But assuming you have twins he would need 5 (or 6 with the added drag) 225's hanging off the back.

It's not as easy as HP for HP. It's really HP to WT ratio. For instance, my F26 with twin 300x's requires about 800 HP in an I/B setup to run the same speeds. That means a supercharged motor running through an Bravo style drive in most cases. I can tell you from experience, running 800 HP through any Bravo style drive is a recipe for disaster... not to mention the expense of freshening a supercharged motor every couple of years. If you keep good gas, good water pressure, and good oil in an O/B, they will run 100's of hours with no problem.

At least double the gas mileage with O/B's and much less pucker factor when driving than when I was running big blocks and IMCO SC's.

Amen Brother!

that said I don't think I save anything in fuel costs. 300x is probably the thirstiest SOB they ever made, and her champagne taste for premium fuel and oil doesn't help. I bet could probably run a single BBC for nearly the same cost maybe even twin SBC's. that said I can also trash on a 2 stroke for days and not feel any remorse, as they love their RPM's.

Yea I forgot about the weight penalty. Seems more go fast would be moving that way. I suppose we will have to see when AT's new 29 OB gets done.

That is one thing that bothers me. There is no getting an automotive equivalent.

Not many people modify outboards. Spend more time playing with props, steering, height, balance etc rather than trying to gain extra HP. It means the outboard is stock standard as opposed to 'automotive style' engines where people are using different heads, cams, stronger internals, bolting on blowers etc, etc, etc.

I'm a big fan of a factory stock engine with no mods. OK, I'll never own the fastest boat around but if I'm happy to pay the manufacturer to plug his computer on it when service is due, I really do expect a long trouble free life.

I think when modifying engines, there's a trade off to the power gained and that's reliability and maintenance costs.

Is a standard blue motor more expensive to run and maintain Vs a standard black motor? I would think "yes". Is a modified blue motor more expensive again? I'm thinking "yes" again.

My 2 cents

RR

That is true. He is shy right about 30 mph.

I hate outboards. I have had boats with both. Cussed both but cussed the I/os less. Everything mechanical can and will break. My preference. To each his own. As far as fuel efficiency the older carbed and first gen fi outboards weren't all that great. Right around 1 mpg cruise. Newer direct injection is almost double that on average.

I know I'm not the norm on this, but I went with an I/O in my pontoon for a few reason. The biggest one was cost, I could buy a complete 140hp for less than a grand. Its quite and easy to work on.

Now that I have had my fun with the 140hp and I want to go bigger. I'm doing a LS with a Bravo drive. Should be right around 330hp and will have about 5k into the entire package. No way I could touch a quiet running 300hp Merc for 5k.

As far a fuel consumption goes I really dont pay attention to that, when its empty I fill it. I call it the fun meter when its empty it means I was having fun.

What the parts cost for a rebuild on a lower for a 300?