Getting my 1st 300R V8 this week.

[madmatic]

I do agree the cowling will be a problem with a supercharger as there is no room at the moment. But I'm sure this engine will benefit from cut/ported heads and a free valve system (no cams). A friend of mine is testing with a camless v8, spins up to 9k rpm real nice and smooth and has variable timing through out the rpm range. The best part is, if the valve hangs up the piston just pushes it back in. No broken valves and pistons. Also if we could remove the cams I'm sure you would save 40lbs or so. Btw that prop is beautiful!! Can't wait to see the #'s

[1BadAction]

An exact comparison other than props... and idle quality, and fuel efficiency, and sound, and NVH, and reliability, etc. On and on. These things are so much nicer than what's been available in the past. Optis were a stop-gap between real 2 strokes and 4 strokes that aren't turds. They try to bridge the gap and don't do either thing GREAT, they just do both acceptably. They're still noisy (and it's lame dead cylinder compressor noise at that) they still smoke, still vibrate, are more cantankerous idling long distances, they aren't all that light, and they still have huge ring-eating ports in the cylinder walls. The 280 and 300 drag are GREAT at being lightweight bad ass 2 strokes, but they are terrible when it comes to the usability/reliability aspect, which is the main thing that sells an OB en-masse.

People comparing this to a 2 stroke are WAY TF off the mark, there is way more to an engine package than raw HP and Tq numbers. Sweet running motors sell to EVERYONE, not just HP boaters. These V8s eclipse the non-race Merc 2 strokes and with a few very minor tweaks have the potential to eclipse even the greatest Merc race outboards. This is why we cheer-lead them, the more production and consumer performance motors they sell, the more of a chance we have to see a 4 stroke that's real deal Merc High Performance. 12" and 15" mid, dry sump tank in the boat, simple lift off cowling, open exhaust... It's not a huge jump to 400lbs and 350+HP from where this thing is.

[mach351]

Damnit Jim.....stop talking so much sense - can’t you see that isn’t accepted around here??

[allstock]

An exact comparison other than props... and idle quality, and fuel efficiency, and sound, and NVH, and reliability, etc. On and on. These things are so much nicer than what's been available in the past. Optis were a stop-gap between real 2 strokes and 4 strokes that aren't turds. They try to bridge the gap and don't do either thing GREAT, they just do both acceptably. They're still noisy (and it's lame dead cylinder compressor noise at that) they still smoke, still vibrate, are more cantankerous idling long distances, they aren't all that light, and they still have huge ring-eating ports in the cylinder walls. The 280 and 300 drag are GREAT at being lightweight bad ass 2 strokes, but they are terrible when it comes to the usability/reliability aspect, which is the main thing that sells an OB en-masse.

People comparing this to a 2 stroke are WAY TF off the mark, there is way more to an engine package than raw HP and Tq numbers. Sweet running motors sell to EVERYONE, not just HP boaters. These V8s eclipse the non-race Merc 2 strokes and with a few very minor tweaks have the potential to eclipse even the greatest Merc race outboards. This is why we cheer-lead them, the more production and consumer performance motors they sell, the more of a chance we have to see a 4 stroke that's real deal Merc High Performance. 12" and 15" mid, dry sump tank in the boat, simple lift off cowling, open exhaust... It's not a huge jump to 400lbs and 350+HP from where this thing is.

Well said and I couldn't agree more. This is just the beginning. When the LS motors came out they were pooh poohed. "No thanks I'll stick to my small/big block Chevy". No one builds an old school chevy anymore except for nostalgia.

[Double Rigged]

An exact comparison other than props... and idle quality, and fuel efficiency, and sound, and NVH, and reliability, etc. On and on. These things are so much nicer than what's been available in the past. Optis were a stop-gap between real 2 strokes and 4 strokes that aren't turds. They try to bridge the gap and don't do either thing GREAT, they just do both acceptably. They're still noisy (and it's lame dead cylinder compressor noise at that) they still smoke, still vibrate, are more cantankerous idling long distances, they aren't all that light, and they still have huge ring-eating ports in the cylinder walls. The 280 and 300 drag are GREAT at being lightweight bad ass 2 strokes, but they are terrible when it comes to the usability/reliability aspect, which is the main thing that sells an OB en-masse.

People comparing this to a 2 stroke are WAY TF off the mark, there is way more to an engine package than raw HP and Tq numbers. Sweet running motors sell to EVERYONE, not just HP boaters. These V8s eclipse the non-race Merc 2 strokes and with a few very minor tweaks have the potential to eclipse even the greatest Merc race outboards. This is why we cheer-lead them, the more production and consumer performance motors they sell, the more of a chance we have to see a 4 stroke that's real deal Merc High Performance. 12" and 15" mid, dry sump tank in the boat, simple lift off cowling, open exhaust... It's not a huge jump to 400lbs and 350+HP from where this thing is.

You are spot on now all everyone needs to do is stopping talking about it and go buy some!

[1BadAction]

Damnit Jim.....stop talking so much sense - can’t you see that isn’t accepted around here??

We're getting there, mostly because it's just plain un-american to hate on a V8. LOL

You are spot on now all everyone needs to do is stopping talking about it and go buy some!

This has me considering a brand new rig for the first time in 13 years... but I know there's some other good stuff from merc soon to be released so at the moment it's just a waiting game.

[Dave S]

HeeHee that prop looks like my 3 blade .... when I had to much fuun juice... start counting..1..2..3.. where was I oh yea....1..2.. dam I think that's it. I like old motors. But if someone didn't buy a 135 L6... Sell more boats WM....

[J.P.]

Wildman,

Did the steps Liberator added enhance the ride/handling or plaining time that you noticed. Were they added to the center pod or the outer sponson.(sp)

J.P.

[WILDMAN]

Added to all three sponsons. Did not change the ride

[WILDMAN]

Joe and I are planning to do some prop testing this morning. 32 Spinnelli DR4, Mercury CNC 34 x 15.25, BBlades Blaster 34 x 14.5, and Drag 5 31 x 14.5

[Wayne Cammidge]

How much extra can you really get with a tune on a n.a. motor with out making other changes. I would imagine it's like any other tuner for a gas automobile motor. Like 15-20 on a 400 hp motor. Big tuning gains happen with forced induction.

Our Porsche Cup car had a tune put in it. We saw about 50hp and 60 NM improvement and then about 2 or 3 more of each going to 104 octane fuel, we were on 98 RON

[mach351]

Joe and I are planning to do some prop testing this morning. 32 Spinnelli DR4, Mercury CNC 34 x 15.25, BBlades Blaster 34 x 14.5, and Drag 5 31 x 14.5

Hopefully y’all will have better weather than last time. Good luck!

[Greg G]

Joe and I are planning to do some prop testing this morning. 32 Spinnelli DR4, Mercury CNC 34 x 15.25, BBlades Blaster 34 x 14.5, and Drag 5 31 x 14.5

Interesting collection of test props Randy. Looking forward to what you guys find out. Be safe.

[Risco]

Joe and I are planning to do some prop testing this morning. 32 Spinnelli DR4, Mercury CNC 34 x 15.25, BBlades Blaster 34 x 14.5, and Drag 5 31 x 14.5

Good luck and be safe!!!

[KingOfBeers]

Looking forward to the results as this beauty is likely heading to my garage and will soon be ripping around the Sac Delta.