by Gregg Mansfield
Mercury Racing is marking its 50th anniversary and is making a bold statement with the launch of its first V10 outboard, the new Mercury Racing 400R model. This announcement was made at an extravagant event in South Beach prior to the 2023 Miami International Boat Show.
The 400R outboard features a naturally aspirated 5.7-liter (349 CID) powerhead and is ideal for high-performance center-console boats and catamarans capable of exceeding speeds of 75 mph. It retains the compact width necessary for 26” center-to-center mounting on multi-engine transoms. The Mercury Racing V10 400R will be offered in lengths of 20″, 25″, 30″, and 35″.
Production of the 400R has already commenced, marking the replacement of the L6 400R outboard. When Mercury Marine announced the new V10 outboard platform back in November 2022, company representatives suggested that Mercury Racing customers would reap the benefits as well.
“The (older) 400R had been aging,” stated Stuart Halley, general manager of Mercury Racing, following the unveiling in Miami. “(When) we introduced the new 300 V8, the 300R, customers moved from those other engines because they desired the latest engine. We believe the 400R and the V10 Verado 400 will entice people to upgrade from 300s.”
Halley noted that the new 400R delivers improved low-end torque, increased peak horsepower, and enhanced fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor while operating on 87-octane fuel. The V10 400R outboard is equipped with Digital Throttle and Shift, and is supported by Mercury Racing’s Advanced MidSection (AMS). An optional rear tie-bar bracket is available for catamarans and other high-speed uses.
There are two gearcase options available for the 400-hp outboard. The Sport Master gearcase is designed for surface-piercing and includes low-water pickups for boats traveling faster than 85 mph; the 5.44 HD gearcase is meant for performance center consoles and heavy bay boats.
The 400-hp outboard will come in Phantom Black, Cold Fusion White, and Devil Eye Red trims featuring Mercury Racing graphics.
In addition, Mercury Racing unveiled the new four-blade Ventera propeller at the event, engineered for high-performance center consoles, bay boats, and day cruisers. This propeller is designed to carry heavier loads more efficiently at high speeds, acting as a successor to the Revolution 4 XP propeller.
Nick Petersen, Mercury Racing’s performance propeller manager, mentioned that the blade diameter has been increased from 14.625” to 15”.
“Our engineering team has crafted a completely new blade profile with a larger diameter and a revised blade thickness curve that can accommodate more power without compromising performance,” Petersen explained.
The Mercury Racing Ventera propeller is available in half-inch increments ranging from 18” to 27.5” pitch. Petersen stated that the Ventera performs exceptionally well when used with the Mercury Racing V10 400R and V8 450R outboards fitted with the 5.44 HD gearcase.
Moreover, Halley announced that Mercury Racing will host an offshore race from August 11-13 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in celebration of the company’s 50 years.
“We wanted to highlight our legacy, which began in powerboat racing,” Halley remarked.
Mercury Marine has experienced a bustling few years with the launch of the V10 400, V10 400R, and V12 600 outboards. Halley indicated that they do not plan to slow down.
“We have a comprehensive product plan currently in progress, and we will release them when they are ready,” Halley concluded.
