Article: Mercury Verado Lost During Sea Trial - and Recovered!

**Chaz** · 04-20-2019, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by Scream And Fly

That really puts it into incredible perspective for sure.

I look at it from another perspective.
How many here would give a blow-up rubber raft a second look unless it was painted up in Coast Guard livery giving you the eye for going 7 mph in a sacred cow zone .. ??? I didn't think so. Yet Youtubers from the grocery store to skateboard parks are talking about this series of video's ...

I expect the guys here to discuss, mounting procedure, proper fasteners etc.
What the rest of the world heard is that this blow-up doll is responsible for saving a young child's life.

Did anyone see it go in the water ... ???

Or just a black screen ... ???

Good thing it had the same kind of balcony handrailing I built as a kid or else they wouldn't have had a "stop" to keep from losing it at the point of failure.
One nut and away .. how convenient.

Did you happen to notice where they were when they "dropped" the motor .. ???
White sandy bottom .. in that area .. excellent contrast ..????

Cruise thru a high volume service dept.s scrap pile lately ... ???
I hate movin all them bent valve, couldn't find the leak so mother Merc replaced the powerhead, shrimp heads out of the way to find a 3.0L here and there.
With the exposure they have generated, they very well could have foolishly pitched a new shrimp head in the water. But with what I see when I look around, I would imagine a TV dummie could be hung off the back by joining a few candidates from the .44c a pound pile, an open mind, a bit of skill, and a few "pre-cut" bolts ..

**RSWORDS** · 04-20-2019, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Whaaaaat

Was it the 70s that the mounts were standardized? With the weight and power increasing seems a redesign would be in the near future? Larger saddle, more/larger bolts mandatory?

Merc, yamaha (and I'm sure Suzuki) already require 6 bolts on 350 and up and STRONGLY reccomend it on severe duty use.

**RSWORDS** · 04-20-2019, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Chaz

I look at it from another perspective.
How many here would give a blow-up rubber raft a second look unless it was painted up in Coast Guard livery giving you the eye for going 7 mph in a sacred cow zone .. ??? I didn't think so. Yet Youtubers from the grocery store to skateboard parks are talking about this series of video's ...

I expect the guys here to discuss, mounting procedure, proper fasteners etc.
What the rest of the world heard is that this blow-up doll is responsible for saving a young child's life.

Did anyone see it go in the water ... ???

Or just a black screen ... ???

Good thing it had the same kind of balcony handrailing I built as a kid or else they wouldn't have had a "stop" to keep from losing it at the point of failure.
One nut and away .. how convenient.

Did you happen to notice where they were when they "dropped" the motor .. ???
White sandy bottom .. in that area .. excellent contrast ..????

Cruise thru a high volume service dept.s scrap pile lately ... ???
I hate movin all them bent valve, couldn't find the leak so mother Merc replaced the powerhead, shrimp heads out of the way to find a 3.0L here and there.
With the exposure they have generated, they very well could have foolishly pitched a new shrimp head in the water. But with what I see when I look around, I would imagine a TV dummie could be hung off the back by joining a few candidates from the .44c a pound pile, an open mind, a bit of skill, and a few "pre-cut" bolts ..

I think someone may have slipped something in your cannoli there buddy. Lol

**RSWORDS** · 04-20-2019, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by H2OPERF

When i was at the miami show this year i was looking at some of the big boats with the standard crap stainless 'THE' bolts holding on motors that cost as much as a car and thinking WTF, for a few bucks more u can buy 12 piont ARP struff that looks good and is stronger than gr8 steel..

I agree that ARP makes some amazing hardware. Top of the line. But when it comes to mounting an outboard I use the OEMs hardware. They designed it, when used properly they shouldn't fail. And god forbid they do I wont have some a-hole attorney asking me why I decided to stay from the hardware they supplied me. (Yes that happens)

I do wonder what "brand" merc is using for engine mount hardware. I know the steering bolts are ARP

**H2OPERF** · 04-20-2019, 02:32 PM

If you can use the 6 inch bolts they provide, when mounting on brackets they are way too long.. I worked in aviation all my life believe me they will say it wasn't torqued properly or your torque wrench was out of calibration.. if it gets that far your screwed anyway.. we always put 2 in the upper on the v8' merc book i have only shows 4 bolts per assy..

**RSWORDS** · 04-20-2019, 03:21 PM

Mercury makes way more then just 6" bolts. I have a whole shelf of mercury mounting bolts for everything from brackets to super thick transoms for quad setups. And the V8 is only 300hp. Look at a 350 or 400 manual. But regardless they reccomend (as you do) to put two in the upper.

**powerabout** · 04-21-2019, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by RSWORDS

Mercury makes way more then just 6" bolts. I have a whole shelf of mercury mounting bolts for everything from brackets to super thick transoms for quad setups. And the V8 is only 300hp. Look at a 350 or 400 manual. But regardless they reccomend (as you do) to put two in the upper.

Have Merc ever changed the bolt material since the 80's?

**RSWORDS** · 04-22-2019, 06:15 AM

Originally Posted by powerabout

Have Merc ever changed the bolt material since the 80's?

Couldn't tell you. Do they need to?

**powerabout** · 04-22-2019, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by RSWORDS

Couldn't tell you. Do they need to?

thats what I was getting at, so the bolts will still hold any Merc on?
Do any models need 4 at the top, so 6 required?

**RSWORDS** · 04-22-2019, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by powerabout

thats what I was getting at, so the bolts will still hold any Merc on?
Do any models need 4 at the top, so 6 required?

The 350 and 400 verado require 6 and mercury "reccomends" 6 on any high performance/abuse setup.

Truth be told though, I feel 4 PROPERLY installed would have been OK in this situation. Personally me and my shop would have installed 6

**powerabout** · 04-22-2019, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by RSWORDS

The 350 and 400 verado require 6 and mercury "reccomends" 6 on any high performance/abuse setup.

Truth be told though, I feel 4 PROPERLY installed would have been OK in this situation. Personally me and my shop would have installed 6

I wonder what Yam and Suzuki ask for

**RSWORDS** · 04-22-2019, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by powerabout

I wonder what Yam and Suzuki ask for

Yamaha is 6 on the 350. Dont know about Suzuki

**big tom** · 04-22-2019, 04:50 PM

Correct me if Im wrong but i wouldnt have cut the motor loose and let it sink to the bootom. I understand its like 550 lbs but why not tie it off to the transom or tie a line or two around the lower and tie it off to the bars on the back with like a 8ft leed and putt back. I could see dropping it in shallow water, in marina or have the travel lift pick it. I use larger fenders and i could see tying the 4 fenders on it and towing it. Im a big guy and I can float on one. At the least if your cuting it loose hook your anchor on it with a fender on it?.