Why are so many guys so excited about the new 400R???

**Rayzor** · 02-17-2015, 12:49 AM

Single 400R - 687 pounds, 400hp

Twin 2.5/Sports - 750 pounds, 560hp

Twin 400Rs - 1,374 pounds, 800hp

Triple 2.5/ROS - 1,200 pounds, 840hp

Triple 300X - 1,410 pounds, 990hp

Triple 300XS - 1,503 pounds, 900hp

This new motor is going to do nothing to revolutionize outboard performance. Yes, one big pig will now perform almost as well as two old 2.5/280 Sports, and two big pigs will now perform almost as well as three old 2.5/280/ROS, 300x or 300XS on the bigger boats. They're way too big and heavy to put three on the back of a cat (2,061 pounds!), so can somebody please explain a scenario to me where they're going to go out and set the water on fire????

The same goes for cost (2 x $27k = $54k vs 3 x $18k = $54k), and fuel consumption. I'm certain one new 400R vs two 2.5s may do a little better on fuel (the same goes for two 400Rs vs two 2.5s or 300Xs), but I can almost guarantee that two of these big 400Rs will burn more fuel than three 300XSs!

And even if you decided you wanted a smooth-water-only 30'+ boat and hung three on the back of a 30'/32'/34' cat, you'd still get your ass handed to you by any decent running inboard cat!

So what is it that makes these motors so great for the high performance crowd?

**Michael J Giesler** · 02-17-2015, 01:32 AM

Bingo the new big wigs at Brunswick are actually thinking they hit a home run with the new 400r but have no clue what the market even is anymore i seriously think we need a letter or email campaign to tell them we want two strokes and pay between $16,000-$20,000 for them with warranties like the old saying if you build it they will come

**slowaction420** · 02-17-2015, 01:44 AM

Been thinking the same thing Its marketing big motor big price,multi cc offshore style boats sell I guess and most of them have more then one engine on the back some have 4 or 5 on them that's four sales on one boat sale 27k x 4 vs one on a 22-25 ft boat in a market where new boat sale are way down low theses days they need to try to have a in on what's selling at all times we all may not like it but that's what they think will sell and make money we all know at this point that 2.5 efis are gone thanks to the EPA and noise regs thanks Ca the small light powerfull 2.5 we all love in a lot of different forms will go on small light speed boat fishing bass boat mid size cuddly cabins work boats 21sobs big cats multi offshores mostly covered the market for long time and still will be a favorite around here for a long time

**Capt.Insane-o** · 02-17-2015, 02:44 AM

Mercury is just going where the cash is. Somewhere around 1995 they got all googly eyed and saw nothing but dollar signs in the hi perf outboard market and everything went to $hit from there. it's not that they can't make 3.0/2.5 component motors at a reasonable price, it's that they won't.

There is **** ton of money to be made in the sport fishing market.

**Instigator** · 02-17-2015, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by Capt.Insane-o

There is **** ton of money to be made in the sport fishing market.

Bingo!

While in Fla for the 8 yrs we were there, we watched that market explode. Not necessarily to the fish boat crowd, those guys were already there.
Yeah, they're after their repowers but the holy grail is the new blood/market segment and that is the pleasure crowd buying the mid to large size center console style of boats.
Just look at all the new creature comfort doo dad's screwed on to the new boats.

The well to do crowd are buying 30' and up, twin or more fish boats to haul the family/friends around. The space of the mini van w/the go anywhere capabilities of their SUV.
Take a snap shot of the sand bar in the Keys this season compared to what was their 5 yrs ago. That crowd has also been making it's way north over that same time.

**tux974** · 02-17-2015, 06:25 AM

Exactly!!! Then also add the good old 8.65% tax here in NY....

These will be sold to the "right now" mid to high end crowd that sure as hell are no fishing boaters but need that "look at me" I have 5 new big motors on the back of my rig but excuse me I do not even know how drive or dock it.
I fully understand as a business or to be a profitable company you need to follow the money!
Try to fish, pull or work a nice size catch off the back of a quad rig.
Let's not forget to mention the practically of a quad rig.

**dagodiver** · 02-17-2015, 07:20 AM

I make on average 10 trips to the tortugas each summer on a "big" boat.
I see many multi engine setups out there both on the hook and at the fort.
Ive never seen any boats with small 2.5l stuff on them. Lots of the big merc power stuff.
They need to follow the money or they will be gone.
simple.

Dago.

**Double Rigged** · 02-17-2015, 07:23 AM

Dale, I agree with you. But there are some cats on the horizon that are being built for that motor. Couple of things to keep in mind. Motor has full power steering, it is very quiet, NO smoke and for a guy like me that does not want headaches, 2hrs of extra cleaning the engine compartment because I boat in salt water it is an option for some. If the likes of MTI and Skater get the CG right on their new larger boats it is another alternative. Time will tell with the Skater being built. You have to admit a 39' Open Fish with Quads went 89mph. Pretty impressive. Granted it was light and no t-top.

**Greg G** · 02-17-2015, 07:34 AM

Merc can build a 400R, but they can't give a two year warranty on the best "modern" motor they ever built .........

**tux974** · 02-17-2015, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by dagodiver

I make on average 10 trips to the tortugas each summer on a "big" boat.
I see many multi engine setups out there both on the hook and at the fort.
Ive never seen any boats with small 2.5l stuff on them. Lots of the big merc power stuff.
They need to follow the money or they will be gone.
simple.

Dago.

No one said a HP 2.5 is a fishing motor for a CC. Heck some of the 2.5 fishing motors are/where great, simple, affordable and longevity motors!
Sure all big stuff because that is all Mercury is making or offering.
Tell us the Yamaha to Mercury ratio you are also seeing in the last few years. Has it doubled or tripled? Yes, Yamaha makes a great motor with a fair warranty so why not buy one!!
The other thing I find interesting is Mercury for some reason needs to put 4 or 5 on these CC, to get the attention? where the MOST you see on big Yamaha powered CC is 3...

IMPO, they are making their competitors that much strong.

**aggiestckl** · 02-17-2015, 08:18 AM

Id much rather see them shave some weight off of the 300xs and offer it in 15". Its a real PITA putting a 15" together, not to mention you need to scour the earth to find a 15" clamp bracket, and a 300xs adapter with solid mids... very hard to find, let alone find not covered in salt, unless you buy all of it new which sky rockets the cost of the motor when you factor in a mint 300x cowl or HNR cowling.

Ive owned alot of 2.5 260's 280's and I will say without a doubt by far 300xs is a no BS turn the key and go.. get it to 430 lbs and I cant think of a reason Id consider a different motor unless I was rigging a River Rocket or something like that, and even still I had a Euro that performed excellent with the 300xs.

I guess if I could ever afford 4 400R motors Id be buying a 30 or 40 something skater flat deck with Mercury Class 1 motors or some other giant cubic in fire breathing mules to power it getting it trucked to Desert Storm