Merc 400 coming

[Toffen]

Hi,

This was posted on another forum:

http://raceboatinternational.com/index.php?id=867

http://www.xcatracing.com/work-conti...european-tour/ (http://www.xcatracing.com/work-continues-for-powerboating-executive-with-successful-european-tour/)

I have checked a little and the engine is a 4 stroke 300 hp with 15 mids for the Xcats. However, it can be tuned to 400 hp. Thats interesting :) Hopefully we see something in 2015 with a high performance lowerunit on too!

Cheeers, Toffen

[amt2007s]

Yes. In 2015 merc will be releasing a 4-stroke above 400HP

[Toffen]

Hi!

Great news. Do you know if a new lower unit will be introduced as well? The current 5,44 HD case is likely to blow out around 85 mph.

Cheeers, Toffen

[FUJIMO]

There was recently a thread here on S & F announcing all this.

[Liquid Force]

There was recently a thread here on S & F announcing all this.

Could you post a link to the thread? I can't find it. Thanks

[Rayzor]

All I can say is that I hope what we've all been waiting for finally comes true. This same rumor of a hi-performance 400+ hp Mercury 4 stroke outboard was going around almost ten years ago and it turned out to be the Verado. I don't doubt they'll step up to a 400+ hp motor, I just hope it's lightweight with a 15" mid and surfacing gearcase. All the 4 stroke outboards that have been introduced won't work on performance cats. Obviously they've been testing them on the X-Cats, so maybe the outboard dream will finally come true! Don't be surprised that if it is what we're all hoping for though, it will be VERY expensive.

[Lake rat Skater]

I agree I can see merc taking the same path as they did with the 1350, if you want the power, technology, and reliability your going to have to pay for it. I know 1350 sales where much greater than expected so far so I wouldn't be surprised if they follow the same principal with the outboard. Either way it will be great to have a new performance outboard, as long as its under 550 lbs, that can take outboard performance to a new level. Even if they are 30 grand a piece.

[Toffen]

Hi,

The Verado 350 sci price in Norway is USD 59,300 excl instruments and steering. We have some heavy taxes here ... But I will buy a new 350 sci again. Best outboard I ever owned. Cross my fingers for the new 400 to be a little lighter construction though!

Cheeers, Toffen

[Capt.Insane-o]

I bet 50k US $.

[StratosVT]

I bet 600+ US lbs.

[JPEROG]

I have heard from a very (in the know) source that they are making 450, 15 in. mid., and are at 520lbs.-That all great but the same source has told me that (when they are released-more then a year away) we can expect to pay in the upper 40s per engine.

Joe

[Donat]

I have heard from a very (in the know) source that they are making 450, 15 in. mid., and are at 520lbs.-That all great but the same source has told me that (when they are released-more then a year away) we can expect to pay in the upper 40s per engine.

Joe

Sounds like a death to 2strokes. Better start saving...

[Mr. Demeanor]

I have heard from a very (in the know) source that they are making 450, 15 in. mid., and are at 520lbs.-That all great but the same source has told me that (when they are released-more then a year away) we can expect to pay in the upper 40s per engine.

Joe

Ok but if I went to every boating board and pulled up every post where someone says they know someone "in the know" who say MErc, Yamaha, etc have a 400hp outboard coming out it would take up more bandwidth than high resolution pic of Roseanne Barrs azz. The 400hp Yamaha has been coming from inside sources on THT for years.
I hope I am wrong but the economy just doesnt support it right now.

[Capt.Insane-o]

Anything Verado does'nt excite me one bit, it's going to be overpriced, over complicated, over weight, and ugly. And overpriced. :)

[Toffen]

Hi,

I think 350 sci looks cool, and it smoke my ol PM 300 with SVS ++ with good margin.

Just my two cents :)


cheers Toffen

[whipper]

30 or less and offer a great financing package and they will sell like hot cakes. The key is the financing these days. Thats why even the auto industry is booming. 0% for 8 years!! Ya I know the charges are in the price anyway but that doesn't stop the consumer from buying at even higher prices as long as the term and payment fit its a go.:cheers: I have no loans or payments right now, if the price seemed reasonable and there financing was right i would sure think hard of getting a payment for a stock 400hp 15 incher with warrantee.

[ridgerunner]

I don't think the Allison would handle the weight Whipper;-)
Someone posted 520 lbs. So it is a 4-stroke, and lighter than the Opti 300 xs with 100+ additional hp. I don't think so. Not if naturally aspirated. That leap won't be made for another 20 years...IMO. Hope they prove me wrong. It wasn't long ago that you had to give up 100 hp moving from a 2-stroke to a 4-stroke at the same weight. Look at the Yamaha SHO and the all new 200hp 4-stroke, they are lighter than ever. Maybe a direct injected 4-stroke motor as they are more efficient per oz. of weight. Add a turbo or S/C on the other hand and I could see it being tuned to reliably compete and exceed the 2-strokes power to weight ratios. Albeit at a much higher cost.
What is the upper limit (HP wise) of a Dave Bush modded 2 stroke Opti? Ver. 2.?

[JPEROG]

They are supercharged 4 strokes, the victory guys have 20+ of them in their hands and are testing-The economy doesn't have anything to do with it-those guys will have them made to their specs. and they might get offered to us as the general public at a later date. This is not the first time that things have progressed in this manner. The x-cat guys have the funds to make it happen after they are done with their tweaking. Mercury will work a minimum production number with them and they either take or not, after all of the tooling and expense have been covered then the liability issues are addressed. This is no different then the snowmobile and motocross transitions that have happened (we are way ahead of what we had available 10 years ago-just more expensive to buy and more expensive to repair).

[aaronmt73]

Ill be damned if id ever finance a boat motor.Ive only financed one boat and that was for about 6mos.

[Rayzor]

Not sure where this mystery Merc 400+hp motor is, but it's not in the Middle East. I called Rik at Arneson and had him call one of his customers that's involved with the X-Cat Series and he said this rumor is just that - a rumor. Yes, the X-Cat Series is pushing to go green next year and they are trying several different motors (looking at many options - including Evinrude, Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki), but as for a special 400+hp lightweight Mercury package, it doesn't exist. Like I said, this same exact rumor was going around in 2004 when I built my 30 Skater (Mercury turbo 4 stroke - 400hp) and the motor never appeared. This is not to say that the Victory team hasn't put some more boost to a Verado powerhead and mounted it on a 2.5 tuner/mid/lower with a one-off adapter and done some testing, those guys have enough $$$ to do anything. But don't think Mercury is going to spend big $$$ developing and producing a new race motor any time soon. If anyone has proof that Rik's source is wrong, please post it up.........

[Capt.Insane-o]

Good post Dale, truth to be told 8 years later after the EPA ruined it all and the precalculated economy crash we are very lucky to grasp on to what we have left. The 300 xs is an okay motor. Anything Verado is a joke for the hardcore enthusiast. The 2.5, despite it's shortcomings was one sonofabitch of a motor.