New 4 stroke race engines?

[2.5-21]

When will we see these?

[jpf091959]

I said if before and will say it again. Those are ugly, I hope they are fast.

Any word on the numbers?

[Deznuts3570]

Mercury possibly? I see the sportmaster and the top of the cowling vaguely resembles an optimax. Or at least some affiliaton with mercury?

[Lake rat Skater]

There running on an X cat boat in dubai this month. They are suppose to be mercury 4 stroke 350 hp motors that turn atleast 7000 rpm. No one knows weight, displacement, #of cylinders, or if it has a blower or is NA

[Double Rigged]

They are most likely a converted 350 In-line 6 Verado fitted to a 3L offshore mid and gearcase.
They will be used in full race conditions in the upcoming x cat race. They x cat class wants motors that are not two stroked anymore.
Mercury is working with them on these. Rumor is they will show some sort of US version at the Miami boat show. Based on the cost of the 350 verado that was around 27k a few years ago when a buddy bought them I would guess 30k. They come on 15" mid.
If they did nothing to improve the gearcase good luck keeping that together. I suspect they will weigh 100lbs more the Optimax or 300x.
I hope they have something better than what is described but we will have to wait and see.

[Lake rat Skater]

What a nice looking set of props on those bad boys...

[Superbender]

Those props are gorgeous

[RBT]

Like this maybe

[kelvin523]

Those cowlings are hideous. Moreover; the mid, gears case, forced induction 4 cylinders setup I'm liking a lot.

[Capt.Insane-o]

Looks like a webber grill with a propeller.

[Liquid Force]

Like this maybe

Nice find.

[Mr. Demeanor]

With the experience Yamaha/Suzuki/Honda have in 4 stroke engine development it would be hard to imagine Merc being competitive if anyone of them got in the game. All three have extensive backgrounds in Moto GP motorcycle and one in automobile racing.
I keep waiting for that game changing lightweight high performance 4 stroke outboard but think if it ever does come, it will be from the imports.

[robert cruse]

I cant believe no one has adapted a supercharger to the 254 cubic inch Yamaha 4-stroke .With relatively low boost preassure 450 - 500 hp should be easy. With higher boost preassure this engine would be a candidate for the OB speed record? They have 1200 cc supercharged Yamaha snowmobiles making 350 hp- these are aftermarket superchargers - stock hp is 160 - these engines are not grenades-guys put thousands of miles on them with no issues. They are not supercharged in stock form. Just my 2 cents.

[Liquid Force]

I cant believe no one has adapted a supercharger to the 254 cubic inch Yamaha 4-stroke .With relatively low boost preassure 450 - 500 hp should be easy. With higher boost preassure this engine would be a candidate for the OB speed record? They have 1200 cc supercharged Yamaha snowmobiles making 350 hp- these are aftermarket superchargers - stock hp is 160 - these engines are not grenades-guys put thousands of miles on them with no issues. They are not supercharged in stock form. Just my 2 cents.

On on that note you can go buy a Yamaha PWC that's 1800cc and supercharged and make 300hp easy, and are light. Surely someone with time and skills could adapt one of these to a outboard midsection

[powerabout]

high performance 4 stokes are gutless, there are people trying in F1, and compared to a 2 stoke they are embarrasing so I hear.
How quick would a hyabusa be with one gear?