I don't doubt that & this will forever be the scenario when shopping price, H.P., name brand or resale. Just depends what's most important to you.

There's another thread going about praising ILMOR & someone chimed in that they have over 400hrs on their ILMOR 625, having only replaced a starter. When you spread the cost out over time it probably levels the playing field & ultimately circles right back to personal preference.

I am sure that's a business $$$ decision for merc, but I'd like to see the business model on how that pans out over the long haul...guessing that broken drives covers the loss of business due to a no sale on just an engine. maybe they know they wouldn't sell many bravo's at all if they did that LOL.

Good Point LA, I know Merc has done a good job of minimizing their NXT drives being parted out or mated to non-Merc power. Not that the NXT is bulletproof but certainly a better solution than the Bravo or Bravo equivalent by others.

Don't be surprised to see ILMOR introduce a drive to be mated to their V-8 line. (this was the other problem for Formula, they offer a warranty on the whole boat & probably didn't want to have 2 different companys to turn to in the event warranty work was required)

Sorry forgot about Jim's!!

Here's a direct quote from an email from Dale to me about his 30'...

"The boat has run a best of 158, and I guarantee it has some left in it, as I have only had a total of 4 different sets of props on the boat, and none of them were ideal for an ultimate*best top speed. Not to mention that I have never even run any of the new CNC props on the boat. What I really like about the props on the boat right now are the 100 mph cruise at 4,000 rpm. 150mph is only 6,000 rpm, so I'm not stressing the motors at all (they're good to 7,000) and I rarely run it to 150 and above.*FYI, the motors are built for 91 unleaded pump gas!"

Is this Dale R. who owns Skater 30 #1 (a.k.a. Prototype) or someone that owns a Fatboy?

Yes it's from Rayzor

running 100mph at 4g's that's nice!!!...that will get me to 65ish in my v bottom LOL. 308 with Outboards not sure... how much HP does he have??? can't remember.

I'm pretty sure the answer to that question is somewhat censored publicly!

Sterling's dyno, for what that's worth, under 800 each.