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Posts Tagged ‘Mercury Marine’

2012 express cabin cruiser boat photo

You have to see the newest Regal Express cruiser. Go to a dealer or go to a boat show, but see this boat. She has high style with a very good level of functionality. As a weekend cruiser, she has huge windows and portholes to see out from inside the cabin and a huge (for a cruiser of this length) bed in the owner’s stateroom.

She is 28’ 10” by 8’ 6” and fits under most bridges when on a trailer. Thus, no permit is needed to trailer this fully found cruising yacht. She will take a strong pickup truck to tow its empty 7,585 lbs. weight, however. Figure on a “10,000 lbs. plus” towing load with fuel, batteries, water, boat gear, crew supplies, and trailer included as you would typically would be towing her going down the road.

The owner’s cabin area features the largest bed in her class of trailer-able sleepers. No need to convert a vee seating area into a bed at the end of a day or a week on the water. It is set up and positioned within the cabin area such that the bed linens can stay ready all day long.

This Regal 28 Express is a single engine I/0 boat. You select from a 260 horsepower Mercury Marine Bravo III, a 270 horsepower Duo-Prop, and 300 horsepower with either a Duo-prop or Bravo III outdrive. Since Regal Marine Industries exports so many boats internationally, they also offer a diesel engine choice with a Duo-Prop that is popular in Europe.

2012 Express cabin cruiser at rest boat photo

express cabin cruiser underway boat photo

2012 fiberglass express cabin cruiser queen bed boat photo

2012 Mercury Marine outboard motor

Look for the lightest, newest, marine torque big block Mercury Four Stroke outboard in a small package that is on today’s outboard motor boating marketplace at the Baltimore Boat Show. It has shown to have very high durability partly because of its robust part choices where other outboard motors have had trouble. This outboard has almost 10,000 hours of engineer’s time and testing in the field to make a durable marine engine.

A goal of the motor was for it to weight within the weight of a battery and a two stroke outboard combined together and yet have the most displacement cubic inches for marine power in its Hp class. The Mercury Marine FourStroke 150 Hp accomplishes both goals. It weights around 455 lbs. while Honda’s engine weights around 478 lbs. for its 150 Hp.

On the water, expect less vibration because of the powerhead mounts and location. The transom brackets are heavier, too. It’s a good salt or brackish water engine, too, because of a new bonding paint system that is 18 steps in all and the engine has waterproof connectors and an electric system within the cowling that is sealed away more from water than most. She has a fresh water flushing that works at idle engine speeds and also when it is turned off.

Maintenance is once a year (every 100 hours) and every three years (every 300 hours) simple thing to do. On the Chesapeake Bay it is suggested that you apply anti-seize compound on the spark plug threads each year, for instance.

Mercury Marine covers the entire engine with a 3 year non-declining warranty backed by the factory.

1,350 Hp Merc Racing engine photo

Mercury Marine offers through its Merc Racing division a 1,350 Hp engine with a one year warranty for recreational boating. This engine uses four cams (or quad cams) with four valves in an engine that is turbocharged (turbo-compressor induction in Mercury Marine speak) with a 6,500 rpm redline to get this top power from the 9 liter engine displacement (552 cu. in.).

This 1,720 lb. engine requires a Merc Racing’s dry-sump M8 stern drive which uses a integral Merc Racing dry-sump Hydraulic transmission. Expensive stuff, these M8 out drive pieces, but they are built to take the torque of this engine.

M8 Merc Racing outdrive

Additional Hp above the 1,350 Hp quoted is available with a proper engine room design by the boat builder that allows for lower engine intake air temperatures. Some say it can go up to shh! Hp with the right spirit of coordination between Merc Racing and your high performance boat builder. But, that is still a secret number for now.

Use 91 octane fuel only in this engine and select your out drive reduction ratios with the boat, load, and use in mind.

