New Aritcle - thoughts on a Mercury Racing 3.4-liter R-series engine

[John S]

APX was designed to support a race class, no? Sad fact, bean counters rule the world. There is little to no reason to market such an engine, because little to no consumers will want it. We, as performance enthusiasts, are biased, and a very small community (small voice). Look at it objectively, there's very few current boats that require such a motor, and the older boats that could benefit from it are owned by people that are phasing (aging) out of those boats. Harley Davidson is kind of a parallel example. Why would Mercury want to follow that? All opinions of course.

[Greg G]

Yes, and APX is a loss leader, but enhances the Merc brand. When it costs you next to nothing to adjust a current motor, you build it for competitive leverage, for public choice, and for industry marketing optics. Unit count (which no one really knows btw) is irrelevant.

[PanRonnie]

Guess my Google Fu is with me again
200 apx homologation

[skialot2]

Notice a 1,000 of these 200 APX engines will be built and yet they make them for race reputation and brand strength. Just like a 200 R could.

That certificate says >1000 built. More then 1000 built. Not just 1000.

[Petey]

Big commitments and how many have actually been built/sold?

[David]

Where's Chaz? Check out the V6 four valve head in the document from post 65

[Z06man]

No way they make 1000 might make a 100 and there are no parts in the warehouse to make a 15 Inch Mid just waiting to bolt up .The APX is even shorter than 15 Inch.

[PanRonnie]

I am in now way an expert but to me it seems modifying a four cylinder, single cam 2 valve engine a way cheaper option than a V6, quad cam, 4 valve engine
Also cheaper to repair when stuff eventually goes wrong

[Greg G]

Is there a race class this motor could support? That's the only way I could see it being produced. If only built for consumer use, would you foresee it being a big seller?

Why would a 225 R need a specific race class?

[Tcatrett]

I been following all this. I have a project I'm working on now. 150 pro xs on my XB2002. 1.62 3.0 sport master. Just a test.

[22R]

I been following all this. I have a project I'm working on now. 150 pro xs on my XB2002. 1.62 3.0 sport master. Just a test.

Report back how it works please

22R

[John S]

Why would a 225 R need a specific race class?

I don't know aboot need, but it's the only way I can see the manufacturer justify building it at a financial loss, consumer wise. We probably just see this from different sides. Maybe I'm wrong, but all 2.0, 2.4, 2.5 models were based off of race version, 12-15" mids? And from what I understand, they never were great sellers, at least the 2.5 versions. Hell, the merc truck stopped going to Jasper, which is a showcase to their race division. Like I said in my earlier post, the APX is only alive IMO because they want it as their spec engine for the roundy boats. Emotionally, I'm in agreement with you. But looking around at the recreational boat scene, it just doesn't make sense to have a motor no one will buy. This is solely opinion, but I'd say fairly accurate. I've moved on to motorcycles ATM, it's the same thing as far as participation. At track days, buncha old dudes (40+) at the track. Hardly any youngins. Small fast boats had their day, but I think its passed. Sad really. Some of the most fun I've had.

[NICE PAIR]

Where's Chaz? Check out the V6 four valve head in the document from post 65

Lotta holes in them heads!

[mikesufka]

Small fast boats had their day, but I think its passed. Sad really. Some of the most fun I've had.

That’s over …. Pontoons and wake boats here …. The bigger stuff are outboard cats & CC’s ….

Those were the days …. I have pictures to prove it - lol

MDS

[PanRonnie]

I don't know aboot need, but it's the only way I can see the manufacturer justify building it at a financial loss, consumer wise. We probably just see this from different sides. Maybe I'm wrong, but all 2.0, 2.4, 2.5 models were based off of race version, 12-15" mids? And from what I understand, they never were great sellers, at least the 2.5 versions. Hell, the merc truck stopped going to Jasper, which is a showcase to their race division. Like I said in my earlier post, the APX is only alive IMO because they want it as their spec engine for the roundy boats. Emotionally, I'm in agreement with you. But looking around at the recreational boat scene, it just doesn't make sense to have a motor no one will buy. This is solely opinion, but I'd say fairly accurate. I've moved on to motorcycles ATM, it's the same thing as far as participation. At track days, buncha old dudes (40+) at the track. Hardly any youngins. Small fast boats had their day, but I think its passed. Sad really. Some of the most fun I've had.

It's the cost, even UIM offshore died out because even saudi money was not enough to keep things going
Think they merged it with american offshore where they have a gentlemens agreement to use 1000hp engines to keep the cost down
Britisch OCR racing have fun with smaller engines