Merc 300XS Top Dog/Last Dog?

[SCT]

A buddy and I were talking about the upcoming Miami Boat Show and what manufactures will be debuting. The conversation came around to talking about the Mercury Verados and Optimaxes. With all the $$ Mercury is focusing on the 4 strokes and the upcoming catalytic converter requirement in the future........

Do you think Mercury will ever sell a new higher HP 2 stroke engine bigger then the current 300XS? Or will the 300XS ever be upgraded?

Comments-

[Instigator]

Kinda like when OMC had the 200 HP cross flow and the 200 HP looper. Who in corporate thought that made sense?
I'd think similar at Merc. W/all the money they put in the Verado I'd think their 2 strokes are all but dead.

BRP has been working on their starboard starboard E-Tec for a couple yrs now and had heard if it failed so did BRP.
Have heard only bad about the starboard starboard.

Hope I'm wrong but may be the beginning of the end for the 2 strokes. Funny too as we're now seeing all the blown up 4 strokes starting to surface and the 4 stroke rebuild shops.
Can't tell you how many people I told, yrs ago that that was going to happen.
They all said, "they'll never blow up so what do we care"?

[Capt.Insane-o]

I don't think you'll see anything higher in HP than the XS or the 350 Shrimp. Between liability and waranty you know. I can't wait for the catalyst motors. :rolleyes:

[jpf091959]

I would like to see how much it would cost to modify a Hartley V8 or Duke Pure Power to Marine use.

For the kind of boating I do something less than 25' is perfect, so maybe I can look into a pair of turbo'd V-6's with surface drives, if outboards have max'd out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ciy2zlHTsY

http://www.dukeengines.com/application/multi-aps/

Any thoughts

[Michael J Giesler]

I have heard rumors that 2014 will be the last year for high performance two strokes from Mercury racing I hope they change there mind

[Instigator]

I would like to see how much it would cost to modify a Hartley V8 or Duke Pure Power to Marine use.

There is a video on youtube of the Hartley idling. It was supposed to be the savior for F-1 tunnel boat racing but I think it was way less than they were hoping.

[Instigator]

I have heard rumors that 2014 will be the last year for high performance two strokes from Mercury racing I hope they change there mind

IMO, I really find it hard to believe they're still doing it. I know they're big bucks but how many hot rod O/B's do they have to sell to make it through corporate Vs how many are actually being sold??

My buds and I talk all the time about that. How many members on this board are in the market for a new motor in the next 6 months?? 2 or 3?

We all whine about not having one (especially us OMC guys) but reality is, who's willing to write a check?
1/10 of 1%?

[Da Bull]

It`s all about the money. If sales are good then i see the 300XS continuing. One other thing, Don`t ya`ll think that if Dave Bush can squeeze 50 more hp from the 300XS without going internal that Mercury can as well. Right now there is no need to but i belive they can up the hp whenever they want.

DB

[capteliminator]

The performance boating market seeking a new outboard probably is small but what about the fishing boat guys? I just bought a low hour 280 from a fisherman that replaced it with a new 250 opti. I would think that the demand for new higher power 2 strokes is stronger than you think. Unless they can take some weight out of the Verado Im betting the 2 stroke stuff isnt going anywhere.

[Instigator]

The performance boating market seeking a new outboard probably is small but what about the fishing boat guys? I just bought a low hour 280 from a fisherman that replaced it with a new 250 opti. I would think that the demand for new higher power 2 strokes is stronger than you think. Unless they can take some weight out of the Verado Im betting the 2 stroke stuff isnt going anywhere.

Good point about the bassers. I know I've seen the Verado on some of the big ones but not sure they're (Merc of the boat mfgs) really ready to hand a Verado, w/a 20" mid on a 80 MPH bass boat.

The 250 HO Yammi 4 stroke was supposed to shut us all up but that happened how many yrs ago ;)

Bobby, not sure he is ;)

[Capt.Insane-o]

I've got enough 2.5 stuff to last a long time and a pretty fair bit of 3.0 stuff to go along. The economy is ****, let alone the negative social stigma that has come along like a plague to the sport/recreation and a younger generation whose thrill comes from World of Warcraft or being a ****ing idiot on facebook etc etc etc.

[Bies]

Having some problems visulizing the Duke Engine?

