I am sure someone as smart as Pete is he could build the boat. I know I could handle rigging one for myself and solve the weight balance issues. Move some fuel tank locations and rig accordingly with weight upfront. Also you cannot tell me that 3 opti's weigh more than two I/O's. Look at the Doug Write 32. Went 115 with two motors. I would have two say it would run 125 or so with 3. Think of the fuel mileage and savings on maintenance required. The race triple outboards for years. I agree a new 32 using the 28 bottom with a widened tunnel would be the ticket. Latham power steering would make driving it a breeze.
Also heard rumors of a 400hp verado on a 15" mid with sportmaster. That would be a great engine for twins.

All I'm saying is "The Man" would not take my money to do it on a 32B! I agree it would be faster but ill handling in challenging water. But if you do it I would gladly go for a ride with you wearing my sparkling new Lifeline!!!

the newer ones dont make as much power as the older ones did

Lightspeed - Are you comparing the 300X to the 300XS in terms of having more power or did early production run XS's have more HP than current????

Factory 400hp O/B with 15" mid would change the market if they can manage to keep lbs down....

A factory 400 hp O/B with a 15" mid even at 600 lbs twins on a 30 skater would be sweet! Its time merc gives the outboard market some attention after all the cool inboard motors they have developed over the past 5 years

How much $ for a new 200xs?

I think the ROS model is around $17500 so pretty much the same as a 300xs

They cost $16K each last year for the 200 ROS engines. Good motor but twin 300xs is a better setup in a 28'.

Now the ideal outboard boat, if we all had the funds, take a 28' Skater..

Widen the tunnel by 24- 30"..

Then cut the boat up add 36-40" to the length and put it back together with a nice cockpit and some sort of windscreen. This would be a far more stable boat than the 28' currently is, it would be faster as well and it would take the rough water good also.

A set of 300xs motors would push this boat to some good speeds, be reliable, get good fuel mileage and have a warrantied engine.

The rumor of a 400 hp outboard I honestly think is wishful thinking. When I built the first 30' we heard the rumors of this same engine 6-7 yrs ago and when we found it was not true we turned to inboard power. Mercury has no real incentive to make that much power in an outboard and there really is no reliable means to get this much power from their current engine block so a new engine design and a small market would never pay for itself.

Possibly.. thin odds here, someone could couple a Honda or Nissan V6 to the 15" Mid Section from Taylor Marine and make a powerful outboard? Years ago there was even a rotary Mazda engine put onto a mid section. Other than that there is no real hp solution on the horizon for outboards.