Now, if you want to use 89 octane gas and use a cheaper/lighter stern drive (the dry-sump NX1 SSM), get Merc Racing’s sister offering, a 1,100 Hp. engine, although some reduction grear ratios cause even this engine to be matched to the M8 stern drive and transmission, for good durability to handle the torque multiplier in a performance boat . This engine has the same compression ratio, same bore and stroke, and the same four cam design.

This one is a torque monster developing 1,100 lb-ft as low as 2,500 rpm. It does a single throttle body rather than the two that comes with the 1,350. The warranty stays the same at one year for recreational boating.

Mercury Marine offers through its Merc Racing division a 1,350 Hp engine with a one year warranty for recreational boating. This engine uses four cams (or quad cams) with four valves in an engine that is turbocharged (turbo-compressor induction in Mercury Marine speak) with a 6,500 rpm redline to get this top power from the 9 liter engine displacement (552 cu. in.).

This 1,720 lb. engine requires a Merc Racing’s dry-sump M8 stern drive which uses a integral Merc Racing dry-sump Hydraulic transmission. Expensive stuff, these M8 out drive pieces, but they are built to take the torque of this engine.

Additional Hp above the 1,350 Hp quoted is available with a proper engine room design by the boat builder that allows for lower engine intake air temperatures. Some say it can go up to shh! Hp with the right spirit of coordination between Merc Racing and your high performance boat builder. But, that is still a secret number for now.

Use 91 octane fuel only in this engine and select your out drive reduction ratios with the boat, load, and use in mind.

Now, if you want to use 89 octane gas and use a cheaper/lighter stern drive (the dry-sump NX1 SSM), get Merc Racing’s sister offering, a 1,100 Hp. engine, although some reduction grear ratios cause even this engine to be matched to the M8 stern drive and transmission, for good durability to handle the torque multiplier in a performance boat . This engine has the same compression ratio, same bore and stroke, and the same four cam design.

Merc Racing NXT1 SSM stern drive

This 1,100 Hp one is a torque monster developing 1,100 lb-ft as low as 2,500 rpm. It does a single throttle body rather than the two that comes with the 1,350. The warranty stays the same at one year for recreational boating.

Merc Racing 1,100 Hp engine

getting ready to be the queen of the boat show

The oldest (since 1905) boat show has traditionally had a “Queen of the Boat Show” cabin cruiser power boat.  This year it’s the 54’ 9” Sea Ray Sundancer express cruiser.

Sundancer is a name that Sea Ray applies to their boat models that have an extra bed under the mid-section of an otherwise express style cabin cruiser. The first boat that came with the name “sundancer” was a 24’ 4” SRV 240 Sea Ray in 1975. That boat had a trailerable beam, not the 15’ 3” beam of this year’s Queen.

If they did not invent the mid-cabin boat design (some say that Skipjack boats is also in contention for that recognition), Sea Ray boats certainly has made it a runaway success story among boaters and also within the boating industry.

C. N. “Connie” Ray started building outboard powered 16’ runabouts in 1959 in Oxford, MI, which is north of Detroit. The 2012 queen of the boat show uses twin Mercury Marine Mercruiser Zeus drives.

Today’s boat has up to 1,430 Hp using diesel fuel, not the 25-35 Hp using gasoline as a fuel that the 1959 runabout was powered with. The Sea Ray Queen’s engines are made by Cummins.

The master stateroom is the one that is amidships and not at the bow. It has a TV as big as the main salon, not the smaller one that the forward bow stateroom has. Both staterooms have a “dry” head; that is a bathroom with a separate shower stall so that the entire bathroom does not get sprayed down when the shower is turned on.

By the way, the generous luxury space of the master bedroom can be ordered configured as two small staterooms so this cabin cruiser has three private staterooms if that is what your family needs. In that layout, the Master Stateroom would then be the forward bow stateroom by default.

