Veteran Stock-class offshore racer Gary Ballough embraces a power move, https://speedonthewater.com/in-the-n...or-stock-class.

what is the difference between the S and the XS? just curious really, got to run a 32B with XS's at Skaterfest was a pretty fun package.

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Dave, where you referring to the quotes:

“Jimmy said, ‘Now let’s go with the 300s, do what you have to do with them and we’ll go out and smoke them,’” said Ballough.




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And he did just that!!!

At this stage in the production life of the entire line of two stroke outboards, they should just switch over to the 400ROS. I'm not sure what the maximum length is allowed in Stock class right, but with 400ROS hanging off the back, boats from 30'-36' should be allowed imo. Basically bring a similar class to X-Cat in the Middle East over here to the U.S. - Stock class is all but dead anyways. Maybe some of the inboard guys would move down if the outboard boats got a little bigger. There could be some great racing between the new MTI 340X, Skater 368 and new DW34 coming out - all with a pair of 400ROS motors hanging off the back! Maybe Pete would finally build a dedicated outboard raceboat (348?) if the class proved to be popular.

Can the current hulls be upgraded for the 400s? Otherwise you have a lot of obsolete hulls. XCats average speeds are at least 10 mph faster than the SBI Superboat Stock class.

I and a couple of others have just repowered our 308 Skaters from 300XS's to 400R's. The motors run great and the additional weight is absolutely a non-issue. We are seeing gains of 10 plus MPH over the 300XS's. I can't imagine that these boat would not perform well with some set up changes for CG.

Stock class is far from dead there are new boats being as we speak. Its been a tough yrs for a lot of team re-building their programs. There were 4 SS in Clearwater, more to come from KW.

its easy to say they should just switch engines when you are not footing the bill. Last number I heard for the 400ros was over 40K. If that is the case, then I don't blame these guys for not wanting to run those engines. Also for the 400k asking price on the new 340 mti, I don't see the race boat guys switching to that either. Not to mention that price is for the production 400s not the ROS version. I don't imagine the skater will be much if any cheaper.

I think Dale's point is that it is a lot work for the conversion to a 15" Mid on 300xs and yes all indications are that Mercury is going to kill the 300xs in the next year or so. So why invest in something that is going be obsolete.
Gary's original idea to the run the 200xs's for the current boats was a good one IMO.

Also seeing only a handful of boats and sometimes two shows there is not much interest in the class. Back in old days with the APBA you would 13 or more boats in that class.
I bet if they had something like X CAT that maybe some of the other guys would join the class as well. So far it looks like the Supercat class is going to have the most boats and be the most exciting.