What do you get when you remove the supercharger and intercooler from a Mercury Verado 135/150-hp outboard? You get a new class of 4-stroke engines that’s perfect for applications like pontoons, bay boats, aluminum fishing boats and catamarans. Virtually identical to the 1.7L Verado family of in-line 4-strokes, the new 75/90/115-hp models may not have a fancy name (simply labeled “ FourStrokes”), but they still have plenty of snap. The 115-hp model FourStroke revs to a peak rpm of 6400 — higher than the 75/90, which tops out at 6000 rpm. Otherwise they’re virtually the same, except for tuning and internal mapping differences. Weighing 399 pounds, they’re only 24 pounds heavier than comparable Mercury OptiMax direct-injected 2-strokes, so those wanting to switch to one of the smooth, quiet, smoke-free FourStrokes can make the transition easily.

Tested with a 22-foot Twin Vee catamaran eqipped with a pair of 115-hp FourStrokes, the cat reaches a top speed of 37 mph and accelerates to 30 mph in 11 seconds. Starting is easy, thanks to the computer-controlled EFI ignition, and the engine idles at a quiet 58 decibels with little vibration. A nice feature is the SmartCraft gauge package, which gives you accurate information about all engine systems and can be interfaced with other compatible components. So whether you’re looking to power your fishing boat or pontoon, Mercury gives you even more choices with their mid-range class of FourStroke power. www.mercurymarine.com.