2018... exciting year for repower options...
 

so I realize that there may be 10 or so guys here that repowered 23s with 300 zukes.... great motors, great choice... now the Americans are tired of seeing the repower market being dominated by japanese motors, merc just introduced some hot new V6s 175,200,225 competive pricing, weighs in around 480 lbs.
tommorow, the 18th, merc introduces phase 2 of the 2018 launch, to include some super light V8s in the 300-350 range, maybe larger, it's kept on the quiet until tommorow.
then yamaha just introduces a 45K 425 hp V8 that weighs around 960 lbs.... ouch, ouch.... but I'm glad to see the only American outboard company finally bring some great repower options to compete with suzuki.. gonna be an interesting year for sure... i'm all about wanting to hang a lightweight 350 hp V8 on my 23!! who's in?

Great choice!

I wonder if the new Yamaha's will come with a spare flywheel as part of the rigging package to make the probable replacement quicker without waiting on parts?? :)

It's funny because it's true.
http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...ons/icon14.gif

Well as far as I’m concerned and what I read so far, the new Yamaha 425 V8 specs and pics are unveiled, and many including myself are amazed at the 1000lb weight. And there are already pics of quads on a 45’ Grady. That’s 4000lbs of outboards on her ass. Unreal. Looks like Yamaha is targeting the 40’ plus market. On the contrary, tonight the mercury website got updated to reveal the new 250-300 hp V8s, weights are beyond impressive. The new gen 3 Vrod 300 is now 600lbs, around 60 lbs lighter than current 300 Vrod. The regular non Vrod 300 is around 530 lbs!!!! Big score for mercury... so I currently have a 250 gen 1 Vrod that weighs 662. If I go the regular V8 300, I can get 132 lbs off transom, and gain 50 hp, while going from a straight 6 to a V8...... nice!!!

I read the Yam 425 is $38k....

Holy cow.....JUST half the price of a Marine7, what a deal!!!! It's tough being poor and understanding that something is WAY out of your price range or maybe that it's price is out of wack!

38-45k. I'm excited.

My first house was $33,000 in 1983......perspective.

Yeah, I built my first house on 3/4 of an acre, 3/2 house for $19,200. I struggled to get the $900 down payment, sold my 1965 Mustang fastback High Performance model to help make the down payment....I'd rather not talk about that loss!!

also, curious as if any 23 owners have or have plans to hang a 400R merc. that motor weighs the exact same as my current 250 vrod (670 lbs), and available in a 30" shaft....
weight is not the issue.

Not sure why anyone would want the 400r as it only produces it at much higher rpms with staggering fuel burn. Most prefer the 350 vrod for all around performance.

All in all I very happy with Mercury mothballing the boosted vrods for the new naturally aspirated gen 3 as the gen 1&2 were dirty girls to begin with and by 2022 their emissions were going to take them out of the marketplace anyway. It was something they had to do and the sooner the better.

The new gen 3 300s with the Vrod lower are still heavier than the Suzuki 300ap in an apple to apple comparison as they both advertise weight with a 20" shaft with no fluids or props (dry weight). If I was offered the same price for either... I would go with the new Mercury on the opti lower as I am not a fan of the Vrod proprietary steering and electronics. Not because I don't love my 300 AP but because I think Merc really did their homework on this motor and I think there may be some fuel savings but that is yet to be proven.

Unfortunately I have not seen availability dates for the opti lower unit option so until it make it to the water from the website they has not really been a lot of valid comparisons to review.

Heard a rumor from a Florida FWC officer about Mercury testing a new V8 outboard that is pushing 500+ hp, with a counter-rotating lower unit, and supposedly weighs in at around 700 lbs.
Makes me wonder...

Edgewater boats was having a dealer conference in New Smyrna Beach
this past week.... Junior snapped this pic of their 43ft with triple
425 Yami's :eek:
55K each....:rolleyes:

Attachment 18215

Hey Bones, did ya see the lead time for the new Mercs and Yamahas?? Let me re-phrase that, did you see the lead time for the individual consumer for.....

Looking at six plus weeks!! :eek: