ENGINE REVIEW - MERCURY 115 PRO XS

• New Mercury 115 Pro XS is 4 per cent lighter than nearest competing outboard.

• 2.1lt engine displacement is one of the biggest in its class.

• New Idle Charge feature provides up to 48 per cent more battery charging at idle.

Mercury Marine has released its new Mercury 115 Pro XS, an outboard motor based on the popular Mercury 115 FourStroke.

According to Mercury, the new 115 Pro XS is four per cent lighter than its nearest marine engine competitor, while its 2.1lt displacement is said to be one of the biggest in the class, delivering greater torque and performance.

Torque is vital when it comes to pushing a hull through water and Mercury claims its testing shows the Mercury 115 Pro XS outboard is up to 4.8km/h faster than its nearest rival.

Mercury outboard parts and options

Mercury options on the marine engine include automatic battery voltage monitoring — if the voltage drops, the engine’s idle speed increases in 25rpm steps, up to 800rpm, and stays there until voltage returns to normal.

A 25-inch (63cm) shaft is available in addition to the standard 20in (50cm) shaft, expanding the engine’s suitability to a wide range of boats, particularly five to six-metre aluminium and fiberglass boats.

With its CommandThrust gearcase, the Mercury 115 Pro XS is compatible with Mercury’s larger-diameter propellers. Lifting the redline from 6000 to 6300rpm has allowed prop pitch to be reduced, maximising performance.

Mercury says the new Idle Charge feature provides up to 48 per cent more battery charging at idle — essential for the increasingly sophisticated marine electronics in use today.

The Mercury 115 Pro XS also claims low maintenance along with protection against corrosion due to what Mercury describes as its industry-leading ultra-low copper content alloys. It comes with Mercury’s 3+2=5 warranty that’s factory-backed and fully transferable.