The Fall of Mercury Racing. Opportunity?
#21
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Mercury Racing has focused solely on the high end marketplace. The big twin turbo I/O's and the large 400 Verado's. I'm sure as said, the 300XS will be dead soon too.
I'd be curious to know the sales numbers of the 400R's compared to all 260/280's sold ever. Bet the 400's are either really close or already outsold the 2.5 race motors.
Unfortunately, the direction Mercury has gone, will virtually eliminate the high performance sub 20' outboard market. The bass boat guys, and the smaller outboards have shifted focus to slightly larger boats that will handle the heavier 4-strokes. The small builders will have to either adapt, or hope the new owners have a stock pile of old 2.5 stuff floating around to make a complete package. And the 2.5 stuff is getting harder and harder to come by, and when you do find it, the price has gotten crazy. The days of the 2.5 Race stuff from Mercury is over, and the used market has shown that. Guys are getting stupid money for parts. 3-4 years ago, a nice sportmaster was $1500...today, the same case will bring $2500...same thing for 15" mids.
Some have adapted with the 300XS/15" mid, but it's not the same.
I said years ago, the 200 4-cyl could be a great platform for the next lightweight race motor, but who knows...
I'd be curious to know the sales numbers of the 400R's compared to all 260/280's sold ever. Bet the 400's are either really close or already outsold the 2.5 race motors.
Unfortunately, the direction Mercury has gone, will virtually eliminate the high performance sub 20' outboard market. The bass boat guys, and the smaller outboards have shifted focus to slightly larger boats that will handle the heavier 4-strokes. The small builders will have to either adapt, or hope the new owners have a stock pile of old 2.5 stuff floating around to make a complete package. And the 2.5 stuff is getting harder and harder to come by, and when you do find it, the price has gotten crazy. The days of the 2.5 Race stuff from Mercury is over, and the used market has shown that. Guys are getting stupid money for parts. 3-4 years ago, a nice sportmaster was $1500...today, the same case will bring $2500...same thing for 15" mids.
Some have adapted with the 300XS/15" mid, but it's not the same.
I said years ago, the 200 4-cyl could be a great platform for the next lightweight race motor, but who knows...
#22
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Joe,
You're correct... we do a fair bit of OBs now... Our 42 Vs take 4 at a shot.... And we have done a few boat with the big V8 627 from Seven Marine... Our new 340X cat has been a great success, and is using the 400 Verado...
The performance that Mercury gets out of a 400 Verado is exceptional..... 400 hp, 7000 rpm....and a 5 year warranty... SO I can run my 340 X at WOT 7000 rpm every weekend for 5 years and they have the faith that warranty won't put them down..... Unreal...
Mercury has done it right.
I'm a fan of two strokes... I actually worked for BRP when they brought out the E-Tec technology..... Very, Very good engines.... I really think a 400hp E Tec would open some eyes....
The point here was about the hi-po two strokes..... What is the real market for them? Will 200 sell each year? Not 1000... I know that...
Mercury is a big dog that needs to be fed... Selling 200 engines doesn't warrant the assembly line, parts, and support....
I certainly understand why they wouldn't want to continue the line...
You're correct... we do a fair bit of OBs now... Our 42 Vs take 4 at a shot.... And we have done a few boat with the big V8 627 from Seven Marine... Our new 340X cat has been a great success, and is using the 400 Verado...
The performance that Mercury gets out of a 400 Verado is exceptional..... 400 hp, 7000 rpm....and a 5 year warranty... SO I can run my 340 X at WOT 7000 rpm every weekend for 5 years and they have the faith that warranty won't put them down..... Unreal...
Mercury has done it right.
I'm a fan of two strokes... I actually worked for BRP when they brought out the E-Tec technology..... Very, Very good engines.... I really think a 400hp E Tec would open some eyes....
The point here was about the hi-po two strokes..... What is the real market for them? Will 200 sell each year? Not 1000... I know that...
Mercury is a big dog that needs to be fed... Selling 200 engines doesn't warrant the assembly line, parts, and support....
I certainly understand why they wouldn't want to continue the line...
If the EPA goes away and Mercury can build a real HP two stroke like the 300x of old. That motor would put to shame the 400r as far as performance. My old 300x motors blow away the 400r in acceleration and will more than hold their own on top end as well. The 300x was to be their platform for a 375hp version but EPA killed it. I think that CC boats will want the 400r without a doubt. However if Mercury had a bigger version of the 300x for the HP cats up to 36' I think with the performance gains over the 4 strokes most would want the 2 stroke. I also agree what about all the single engine small HP boats out there. You guys need to start buying 300xs motors and stop fixing old ones!
#25
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Hi,
I have been running my Phantom 25 for 20 years now. Its a 1985 model, so its been through several engine applications. The boat is a narrow 25 footer, only 5,5 foot wide. So its a offshore performance boat, typically made for a single 300XS or twin 2,5 engines. The package used for offshore racing was twin Merc XR2 in the 80 ties in UK.
I have owned Johnson 3.6 GT Offshore Race 300 hp engine, Mercury Promax 300 SVS, twin Mercury 2,5 EFI SS with PCU, Verado 350 Sci and now a Verado 400R. The best engine (and fastest too) is by good margin the 400R. No question about it. Although the sound and acceleration was mindblowing with the twin package, the downside was malfunctions and 3 litre oil and 100 litre fuel per hour on cruise. Making the total cost of running them to approx USD 15,000 per season in Norway for 20 hours use... The 400R you can run hard all day, they start and they stop when you decide to and the total costs me for 80 hours use this season is USD 4,000 incl winterizing and storage...
