We prefer the rudder /shaft drive set up. (BPM Arneson). Head to head racing the shaft rudder set up is hard to beat . Mercury Racings new 1650/trans package matched up beautifully with the BPM's and now it is as effortless to maneuver around the docks as a bravo boat. I haven't run a #8 boat so I can't comment on it's performance. I will say Gssse is pretty damn fast w #8's so the margin is slim if any.

Good decision… You would've not been happy with the smaller motors.... Not that there's anything wrong with 700s or 1100s but… The 700s don't have the torque to really make the boat run and if you're going to go with the 1100 you might as well go all the way to the 1350s… At least that was my logic when I did my boat

IMO I just think of the cost of 1350s you might as well go with some real power from another builder. I'm not hating on Mercury by any means, but people need to realize there are other choices out there!! And for the price of a 1350 you can have someone else build you 1800s and blow the 1350 boats away!! Ya ya talk about reliability, I talk about price as well, and then I say- you want to be reliable everyday?, go buy a pontoon or sea ray cruiser!!

if you build a new cat you will have a very hard time reselling it without merc power. And most like pump gas rather then lugging drums of fuel around to make a 1500-1800 hp time bomb run

and they cost the same as other builders big hp stuff and they have a full 1 year warranty

I could not agree more..... When you really look at the cost, Mercury is not really that much more.... When you buy the package on a new build you get fly wheel to prop nut.... I agree that it is not cheep BUT you get a lot of stuff..... Just my 2 cents...

I'm not saying anything negative about Merc... Ron you have told me about the resale side and I understand, I was just raising the other side of the fences part. That's all

80k a side for rebuild.. And you can only have Merc do it. Your at there mercy.

Tom

For most Mercury Racing Power seems the wise investment. With good reason. Brand familiarity, warranty, dealership network, cutting edge engineering and of course high & easier resale of a powerboat so equipped. They are the center of Marine Prolusion Systems, the Sun (if you will). Carl Kiekhaefer created MR and (through his efforts) placed them in this position. There they have remained. Yes, there are other engine building shops, some give off bright light, but only one Sun. Powerboat companies use MR to power/sell their product. Don Aronow (as a multi powerboat company owner/racer) recognized this fact decades ago. He was right.

IMO, Mercury Racing builds stuff to break. If I get the money, I will change everything in my boat away from Mercury. 50 years in business and still can't build stuff to last.