A pair of 500 Super Sport Crossover models powered by quad Mercury Marine Verado 600 outboard engines will be among the Formula offerings displayed in Miami next month, https://www.speedonthewater.com/coun...outboard-heat/

Maybe its me but that looks like a diving board sticking off the back with the motors as a afterthought. I get it, but good looking NO.

As a engineer though I really have to give it to them, that has to be some work to balance the thing with that much weight that far back.

It get it too. I also agree with you that the packaging is a challenge. Stern-drive power does provide a more integrated look—by a lot. But what the people at Formula have told me is that their market research tells them that buyers actually like to see the engines. They like the look.

The world is a strange and fascinating place.

Matt will they still build an I/O version of the big cruiser (Formerly 400SS) or are the I/O offerings discontinued?

the center of gravity is way back versus inboard diesels (the way it should be built) these boats are looking like the old Aeroplanes from the 20s where they stuck wings and engines any where they could these big yachts do not look right and will not stand the test of time vs diesel inboard

Nothing different than years past except it has 600’s …

It's hard to tell from the pics, but is there hull under the 'diving boards' beside the engines? that would displace water and lift them up a bit so the weight isn't just hanging off the arse.

I also prefer the LOOK of inboards, but after 10+ years of wrenching, my next one gets outboards and a joystick. Y'all can keep your squeezing into the bilge gymnastics. I'll do my own work on an engine I can literally wrap my arms around that's also literally entirely right in-front of me.

The labor hours saved have to add up for people who don't do their own work as well. I'd guess not every buyer of this boat does their own engine work... So if it's 4 engines at 2 hours less each maintenance, / year, adds up.Time & $$$$

Yeah I prefer the look and sound of inboards, but now prefer the outboards after doing bilge gymnastics too. They are more efficient and easier to replace. And if you have 4 I bet you could run a whole season on three motors if one went down. On a boat like that it can open up so much more space I bet there is an extra cabin where the engine bilge would be. And it makes wrenching on boats fun again.