Mercury Verado 600 Author: The 600’s engine block The Mercury Verado 600 is an outboard motor by definition, but only because it bolts to a boat’s transom. In the past decade outboards have grown ever more powerful, but the basic design has not really changed since Ole Evinrude screwed his brass kicker to the back of a rowboat. The Verado 600 is a different beast; it’s a collection of new ideas that together could redefine outboard power for large boats. The spec sheet alone is impressive: 600 horsepower from a 7.6-liter V12 powerhead driving contra-rotating propellers. But this is more than a big motor. A two-speed automatic transmission provides gear ratios for hole shot and efficient cruising. The gearcase is steerable, while the powerhead stays stationary. The cowl opens like the hood of a Mercedes, to accommodate all regular maintenance. Operating at idle or speed, the motor is almost silent. The performance, sophistication and luxury of the Verado 600—and its projected $77,000 price tag—is a match for the million-dollar center consoles and dayboats it is most likely to power.