I am certainly not claiming that this video is 100% accurate, but I do believe there is some accuracy in it anyway. I am having my 300X 2 strokes on our 28 Skater rebuilt right now at least partly due to the complexity of the new 4 strokes and the "post warranty" cost of them (well, and the cool sound of them!), Don't shoot the messenger, just food for thought.......

The first sign that the video was trash is when he says (specifically on the the 300 and 400 hp V-6) "Mercury doesn't offer either one in a V-6". I have seen Verados with over 2500 hours being used daily which for the average boat owner translates into 50 or 60 years of run time. We ran from Ft. Myers to Duck Key last weekend with 40 boats (not one inboard in our pack of 40 boats). The lead group ran over 150 miles at 90 mph and up the entire way down. The runs on Friday and Saturday were more the of the same (up to 100 mph blast) to our destinations and back. Then there was the Sunday return run back North. The abuse that these new outboards are put through is crazy. I am convinced that, (unless your budget allows for QC4 purchase, rebuilds, fuel, and insurance), then outboards are the way to go.

We have had all of the Mercury performance outboards of the past and the 300X having a 7100 rpm ability with a 1.62 gear was the best two stroke for that era but the new V8s and V10s are next level for usability, reliability, service availability, and performance. There is an overwhelming multitude of reasons that you see so many of them on the water.

Joe

Yep.

The four-strokes are excellent, and Mercury deserves to make all the money it is making from them.

Another good thing is that used prices have come way down. There are fantastic deals to be had on the 450R.

That said, I am sticking with my 300XSs until a bargain pair of 15 inch 300Rs appear.

we are also gaining the ability to replace locked computers with unlocked units merc prices are nuts but a bit of searching you can find most everything generic