (Wiley Point). They said the engine was great but the MPG was poor at least with a full load and with the super charger kicked in. I'd ask around some more. I've rode in the 2025's and they are a pretty nice boat!
Doug Johnson |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI |
Tom, yes, the new Opti's are now available with the DTS system. However, the DTS is only available on the 200 and 225 Optimax models. I would imagine in the next couple years all models will have the option of the DTS system if not eventually be stock.
Edited by Merckid 5/2/2008 10:18 AM
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| steve,
get in touch with Holbrook. He will fill you in on the Verado. Scary quiet, fast, and if they have been reflashed, quite fuel efficient. The DTS and true Electro/Hydraulic steering is unbelievanble. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | And, like all engines, if you run the Verado at it's 'sweet spot' RPM range (midrange as TJ said) you will love the fuel economy. From our experience with the 250 we ran, WOT with the supercharger full bore it will be a bit less efficient than a 250 Opti Max and eat up some fuel, and it will go like mad. |
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| Got to run a 250 and they have balls. The guys I have spoken with that own them like the power, the quiet, but don't care for the fuel economy as opposed to other 4-Strokes. With a 250 I would have a hot tootsy put on it if it did not already have it.
By the way, the proper pronunciation is not "two fifty" is is "two fiddy". |
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Location: Green Bay, WI | In my opinion, fuel economy isn't that much of an issue with the Verado... If you spend a little extra and get the SMART gauges, you will get a very nice fuel flow feature. Then you can tailor the fuel burn to a point that you can live with. Obviously you'll burn LOTS of gas if you are running near WOT much of the time--the supercharger will see to that. But spend some time figuring out the best economy power setting and I think you'll be very happy with the overall package.
I would suspect that most guys never even give a thought to the fact that an RPM change of as little as 2-300 RPM can make a very significant difference in fuel flow at a given boat loading. Needless to say, the fuel flow gauge is an extremely valuable piece of equipment...especially with a Verado.
TB
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Tom, I would concur with you about the smartcraft gauges. They can read out a lot of different things like gas being consumed at a certain rpm, how much gas is being consumed per hour and other intricate details. But the thing about it is, fuel economy is going to effect every motor in some kind of way if your running WOT. Whether it's a fourstroke Verado, Opti, E-tech, or a Yammie fourstroke, fuel consumption goes right down the tubes when running WOT.
However, the smartcraft gauges aren't for everyone. They are costly, $1500-2000 extra is a lot of money. Lot of people opt not to have it put on due to the cost. But it definitely serves those with it a good purpose.
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Location: Green Bay, WI | Sheesh, I don't think my Smartcraft gauges cost that much at all TJ. I would have to look at the sales contract, but I thought it was like around $600 or so. Maybe I didn't get all of them that are available? I only have one digital gauge on my boat. Are there different levels of product or something?
But you are right--WOT is WOT, and whatever fuel economy you get is what you get. But if you choose to run around at WOT all the time, I guess you could use the extra dough to pay for all that extra fuel you'll be burning, lol.
TB |
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Posts: 2089
| I appreciate all the feedback but have chosen another route. Back to Mertens and a " One fitteen". LOL X 10,000!!Great discussion though. Steve |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The new Mercury Marine SmartCraft Gauges are truely "smart".
SmartCraft Gauges are made to be a perfect match for the OptiMax Outboards.
Clear up that crowded gauge cluster and make engine monitoring much easier.
You can now set a target boat speed or engine RPM and the Troll Control™ will
automatically maintain the idle engine RPM up to 1,000RPM in any kind of water!
Dozens of functions can now be monitored in conjunction with the
exclusive Engine Gaurdian™ system which monitors over 40 sensors and actuators!
Smart Tach displays RPM, voltage,water pressure, engine temperature, engine hours,
trim, fuel flow rate in gallons or liters per hour, includes buttons for Troll Control™ and
reads in both LCD digital and analog.
Smart Speedo displays boat information including boat speed in MPH, kilometers or nautical
miles per hour, clock, fuel level in gallons or liters, oil level, mpg (average & trip),
current range, gps course, water & air temp, engine synchronizer, Troll Control™ for speed,
Reads in both analog and digital LCD.
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The Tach and Speedo are about $750 plus installation/calibration, and more for the full array:
http://www.mercurymarine.com/otherproducts/smartcraft/smartcraftata...
I've seen the 2008 price for the full array at $1500 installed and higher, but if one shops around it can be done for quite a bit less.
Here's a price of $666.65 for the Tach and Speedo uninstalled.
http://www.outdrives.com/mergauges/smartcraft.html
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Posts: 5874
| Or you can get the system monitor for about $200-250 installed. Niot as many functions as the speedo or tach, but you can get fuel/hr, range, temps, and water PSI.
Click on system monitor, and step through the displays.
http://northamerica.mercurymarine.com/otherproducts/smartcraft/smar...
The SmartCraft SmartSpeedo, SmartTach, Tilt, Volts, and fuel level cost me $800 on my Lund.
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I ran that gauge for a season, it worked very well. |
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Posts: 395
Location: NW WI | This report is too late but last year I rode in a Ranger 620 with a 250 Verado and was dang impressed with the motor. Excellent low end torque and very very quiet for such a big motor. THe owner of the boat said that it was very good on fuel too. I'd get on for sure! |
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