I considered to buy twin 200 ROS, but no warranty stopped me for doing it. Mercury should change that since this engine is runnng very strong and suits the 18-22 footers very well. So I understand your point.
Cheeers, Toffen
I have been running my Phantom 25 for 20 years now. Its a 1985 model, so its been through several engine applications. The boat is a narrow 25 footer, only 5,5 foot wide. So its a offshore performance boat, typically made for a single 300XS or twin 2,5 engines. The package used for offshore racing was twin Merc XR2 in the 80 ties in UK.
I have owned Johnson 3.6 GT Offshore Race 300 hp engine, Mercury Promax 300 SVS, twin Mercury 2,5 EFI SS with PCU, Verado 350 Sci and now a Verado 400R. The best engine (and fastest too) is by good margin the 400R. No question about it. Although the sound and acceleration was mindblowing with the twin package, the downside was malfunctions and 3 litre oil and 100 litre fuel per hour on cruise. Making the total cost of running them to approx USD 15,000 per season in Norway for 20 hours use... The 400R you can run hard all day, they start and they stop when you decide to and the total costs me for 80 hours use this season is USD 4,000 incl winterizing and storage...
I considered to buy twin 200 ROS, but no warranty stopped me for doing it. Mercury should change that since this engine is runnng very strong and suits the 18-22 footers very well. So I understand your point.
Cheeers, Toffen
#27
#28
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So, if you choose to not write about V bottom boats anymore because you only want to write about cats.... then I can write a headline that says "The Fall of Wave to Wave . Opportunity"...? That doesn't sound good to you, does it?
I suggest you be more careful with your headlines.... Mercury may have been considering advertising with you... and now how do you think they view your media?
I suggest you be more careful with your headlines.... Mercury may have been considering advertising with you... and now how do you think they view your media?
Full disclosure, I own Mercury products and my dad was a Mercury dealer in the 70's. I am pretty loyal to the brand.
#29
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Hi,
I have been running my Phantom 25 for 20 years now. Its a 1985 model, so its been through several engine applications. The boat is a narrow 25 footer, only 5,5 foot wide. So its a offshore performance boat, typically made for a single 300XS or twin 2,5 engines. The package used for offshore racing was twin Merc XR2 in the 80 ties in UK.
I have owned Johnson 3.6 GT Offshore Race 300 hp engine, Mercury Promax 300 SVS, twin Mercury 2,5 EFI SS with PCU, Verado 350 Sci and now a Verado 400R. The best engine (and fastest too) is by good margin the 400R. No question about it. Although the sound and acceleration was mindblowing with the twin package, the downside was malfunctions and 3 litre oil and 100 litre fuel per hour on cruise. Making the total cost of running them to approx USD 15,000 per season in Norway for 20 hours use... The 400R you can run hard all day, they start and they stop when you decide to and the total costs me for 80 hours use this season is USD 4,000 incl winterizing and storage...
I considered to buy twin 200 ROS, but no warranty stopped me for doing it. Mercury should change that since this engine is runnng very strong and suits the 18-22 footers very well. So I understand your point.
Cheeers, Toffen
I have been running my Phantom 25 for 20 years now. Its a 1985 model, so its been through several engine applications. The boat is a narrow 25 footer, only 5,5 foot wide. So its a offshore performance boat, typically made for a single 300XS or twin 2,5 engines. The package used for offshore racing was twin Merc XR2 in the 80 ties in UK.
I have owned Johnson 3.6 GT Offshore Race 300 hp engine, Mercury Promax 300 SVS, twin Mercury 2,5 EFI SS with PCU, Verado 350 Sci and now a Verado 400R. The best engine (and fastest too) is by good margin the 400R. No question about it. Although the sound and acceleration was mindblowing with the twin package, the downside was malfunctions and 3 litre oil and 100 litre fuel per hour on cruise. Making the total cost of running them to approx USD 15,000 per season in Norway for 20 hours use... The 400R you can run hard all day, they start and they stop when you decide to and the total costs me for 80 hours use this season is USD 4,000 incl winterizing and storage...
I considered to buy twin 200 ROS, but no warranty stopped me for doing it. Mercury should change that since this engine is runnng very strong and suits the 18-22 footers very well. So I understand your point.
Cheeers, Toffen
#30
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I get the feeling Merc Racing isn't going anywhere. As for opportunity, what might that be? Someone said that no-one wants 2 stroke outboards or performance boats (or something similar). I noticed Tim G was reading this. Here is a guy that is selling 57' Center Consoles w/ 4 BIG 7 marine outboards in the middle east; for sh!t-tons of dough. MTI has designed new model after new model in recent years, primarily for the outboard market. So lets ask him- "excuse me, Mr. G sir, would you say that Merc Racing, outboards (in general) and/or the performance boats markets' are in trouble?".
There is a reason that Volvo bough 7 Marine. As for the 2 strokes, eventually it will be evolution that kills them, but not for a while yet.
Yeah Man, you lost any opening with Merc forever. Think Monkey, think!!
There is a reason that Volvo bough 7 Marine. As for the 2 strokes, eventually it will be evolution that kills them, but not for a while yet.
Yeah Man, you lost any opening with Merc forever. Think Monkey, think!!
The outboard market is at record highs by sales, as I cited in the article. It's the strongest segment in the marine industry right now, again, as stated in the article. Not sure where you get the impression I said it was in trouble.