I run a design office in the UK - specialising in high speed planing hulls - and as a potential project we are really keen to look at a new design for the 3S / 6 Litre class. We have also raced ourselves and set-up a number of customer projects etc.

Great class in my opinion and also one of the few true international classes with racing spread across the active powerboat world.

I would be very interested in any opinions on where the class is likely to go with respect to engines. Of course it is totally dominated by the Merc 2.5 - but how long will they stay in production? What are any options for the future beyond the 2.5?

Many thanks
Adam

There has been talk of other companies stepping up and offering another engine. But with basically every twin Outboard boat in the world already have the Mercurys I think anything else would be a tough sell. Mercury has told us the next engine will be a 15" 2.5 litre 200XS type motor. We don't know how long that will be. For the time being there are still producing the parts and powerheads for the 2.5 280 ROS motor.

I'm interested in the design and naval architecture work you guys have done...do you have a web site or other place where I can find out a little more about your work?

Thanks, Brad.

http://www.adamyoungerdesign.com/

Thankyou - site is still in fairly early stages (although my business has been going many years) - got quite a lot of up-dating to do once the latest batch of designs / boats are on the water.

We have been particuarly busy with the RIB scene over here - but covering some very quick boats. For example designing a 100 mph stepped hull RIB to be built in Greece at the moment.
Other work also includes a 10M stepped hull monohull, various RIBs, a small catamaran, 12M cabin RIB, 8M stepped hull RIB in aluminium etc. All these being customer led.

Pretty varied and interesting - but do like the idea of the S class multi-hull project!

In Australia (and NewZealand i think) we allow the Merc 2.5 280hp, 300X and 300XS engines to compete in this class. Most new boats have the 300X or 300XS engines as it is easier to buy these as a complete package rather then piecing together a 2.5. The 300x and 300XS are over the 6L capacity limit but we have focussed more on a HP limit with the newer EPA engines, ie 600hp, rather then capacity.
There has been talk of this class becomming a 200XS class but i am not sure how the existing boats (28' to 32' long) would perform with the drop to 200hp engines rather then the existing 280hp to 300hp engines.