Mercury’s new breed of engine offers some exciting advancements and a host of new tech to complement them. Hooked Up had the chance to test out the new 150hp and we were impressed by what was on offer.
Haines Hunter 565R with Mercury 150 FourStroke
Being familiar with a vessel is always the best way to ascertain the attributes of any new engine. I have spent quite a bit of time in a few different incarnations of the new Haines Hunter 565R so I was keen to see what discernible differences there were with Merc’s famous 150hp FourStroke on the back. Heading out of the harbour, the first thing I noticed was that this 150 is whisper-quiet; any skipper using this engine for the first time will be forgiven for occasionally thinking the engine is off and cranking the starter over while she’s actually running.
As we came into the open water I planted the throttle forward and the 150 got the 565 on to the plane with ease. Mid-range power from the 150 is excellent and a lot of play with sharp turns and acceleration showed the 150 to be equipped with a smooth gearbox and a responsive throttle. Top-end speed sat at a respectable 73km/h at wide open throttle , which was perfect for a boat of this size. This 150 is a perfect match for the 565 with its low-down torque, outstanding mid-range and lightest weight in class.
While it isn’t a new engine in Mercury’s line-up, it certainly is an impressive one. After debuting back in 2011, this 150 has earned itself an excellent reputation. It’s the lightest in its category and offers the largest displacement at 2998cc. On top of this it’s a simple, durable and highly effective engine design that is renowned for its reliability and offers comparably lower service costs.
If repowering a vessel or choosing a new package that requires 150 horsepower, you won’t find a more powerful or lighter 150 four-stroke than this.
