Just looking through the NADA outboard section and I couldn't help but notice the weight differences b/w old and new power.
For example:
The 1975 straight 6 Mercury 150's weighed in at 275lbs.
The 1978 Mercury v6 200hp weighs 330lbs.
The 1987 Mercury v6 200hp weighs 363lbs.
The 2003 Mercury v6 200hp wieghs 406lbs.
the 2003 mercury v6 200hp Optimax weighs 512lbs.
and 2005 Mercury v6 200hp verado is 650lbs.
http://www.nadaguides.com/Values/Val...ode=MR&Type=OB
After 30 years of time . . . Shouldn't outboard companies have been able to "make progress" and refine these engines to make them lighter and smaller?
I'd be willing to bet that a 1978 merc v6 200 (330lbs) is more efficent than a 2005 200hp verado (650lbs ***twice the weight***of the 1978 engine) bolted on the back of a 20ft seacraft.