Getting my 1st 300R V8 this week.

**madmatic** · 07-23-2018, 05:17 PM

I believe this thread is about WildMan's new 300r. First impressions, setup, testing and results. not a comparison.

**kct11** · 07-23-2018, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by madmatic

I believe this thread is about WildMan's new 300r. First impressions, setup, testing and results. not a comparison.

I'll take a 300xs off and put the 300R on. It will be an exact comparison other than props.

That is post #4 of this thread from wildman himself

Any comparison is basically irrelevant as a 300xs is history...for new builds. It is however for guys that might be considering a repower from a 300xs.

**mjw930** · 07-23-2018, 06:31 PM

I obviously didn’t make my comment clear. The cost delta was meant to comment on jumping to the CNC prop before exhausting a number of other options. If it turn out that’s all that works well in this setup at this time then it’s going to be a tough sell for the short term since 300XS’s are still around.

And to be perfectly clear, I am not a 300XS fanboy, I’m actually Luke warm on the motor and if I were spec’ing a boat today, when both are available, I would be getting the 300R (and whining about the lack of prop selection)

**JPEROG** · 07-23-2018, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by kct11

Lol....this is a comparison thread is it not? Not every body wants to buy a 300r then modify it. So it's fair to compare them both as from Mercury isn't?

What I am saying is that 300R is better now but its much easier to justify the money when you look at the big picture of what will be able to come from this platform. Look at every other four stroke with variable valve timing technology and how much meat has been left on the bone for the aftermarket companies to chew on.

Joe

**kct11** · 07-23-2018, 08:20 PM

Joe it's possible it will/might be better at some point. The 87 fuel is nice. It's gonna take more then just this one example to see where they shake out. The day you were out with it you would have got waxed by one of wildmans libs with a 300xs that was bought 3-4 years ago.

**engineermike** · 07-23-2018, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by kct11

.... The day you were out with it you would have got waxed by one of wildmans libs with a 300xs that was bought 3-4 years ago.

Man, I'd like to see how fast the 300r would be on one of those!

**kct11** · 07-23-2018, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by engineermike

Man, I'd like to see how fast the 300r would be on one of those!

Me too, same boat.
I have seen wildman suggest the 300xs have possibly been soft the last few years.
Seems he's lost around 4 mph recently.
Maybe his go to props the drag four have changed.
Who knows..

I think he noted that the humidity was high the day the 300xs was on this particular hull.

It's going to take several different comparison scenarios to see full the story.

**engineermike** · 07-23-2018, 09:03 PM

Do we really think the 300xs lost 30-35 hp in that timeframe?

**Chaz** · 07-23-2018, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by engineermike

Man, I'd like to see how fast the 300r would be on one of those!

Then to be fair .. you'd have to say it's slower …

Chaz = I've never been so petty as to squabble about a mph or two and not gonna start now …

However I gotz three air compressors . I be dayumed if I'm gonna any of em boatin wiff me …

**JCSmile** · 07-23-2018, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by engineermike

Do we really think the 300xs lost 30-35 hp in that timeframe?

Do I think that mercury would slowly detune their own engine to make their new more expensive engine appear more powerful than a somewhat legendary engine? Yes I do. Kind of like when they called the 2.5 carb a 245 and the EFI a 260.

**mach351** · 07-23-2018, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by JCSmile

Do I think that mercury would slowly detune their own engine to make their new more expensive engine appear more powerful than a somewhat legendary engine? Yes I do. Kind of like when they called the 2.5 carb a 245 and the EFI a 260.

Or.......Mercury underrated their new motor......when have they ever done such a thing??? Lol

**WILDMAN** · 07-23-2018, 11:19 PM

Actually, ( I hate to admit it) but I think the 3-4 mph slow down on the 21 Liberator is due to the steps that were put into the new 21 mold 3 years ago. That's when they lost the speed. The rear of steps need to be higher than the front. These were cut into the bottom and the front and rear are the same height. This causes the water coming off the front of the step to hit the ramp part of the rear of the step and creating drag. I'm not sure, but that's what I think happened. Mercury SWEARS the motor has the same power as before, and I know the weight and props are the same. I did fill in the steps on the green 400 boat, but I did not run it before I filled them in, si I have no comparison. I will probably do it in the future. I'm trying to have Liberator fill in the steps in the mold, but we will see.
As far as props go, the Drag 4 I use on the 300xs cost $800. The Max 5 cost $1800. I will be trying more props including the CNC 34" soon.

**kct11** · 07-23-2018, 11:35 PM

I see the "step" now that you pointed it out. That's looks to be far enough forward to be out of the water at terminal speed.
Thanks for passing on what your are finding. It definitely gives the community something to talk about. It also will give the people serious about a repower some data to consider.

**kct11** · 07-23-2018, 11:44 PM

Wildman have you noticed the 25's slowing down recently also? If they did, there could be a power issue. Unless the steps were added to them too, and that would have to be prior addion of the center pod.

**WILDMAN** · 07-24-2018, 01:10 AM

I've set up several 25's in the last few years. They all ran about 114. The new ones are a few mph slower due to the centerpod, but they do not hop or porpoise at all! I'll gladly give up a few mph to have a boat that rides this good at any speed. The 25 with the pod is awesome to drive or ride in. Besides, the steps in the 25 are directly off the 24 Skater and designed properly