[Capt.Insane-o]

There is a video on youtube of the Hartley idling. It was supposed to be the savior for F-1 tunnel boat racing but I think it was way less than they were hoping.

Yeah so was that Caldwell fart sucker too ;)

[Instigator]

The economy is ****, let alone the negative social stigma that has come along like a plague to the sport/recreation and a younger generation whose thrill comes from World of Warcraft or being a ****ing idiot on facebook etc etc etc.

Interesting that you say that.
I've tried getting all my nephews, bro in-laws, co-workers, neighbors etc into hot rod boats and none of them give a ****. All 35 and under.
Gave one nephew two boats and neither one got wet.

I don't quite get the mentality of thinking its more fun to be inside on a puter or game than out in the real world??
Course I guess the easy answer is it's way easier to be a stud on key boards than in real life.

Was visiting "relatives" recently and they were posting on face book, from the restaurant we were eating at!
It's hilarious to listen to Rush Limbaugh make fun of them.

[cooterhan]

Not even close. They sell so many optimax still by a long shot. Most bass/flats boats rigged with mercs are opti for the saved weight. Unless the new sho dominates over time, I cannot imagine mercury throwing in the towel with the opti. It takes up too large of a percentage of sales. Only way I could see it happen is a total redesigned verado at a smaller lighter package. Not to mention all the coils/compressors they sell :P

[Hot Shot Merc]

Not even close. They sell so many optimax still by a long shot. Most bass/flats boats rigged with mercs are opti for the saved weight. Unless the new sho dominates over time, I cannot imagine mercury throwing in the towel with the opti. It takes up too large of a percentage of sales. Only way I could see it happen is a total redesigned verado at a smaller lighter package. Not to mention all the coils/compressors they sell :PI agree. Hey Kyle im anxcious to see what that boat of yours will do once you get that thing dialed in. As light as that 22 is its going to hurt some feeling around here for sure.

[SCT]

I agree that the Optis will be around for a few more years but do you think Mercury will produce anything bigger HP wise??

[David]

Will they build more 200XS? I started a savings account.

[Lake rat Skater]

I don't understand why they have spent so much money and r&d on inboards like the 1350 when the amount of people who buy those is so much less than the amount willing to buy a high performance outboard for 17 grand. I know at 175 thousand a piece the 1350 pays back quickly but that is such a small amount of people who can afford that.

I feel the 300xs is the last high performance 2 stroke, it will continue for another year of so and the optimax will live on for awhile but look for a 300 hp plus fourstroke with a sportmaster weighing in around 550 to be the new high performance outboard. I don't have a problem with this as it would probally be more reliable than a 300xs.

[Da Bull]

I don't understand why they have spent so much money and r&d on inboards like the 1350 when the amount of people who buy those is so much less than the amount willing to buy a high performance outboard for 17 grand.



When was the last time you attended a poker run event. Those gold chain boats are plentyfull. I don`t know where all that money comes from but they got it. Look at OSO pictures of those events and you`ll find yourself saying stuff like "What bad economy" and of course "How`d that fat old man get that beautiful young girlfriend". BIG MONEY. Thats what will keep two strokes around to.

DB

[Greg G]

I have heard rumors that 2014 will be the last year for high performance two strokes from Mercury racing I hope they change there mind

Would be interesting to see the trend line for sales of 300XS motors since the 2008 global meltdown. That would be telling. I'm sure someone has a mole inside that could give some stats.

[Mr. Demeanor]

I think the tech is there to build some serious four stroke power in a lightweight package. Look at what Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, build in motorcycle or more specifically, Moto GP motorcycles. I just dont think the payout is big enough for them to push the limits. We are a tiny portion of the boating market.
Compare MotoGP attendance, advertising dollars, sponsorships etc. to Formula 1 boats for instance.

[cooterhan]

I want to throw a pulley and a tune on a 350 verado and see what it will swing...

[Markus]

BRP has been working on their starboard starboard E-Tec for a couple yrs now and had heard if it failed so did BRP.
Have heard only bad about the starboard starboard.


What's starboard starboard?

[Chaz]

What's starboard starboard?

