Whats the reason for using the "older" Mercs as apposed to a new Merc?

**flattracker60** · 01-09-2017, 04:11 PM

I am new to the speed boat scene, and have a '16 Liberator with a new 300 xs (which I like a lot).

Why does it seem that 98% of the boat owners use the older 2.5 Mercs (260s, 280s, etc), as apposed to a new Mercury?

It seems like a lot of goofing around with compression, mixing fuel/oil, different pieces of the engine (mids, lower units, power heads, etc).

Is there a new Mercury option that weighs the same (or lighter), more reliable and would perform like a nice 2.5L 260?

I just sold my '71 Hemi/Challenger and bought a new "fun car" because of the same reason....the desire to keep things simple and just drive the car, not fix oil leaks and spend my time tuning all the time.

I want a newer STV, but want to put a motor on it that will rip, and just let me run 'er, not wrench on 'er all the time.

Is it cost? Weight?

Help me understand.

**WillySteve** · 01-09-2017, 04:46 PM

Ease of wrenching on it plus Power to Weight Ratio is my opinion!
I wouldn't trade my 260 for a new 300 when I'm getting 300+ out of a lighter, easier to work on, (if need be), package!!!
If you had a big Tub then you might want the extra low end grunt of the 3.0!

**90 5.0** · 01-09-2017, 04:48 PM

Weight, rpm for application etc.

merc only makes one that would work for me on my hull. The 200ros but it's expensive and hard to come by.

Have To preorder and have to race which wouldn't be a problem for me but for normal consumers would.

**rock** · 01-09-2017, 05:19 PM

Weight, cost, and the fact I have enough old 2.5 stuff to run for a long while. I have owned a 300 xs and currently have a 200xs on my Allison and they are great motors. The 2.5 200 is awesome but the 300 weighs more than some of my boats. The 300 is mounted on a 22' Bullet and works great there. As boats have gotten larger the demand for more torque and horsepower is where the money is and not with the 260/280/300 crowd.

Rock

**Varmint** · 01-09-2017, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by rock

Weight, cost, and the fact I have enough old 2.5 stuff to run for a long while. I have owned a 300 xs and currently have a 200xs on my Allison and they are great motors. The 2.5 200 is awesome but the 300 weighs more than some of my boats. The 300 is mounted on a 22' Bullet and works great there. As boats have gotten larger the demand for more torque and horsepower is where the money is and not with the 260/280/300 crowd.

Rock

You have a 22 bullet ? Bass boat ? Very nice !

**flattracker60** · 01-09-2017, 06:42 PM

What's a 2.5L 280 weigh compared to a 250 Optimax? How much we talking?

**vnemous** · 01-09-2017, 07:18 PM

100 lbs about diff

**flattracker60** · 01-09-2017, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by vnemous

100 lbs about diff

That's substantial wow.

**olboatman** · 01-09-2017, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by flattracker60

That's substantial wow.

Your right thats substantial when that could be up to 10% of the total rig weight! Also that extra lbs could be exactly where you don't want it. From my experience after raw hp, weight is usually the next limiting factor to performance with setup. Gary

**Markus** · 01-09-2017, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by flattracker60

Is there a new Mercury option that weighs the same (or lighter), more reliable and would perform like a nice 2.5L 260?

No. Unless you can find a new old stock 2.5 280 in a barn somewhere.

And that is the whole point of it all.

**flattracker60** · 01-10-2017, 12:49 AM

So how hard is it to buy a very nice, ready to rock 260/280?

Are they "hard to find", and becoming rare? Maybe I'm getting in the game a little too late and guys are hording all the nice motors?

**150aintenuff** · 01-10-2017, 01:13 AM

375 to 520... its more like 150 lbs...

**vnemous** · 01-10-2017, 08:18 AM

100 is a around number. If you start comparing offshore clamp with pump in boat to bass clamp the number goes up and up. Just a for instance my 1981 20" 225 2.4 was 385 lbs. My 2001 25" 300x says 465 and it was an with bass clamp.

**rock** · 01-10-2017, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Varmint

You have a 22 bullet ? Bass boat ? Very nice !

The Bullet belongs to a close friend. I bought the 300xs for a 21' Seebold Eagle I wanted to build but the boat was junk so the motor sat on a stand for about a year. My friend bought the 22' Bullet with a 225 Promax and was not happy with performance so he traded it for a 300 Promax. After listening to him beg for the xs I finally gave in and took his 300 Promax on trade which I eventually sold. He is running a Bravo prop right close to 100 and is now very pleased with his fishin boat.

Rock

**flattracker60** · 01-10-2017, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by flattracker60

So how hard is it to buy a very nice, ready to rock 260/280?

Are they "hard to find", and becoming rare? Maybe I'm getting in the game a little too late and guys are hording all the nice motors?

Anyone?