Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! This is the new "X-Cat Lights" class - NOT a larger HP platform over the existing X-Cat/400ROS class. Everybody just needs to excited to see a 4.6L V8 platform out of Mercury Racing right now. We all know bigger HP will come in time. But for now, this is a great replacement for the 12 year old 3.2L/300XS 2-stroke that has been the highest HP outboard available in the 500# range up until now. And it is available in a "cable controlled" version that is easily re-rigged from current XS powered boats.

the Merc Optibomb needed to go anyways. 1998 tech way over do plus 2 stroke tech is a thing of the past.

Yamaha has a brand new V8 outboard as well. 4 stroke of course

Will add these new Merc 4 strokes outboards will be the death of the Rec boat I/O. market.-- within 2 years all the main players and small players in the rec boat market will be 99 percent outboards. . Possible a way to revamp Sea Ray and Bayliner - Brunswick / Merc companies whom were basically 100 percent i/o's 7 years ago and back.switching to these outboards.

The I/O catalyst engines was the first big blow, Pontoon and CC boat sales in the past 7 years was the second blow and these new 4 strokes being lighter and so forth offering 300 hp and down will be the 3 rd blow to the I/O apps.

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Wonder if outboard cats will ever happen?

Where did the merc 500 news come from? Is this just wishful thinking or from a reliable source?
I may need to sell my 4x 2.5's

I was talking to some marketing and performance people from this one company that's going after the Kilo record and I was told next years 34, 38, 39 and their new 42 will have a V8 450 option.

Its actually a 525 hp. They supposedly are testing it already at lake x. The problem is the gear case being strong enough. It will be about 100 lbs lighter then the 400R