Anyone running Merc 300 verados on a cat?
 

Just wondering if anyone is running a pair on a skater, spectre, or motion cat? Are there any advantages to the 4 stroke outboards versus the XS's? I know they weigh more so will they be slower than the 2 strokes?

How about the 350 verado's?

Put 300XS on it.

I thought about doing this for quite a while , but after much research, the conclusion was reached that if you can't surface the lowers (you can't) it won't work.
While there was talk of surfaceable lowers for an application like this, it never happened.

Why cant you put a bobs nosecone on the lowers ?

It what they did before the sportmaster lowers.

Bobs wont work on torque masters. They have the new lower for the verado. You can surface it.

The Verado weighs about 120lbs more than the XS so you'll take that hit if you go with them. That might not be too bad for a V, but that much extra transom weight on a cat will not be good.

As stated, the lowers on this platform make it a fail. The lowers are also not interchangeable with the sporties.

Weight is also an issue. I suspect the lower RPM's would be as well.



EDIT: I thought i heard they were making a HD lower for this, but I heard it was a 5" hydrodynamic fat pig that defeats the purpose...

The only reason the lowers between the 300xs and the 300 verado are not interchangeable is becasue the drive shaft splines are different. You could re-spline a sportmaster to work. The RPMS between the 300 verado and 300xs are about the same. The verado uses the 1.75 gear ratio but a 1.62 SM would work well. The only concern I would have is the the midsection of the verado. I think it is weaker than the HD 300xs mid.

If someone had unlimited funds and alot of time it would be a cool package.............

Mercury is not making a sporty lower for the Verado the last time we talked to them.

Correct, but you could modify a Sport Master from a 300xs to work on a verado.

they are not making a sporty. they are making a lower that looks like the next drive lower.

I spoke with Randy scism quite a bit about the idea, he even had some cool computer renderings with jt's input for a 36 mti with 4 350 verados. However after speaking with Fred kiekhafer at the ft lauderdale boat show , he seriously didn't think it was a good idea. I'm not going to argue with him!

The midsection was also a concern

Ok lets say with a modified sport master bottom, is a pair of these to much weight to put on the back of a 30' Spectre?

Im curious also, I have a 30 motion

Ocean Outboard had some on a 30 Skater, not sure if they ever rigged the boat.

That boat was never rigged. They removed the verados and mounted 300xs's.

I would like to try the xs's on the toonzilla,We have 300 suckzukie's with 1:200 and merc lab 26's spinning 6200 its a 27 foot 10 foot wide try toon ...........not very fast but a lot of fun lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUPcWLS5OKU


I think they are hitting the surface lol

What kind of speed are you getting out of that?

FYI there is a guy here in the Fort Lauderdale area with a 38' Fountain with Quad 350's. He just had the lower units done by BOB's and posted pictures on the hull truth. They look really good. He will be jacking the engines to try them out soon.
350 Verados have a redline of 6800rpm and delivery a ton of power. Have them on a 34' Fountain with triples.
If you can get the motor height right and add some weight upfront they will smoke the 300xs's.
We have also looked at putting together sportmasters and you can respline the drive shaft. May not stay together long though.

Mercury Racing recomends against Verado's on a high perf cat application. I have been trying to work with Racing to set up a 32 Spectre with twin 350's.

All of the reasons stated are accurate, gear case won't work, weak mid section, no ability to mount rear tie bar, extra weight(could be over come). Agreed, with an open budget you could make all the necessary changes, but then you will loose your warranty. Great idea, but the motors are not ready for that application.

Would be a timely and expensive project to take on. Bottom line running the numbers, the boat would not be faster and most likely would be slower then a 300XS set up. Low end torgue would be nice, but otherwise not worth the investment.
300XS is $24K retail and a 350 Verado is $29K each.

61.8 is the best so far,kinda disapointing with all that power on a light boat.

Its still a work in progress

Run the 300xs's they will give you the best 100mph package.

I have found these motors to be reliable, efficient, durable and easy to maintain.

Not only that, Diamond Marine has an upgrade kit to 400hp for them.

I've seen you at Clamdiggers,I wondered how that thing ran.It's pretty cool.Does it handle well?

Really? Care to give more info?

Diamond marine MAINLY works on 2.5's this is the first 300xs info I've heard from them, I would check with Marty on this.?

Diamond does not have anything for the 3 liters yet. Not sure if they will do anything. Have tried to get Marty to do something with my engines. However Eric Simon from Simon Motorsports does. He does computers, flywheels and can build you a 380hp motor but it will not be an opti anymore.

The project I would really like to see is a 300 verado (being a 4 stroke motor) to run on natural gas as well as gasoline. We are most likely going to $4.50 a gallon this summer in CT. Just wondering who could make the most fuel cost effiecent 100mph 30ft speed boat? I know they have a few smaller hp outboards running on propane already. Could a verado run off natural gas which is a cheaper than gasoline? Seen some big hp cars do it.

my 30 motion with 300xs is for sale if interested pm me

Just talked to Marty last week.They do Not have any Mods for the 300xs.... Not Yet, only 2.5's Mods

Thanks Mike!!

Good info. Hope you and the better half are doing well.

I stand corrected thanks DR.