MERCURY

250 FOUR-STROKE V-8

INDUCTION: 64-degree V-8, four-stroke, fuel-injected

DISPLACEMENT: 3.6 liters

Mercury’s newest design features a V-8 motor with a hatch in the cowl top, allowing easy access to the oil fill port and oil dipstick. It was a huge wow factor in our tests even before we throttled it up. It comes in the smoothest-operating Verado configuration, with heavy-duty mounts and tunable exhaust sound, a quiet, light four-stroke, and the throaty Pro XS model for bass fishermen and performance buffs.

Mercury’s self-adjusting valve train requires no adjustments or inspections, eliminating a costly maintenance item required in other four-stroke outboards. The accessory belt drive and water-pump work is involved, but most other maintenance can be performed by owners.

100 HOURS: Oil, filter, gear-case lube, undercowl fuel filter, labor: $313

200 HOURS: Oil, filter, gear-case lube, undercowl fuel filter, labor: $313

300 HOURS: Oil, filter, gear-case lube, water pump, undercowl fuel filter, spark plugs, accessory drive belt, labor: $857

400 HOURS: Oil, filter, gear-case lube, undercowl fuel filter, labor: $313

500 HOURS: Oil, filter, gear-case lube, undercowl fuel filter, labor: $313

MAINTENANCE PARTS: $834

MAINTENANCE LABOR: $1,275

GASOLINE: $13,441

TOTAL OPERATING COSTS: $15,550