Verado V10 Outboards revolutionise Kirby Marine’s offering

Mercury Marine’s V10 Verado 400hp has set a new benchmark in performance for boat manufacturer Kirby Marine, enabling the company to elevate its product offering.

The partnership sees Mercury Marine become the engine of choice for three of Kirby Marine’s vessels – the Naiad 7.5m, 8.5m and 10m – marking a significant step forward in the collaboration between the two brands.

Kirby Marine Managing Director Rob Kirby said the V10 has given their vessels a “new lease on life”, with the performance, efficiency and overall advantages they delivered along with the impact the Verado’s have had on the Naiad range.

“We were looking for something that would enhance what we already offer and the Verado V10 400hp delivered exactly that,” he said.

“We thought we’d plateaued in terms of performance, but these outboards have opened up new opportunities to keep improving.

“Mercury has raised the bar with the V10, clearly responding to customer feedback. In a highly competitive market, gains in performance and usability are critical.

“The V10 outboards are fresh, innovative and something we are actively encouraging our customers to consider.”

The V10 Verado range delivers a host of benefits, combining a lightweight 316kg design with an exceptionally smooth and quiet ride. This is achieved through Mercury’s Advanced MidSection mounting system, which cradles the powerhead to isolate vibration, while careful tuning dampens induction sound and nearly eliminates injection noise.

For Rob and his clients, the standout advantage has been ease of use, thanks to Mercury’s Joystick Piloting integrating with the bow thruster. This allows the driver to control the whole system – throttle, shift and steering – seamlessly, rather than managing multiple controls independently as required with traditional setups.

“The simplicity of the bow-thruster interface has become a major selling point for us, it makes the boat easier to drive for operators of all experience levels,” he said.

“There’s no need to push buttons, the system goes straight to neutral and the joystick is immediately live, putting the driver straight into control without any unnecessary steps.

“This is an area where Mercury has been a clear leader, with the level of controllability a real standout and a genuine game changer.”

Adding to the appeal of the Verado is its high-speed stability, a key advantage when operating in the testing conditions along the West Australian coastline.

“The large-diameter four-blade propeller delivers a much smoother transition onto the plane, and at speeds above 50 knots the boat remains stable and comfortable, even in the rough conditions the WA coast is known for,” Rob said.

“Building boats that can operate safely at speed is one of our forte and these outboards further enhance that capability.

“With very little flat water off the WA coastline, this level of performance and stability is essential.”

Kirby Marine builds vessels for both commercial and recreational customers, working with organisations such as the CSIRO, Western Australia Police, the Western Australian Department of Fisheries and the Western Australia Environmental Protection Authority.

To date, the V10 Verado outboards have primarily been deployed on recreational vessels, providing Rob and his team with valuable time on the water to undertake hands-on research and development. This process has allowed them to fine-tune setups and identify what works best for customers, before offering the product to the commercial market.

“The recreational space has given us the flexibility to work closely with clients, make tailored recommendations and really understand what delivers the best results,” Rob said.

“That experience has allowed us to refine our approach and now take proven outcomes and informed recommendations into commercial builds, which opens the door to more opportunities in that space.

“We currently have several rescue boats heading to the east coast that will feature the V10, marking the first commercial vessels we’ve built using this platform.”

Find out more about Mercury’s Verado V10 outboards here or check out Kirby Marine and their range of boats here.