Instead of both banks sharing a common exhaust chest in the middle. The port bank exit's to the traditional center and the starboard bank exit's to the far outside ... starboard - starboard .. :rolleyes:

[Markus]

Instead of both banks sharing a common exhaust chest in the middle. The port bank exit's to the traditional center and the starboard bank exit's to the far outside ... starboard - starboard .. :rolleyes:

That explains it. I thought it was pretty lame as code names go… :cheers:

[Instigator]

That explains it. I thought it was pretty lame as code names go… :cheers:
That may be our slang name for it.

Theory is to use crankshaft rotation to help charge the cylinder banks. On a traditional V-6 w/standard jetting, the starboard bank will be lean compared to the port bank due this.
You can see it on the plugs.
The theory is good.

[Chaz]

I might-a said that bass-ackwords ... in that it might have a starboard clone on the port side.
I kind-a dismissed the idea as a engineering blunder, cuz it puts either a transfer or boost port from one bank as a neighbor to the others exhaust chest ... :eek: which to me would cancel out any gain from crank rotation . But then , I'm just a stupid welder ..:D

[Instigator]

[QUOTE=Chaz;2579139 But then , I'm just a stupid welder ..:D[/QUOTE]
How many times am I gonna have to remind you of that ;)

[baja200merk]

I thought it was pretty lame as code names go… :cheers:

Its not the code name but the code name should be POS

Kinda scary its their only dog in the fight.....

[Capt.Insane-o]

I really don't understand the need for the concept really. I can't see the minor issue of the crank effect having much or anything to do with emissions, or if it is some engineer(s) hairbraining over some nuance effort and being a bunch of jackasses.

[Instigator]

I really don't understand the need for the concept really. I can't see the minor issue of the crank effect having much or anything to do with emissions, or if it is some engineer(s) hairbraining over some nuance effort and being a bunch of jackasses.

It's not emissions, it's power.
Starboard side is lean, (we add more fuel = more power), port side is fat and we fix that by making it think its a starboard bank and make more power.

[Capt.Insane-o]

I suppose, that is irrelevant in a dfi motor through injector compensation. Unless BRP has that much of an air imbalance issue between the banks.

[baja200merk]

Sure you can compensate for it but it doesnt mean both sides are getting the same amount of air.

[Rayzor]

I've heard from a pretty good source that the 300XS is going to be produced for quite a few more years. Don't look for it to gain any horsepower though - it is most likely to stay in production just as it is until Mercury decides to stop building it. I also would really like to know how many have already been produced/sold.

[Capt.Insane-o]

Sure you can compensate for it but it doesnt mean both sides are getting the same amount of air.

It's going to make for one funky adapter plate.

[Chaz]

How many times am I gonna have to remind you of that ;)

Eye may bee some dumb - butt I ain't plumb dumb ... :nonod:

Datz Y eye slurr - round me wiff fellerz datz lotz smurter dan me izz .. :p

One has to wonder if they took a perfectly good running E-tec and pulled the soldiers out of one bank, flog it till they were satisfied with the data they acquired was accurate , then pulled it back apart and did the same to the other side . Then came to the conclusion that they have all been doing it wrong since the first V came out .. :rolleyes:
The way I heard it was that it had nothing to do with power or emissions. But more to do with moving some of the heat away from a centralized location. Their motivation was solely driven by the desire to end up with fewer wty. claims ... :cool:

[Chaz]

I've heard from a pretty good source that the 300XS is going to be produced for quite a few more years. Don't look for it to gain any horsepower though - it is most likely to stay in production just as it is until Mercury decides to stop building it. I also would really like to know how many have already been produced/sold.

Them things are everywhere you look ... Seems like the only thing more popular are those $9995.00 Suzuki's

[R.grover]

3ooxs everywhere would love to see that currently here in nz theres under 20 all up lol 8 yami 250shows. no big hp merc inboards only one 1075. so no market here at all really for it.
We are lucky here tho as I can still buy 2stroke carb outboards like 90hp mercs etc.
And for the age thing that was posted in first of page of this post im 28 and this is my life

[baja200merk]

It's going to make for one funky adapter plate.

From what I've herd the test boat has wore out a few tow ropes :rolleyes:. Hopefully they get it sorted out SOON....

[Markus]

From what I've herd the test boat has wore out a few tow ropes

Maybe they are trying to attract all the Evinrude and Johnson customers they have lost to other brands by going back to the core values of OMC...