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

[Chaz]

I'm not angry, just a realist. If you think prices going up 90 to 300 % is just normal evolution, then go to the grocery story and listen to the gasps coming from young couples mouths when they pick up .. even a pack of bologna. My wife and I never had to put stuff back, because of the price. Nor did my parents. Why are young couples having to do that ?????
Go to the Mercury parts counter see what they want for simple replacement parts ... they have went up 1000's of % .. (go check, I'll wait)
Greg has been wanting that motor built his way .. forever. Even he says .. the parts are there on the shelf. If they don't offer the exact package, then buy the parts and do it yourself .. does that sound angry ... ?

[Greg G]

C'mon Uncle Chaz, I had stopped taking myself to the 3.4 woodshed until Master Blaster himself brought it back up with the front page article!

[JPEROG]

I have no where near the numbers that are being posted on this thread into my motor. I bought solid mounts from MAD EFI and bolted one of my spare cases on. The motor has over 100 trouble free hours and pushes the STV really well.

Joe

[skialot2]

Even if you got it down to 495lbs, it would still be $24k and they would only sell a handful of them. I am grateful for the ProXS and R series we have. I would love to see a V6 R series engine but we are discussing the wrong thing.

It is not how to build it because that is very simple. The real discussion is demand. Make a case that they will sell 4,000 per year and you have footing to stand on for the engine case to be built. Assembly and putting together the engine is the easy part.

If they could build and sell a 225R for 24K, they would easily sell thousands of them. A plain jane 2024 225 Fourstroke series motor lists for 23K. Both a SeaPro 225 and a Pro XS Torque Master lists for over 24K. A 250R lists for 29K. Make the 225 list for 25-26K and they would sell like the rest of the R series. From what I hear, if you order any R series motor you will get it about a year and a half from now because they sell all they can build.

[Tcatrett]

I have access to pricing. And what I see the price difference from a 250 PXS TM to a 250 R SM is + 3k. So the same math on a 225 V6 would put it around 24K.

[Petey]

If they could build and sell a 225R for 24K, they would easily sell thousands of them. A plain jane 2024 225 Fourstroke series motor lists for 23K. Both a SeaPro 225 and a Pro XS Torque Master lists for over 24K. A 250R lists for 29K. Make the 225 list for 25-26K and they would sell like the rest of the R series. From what I hear, if you order any R series motor you will get it about a year and a half from now because they sell all they can build.

Those are peak covid lead times.. I think everything is available in stock nowadays

[skialot2]

I'm not angry, just a realist. If you think prices going up 90 to 300 % is just normal evolution, then go to the grocery story and listen to the gasps coming from young couples mouths when they pick up .. even a pack of bologna. My wife and I never had to put stuff back, because of the price. Nor did my parents. Why are young couples having to do that ?????
Go to the Mercury parts counter see what they want for simple replacement parts ... they have went up 1000's of % .. (go check, I'll wait)
Greg has been wanting that motor built his way .. forever. Even he says .. the parts are there on the shelf. If they don't offer the exact package, then buy the parts and do it yourself .. does that sound angry ... ?

LOL! A realist. I don't think so. "Replacement parts are up 1000's of %." A realist would never say that! That would mean a $100 replacement part now costs $1000. Back in the 90's I had to put a regulator on my 115 Mercury. It cost around $80. Today, that same regulator is $235.49 from Boats.net That is not 1000's of %. It is about 300% like everything else.

[CUDA]

And new cars were under $3,000.00

In the 60's

Don't let reality get in the way...

https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inf...90?amount=1000

https://www.in2013dollars.com/Canada-inflation

[Greg G]

Even if you got it down to 495lbs, it would still be $24k and they would only sell a handful of them. I am grateful for the ProXS and R series we have. I would love to see a V6 R series engine but we are discussing the wrong thing.

It is not how to build it because that is very simple. The real discussion is demand. Make a case that they will sell 4,000 per year and you have footing to stand on for the engine case to be built. Assembly and putting together the engine is the easy part.

Read back to the start of the thread. Demand is low on the list and you don't know demand until you assemble it. We are not talking about $100M small business where demand would be key. The mother ship is $3B+ top line and they have all the parts on the shelf already so optics of the Merc Race portfolio is the reason to assemble it. "Look at me, look at me, I'm badass Mercury" blah blah blah.

On taking a different Sporty and using it on a new motor, consumers have zero interest in that. Chaz is spot on right, they want KISS and 3 years warranty.

On $26,000 for a brand new 3.4 V6 with a brand new big pork chop Sportmaster from the shelf? People would easily pay $26k with 3+2. to get 240hp and 87 octane.

I had forgotten that you could use the cowl off the 200APX.

You could also offer the 4.6 TQ case as I believe that has water intake holes in the front of the nose if I recall correctly.

You have to be light in total weight IMO

[Greg G]

..............

[Chaz]

LOL! A realist. I don't think so. "Replacement parts are up 1000's of %." A realist would never say that! That would mean a $100 replacement part now costs $1000. Back in the 90's I had to put a regulator on my 115 Mercury. It cost around $80. Today, that same regulator is $235.49 from Boats.net That is not 1000's of %. It is about 300% like everything else.

Look a little closer ... a regulator for a 115 when new was $26. do the math ..

But look .. if your happy .. god bless ..

[CUDA]

https://www.dbelectrical.com/product...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Chaz]

Read back to the start of the thread. Demand is low on the list and you don't know demand until you assemble it. We are not talking about $100M small business where demand would be key. The mother ship is $3B+ top line and they have all the parts on the shelf already so optics of the Merc Race portfolio is the reason to assemble it. "Look at me, look at me, I'm badass Mercury" blah blah blah.

On taking a different Sporty and using it on a new motor, consumers have zero interest in that. Chaz is spot on right, they want KISS and 3 years warranty.

On $26,000 for a brand new 3.4 V6 with a brand new big pork chop Sportmaster from the shelf? People would easily pay $26k with 3+2. to get 240hp and 87 octane.

I had forgotten that you could use the cowl off the 200APX.

You could also offer the 4.6 TQ case as I believe that has water intake holes in the front of the nose if I recall correctly.

You have to be light in total weight IMO

What's a new sporty ... $10,000.00 and change .. plus the $26.000.00 motor. Pretty close to the 40K I mentioned. Tax, title, dealer destination, dealer installation.
What ??? You want to do a repower .. dude take a seat at the back of the bus ...

[mrpenguin]

Read back to the start of the thread. Demand is low on the list and you don't know demand until you assemble it. We are not talking about $100M small business where demand would be key. The mother ship is $3B+ top line and they have all the parts on the shelf already so optics of the Merc Race portfolio is the reason to assemble it. "Look at me, look at me, I'm badass Mercury" blah blah blah.

On taking a different Sporty and using it on a new motor, consumers have zero interest in that. Chaz is spot on right, they want KISS and 3 years warranty.

On $26,000 for a brand new 3.4 V6 with a brand new big pork chop Sportmaster from the shelf? People would easily pay $26k with 3+2. to get 240hp and 87 octane.

I had forgotten that you could use the cowl off the 200APX.

You could also offer the 4.6 TQ case as I believe that has water intake holes in the front of the nose if I recall correctly.

You have to be light in total weight IMO

I guess we will have to agree to disagree. It still would not sell in my opinion as their is no demand for smaller performance outboards these days. Everyone says they would buy one tomorrow but in the end, no one ponies up the money.

[skialot2]

Look a little closer ... a regulator for a 115 when new was $26. do the math ..

But look .. if your happy .. god bless ..

The rectifier was $26 It's now $76. The regulator was $80 Now $235. But nice try.