Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

I checked into Merc's 850SC cost. Dealer is about 67K so you can expect to pay over 70K-80K and that's without the dry six drive you will need. Honestly what are they smoking? Just think of the motor you can build for 70K. Yes I know Merc's motors have quite a bit of R&D, but there not worth double the going rate.

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

Jobber cost from GM dealer on a 720hp motor is 17,000.

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

You could have several spares sitting around so what good is the short warranty?

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

They should have:
1) saved the R&D money
2) kept the old 572 based motor
3) Built it on the new GM shortblock
4) Sold it for around $20K
then:
5) Saved all the R&D on the bravo based drives
6) Kept offering the SSM IIa and V drive packages

But that might make boating less expensive and much more reliable. But it would put all the Bravo aftermarket companies, ie, IMCO, etc. out of business.
Gary

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

I agree with you guys, those prices are insane. Just my personal opinion, but all the computer controlled engine management systems are great-when they work, but cost big bucks for the diagnostic tools and relacement parts. I know I'm set in my ways, but I'll take a bunch of Holley's any day! Just for yucks, I was on some engine builder web sites yesterday. For example, the Chief site still shows all the internal components for their offerings together with very reasonable pricing. Chief also has quite a few EFI's. Zul, Pfaff,etc are also very reasonable. For what it's worth...Lou

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

I'm glad I am a motor head and build my own motors. I think allot of people think mercury waves a magic wand and the parts for these motors magically appear. I have news for ya, the parts in these motors are the same ones you can get out of summit or any other performance parts catalog.

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

Why does the first picture in the Josh Hays cuildup show a boat ideling in the middle of the lake with no one in it?

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

wooowwww that baby is running high rpm's on the Dino i hope mine does that also in the boat.

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

70k? thats crazy, sonny leonard has 555ci,700hp for 15k ill take 4,that would last me a little while. :D:

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

Just saw a pair of those new Merc 850's at the Skater plant yesterday. They were sitting in a 32' Skater. The plant manager told us that the boat goes from 0-100mph in no more than ten seconds. He said the boat will be featured in one of the performance boating magazines here within about the next FOUR months or so. It was the first time I have seen the new Merc 850's. It has a distributorless ignition system and the induction system looks like something out of Star Wars. Actually, with how the dual breathers are swept back and all, the whole induction system reminded me of the look of the head of the creature's in the movie Aliens.

I think the price they're charging is going to "alienate" some people too---especially at $70-80k per copy. Man, that's a lot of smack to be laying down for one engine---yikes!

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

I know a little more about that Skater. When pitched for top speed the boat went 160 with the Merc 850s/#6 drives. The hull is a custom wide tunnel. Just for yuks they put on a lot less pitch; boat hits the rev limiters at 120 but goes from planing speed to 100 in 11 seconds. Now tell me why they don't put 2 speed transmissions in these boats so you can have the best of both worlds.

The other pricing issue is the #6 drive that comes with the 850. It's a great drive but surely it's way overkill for 850 HP. So for 100K you get 850 HP and a drive that is way overkill.

This hole in the market from 600 to 1000 HP is where the custom engine builders and upgraded Bravo builders live. It is relatively easy to make 850 HP on a supercharged 502-540 engine. Someone needs to offer an engine/drive package with 850 HP and a drive good enough to hold it.

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

Well said...

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

I hear ya Tom! I know of several well known marine engine builders that could put together a strong foundation and your R-tech Supercooler/Vortech blower and make 850 WARRANTIED hp no problem.

Team this motor combo with a Konrad 540 drive, Super Cyborg transmission by BAM, and still be able to price the entire package for less than 50k.

How many people would be interested in an 850 hp engine/drive package that would last 350-400 hrs between overhauls and be offered with a one year warranty for under 50k?

I'm serious.

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

There are lots of builders and lots of ways to make the HP. Big intercoolers, conservative valvetrain and good head gaskets are part of the reliability equation.

What is the torque capacity of the Konrad? We are seeing 800 ft-lbs from 4200 - 5500 RPM on a stock 500EFI with 7 psi boost.

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

I agree Biggus. Also you can use less expensive propellers on the Konrad than the Speedmasters. I'm waiting for the shiftable Bravo replacement.

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

PatriYacht,

Yes, the Konrad 540 has the same propshaft spline as the XR drive. I'm heading to the airport this afternoon for a trip to the Konrad plant. I'm currently sworn to secrecy about thier shiftable prototype but I'll see what info they'll let me loose with. :evilb: :D

Kurt

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

SSMIIIA

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

Pricing on the 850 w/#6 is 127k. Ouch!

They raised the 1075 price to 150k(from 133k) just because they could!!!

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

What's the maintenance schedule like for the 850's?

Re: Mercury 850SC Pricing WTF???
 

I have a pair of the merc 800SC's with wet sump #6's. Very reliable engine and drive. The wet sump #6 would have been a good in between drive for the higher powered engines at a price well below the dry sumps.