Note my boat photo of the thru-bolted bollard style cleat that Sea Ray uses as standard equipment on this yacht. It is one of eight onboard, and they are very impressive!

bollard style cleat on Sea Ray boat show queen

Queen of the Boat Show underway

Visit the Javits Convention Center on 11^th avenue in New York City during the boat show to see Mercruiser’s 8.2 engines that come in 380 Hp, 430 Hp H O, 525 Hp EFI, and 700 Hp SCi variations, among the other engines on display, although not all engines are guaranteed to be at the boat show, in their booth (C-18) and installed in boats on the boat show N Y convention center exhibit floor.

These engines are based on at least two chevy engine blocks with various heads to develop their reliable marine horse power at these levels. The 380 Hp is the one that is popular in a cabin cruiser and bigger family bow riders. Its full throttle rpm range is 4,400 – 4,800 rpm and has a cam and valve train that works best for those kind of rpms. The peak power has been dyno’d at 4,200 rpm before it starts to fall off and the 430 Hp H O verison exchanges some low end power compared to the 380 Hp for more clearly power over 4,000 rpm that then peaks at 4,700 – 4,800 rpm. The full throttle rpm range for the 430 Hp H O is put at 4,600 – 5,200 rpm. A 380 Hp engine will best a 430 Hp power boat up to about 4,000 rpm, where the 430 Hp then really pulls ahead.

Seabuddy has done a sea trial with each of these engines, and in a 7,000 lb type boat it proved hard to tell the difference between them in a pleasure boat application.

2012 Mercruiser 380 Hp 8.2 powerboat engine

Mercury Marine uses its Merc Racing division to sell the 525 Hp EFI bumps up the power and the full throttle rpm to 4,800 – 5,200 rpm. They add even more changes to the engine parts like a different fuel injection system AND a 3.3 liter supercharger to get a rating of 700 Hp at the same full throttle rpm range of 4,800 – 5,200 rpms.

All of these 502 cu. in. (8.2 litre) engines have a bore of 4.47 inches with a 4 inch stroke.

2012 Mercruiser 430 HO 8.2 engine

2012 Mercury Racing 525 Hp EFI engine

2012 Mercury Racing SCi 700 Hp engine

2012 Sea Ray 300 SLX

Sea Ray makes a bow rider that is 32’ 2” in length with its extended swim platform or 29’ 6” with the standard swim step platform. It is a 9’ 8” beam boat that can still be trailered but only with a fairly simple to get permit. The single engine boat typically weighs in at 7,700 without trailer, or anything in the holding tank, water tank, or fuel tank or boat and crew supplies on board. Figure on a ready tow down to the highway weight of around 10,500 to more likely, 11,000 lbs. It takes a good size tow car or truck to tow it. But, what a beautiful runabout!

The single engine choice is a big block 380 Hp 8.2 Mag ECT gas engine with a standard grade Bravo III out drive. The 430 H. O. 8.2 engine or the 525 Hp engine version of the 8.2 is not offered and the 700 SCi (another version of the 8.2 block with a supercharger included as standard) may not fit. These higher Hp engine power choices would require an upgraded stern drive from Mercruiser. Only an inboard outboard drive system is available with the Sea Ray 300 SLX boat model.

The twin engine choices are several. They are small blocks from chevy marinised by Mercruiser in either a 5.0 block size or a 5.7 block. The 5.0 is rated at 260 Hp and the 5.7 makes 300 Hp. That is 300 Hp for each engine for a total of 600 Hp in an about a high mid-twenties length hull.

What further separates these twin engine choices is the separate option of Axius and Axius Premier joy stick control systems. With this, just a single finger joy stick controls the direction and speed of the Sea Ray 300 SLX at lower speeds.

See this Sea Ray boat at the New York Boat Show.

2012 Sea Ray Bow Rider

Sea Ray bow rider Helm Station

a new Cigarette for 2012

 Cigarette Racing or Cigarette Boats has a new hatch with a special air intake treatment for their 1400 Hp powered Top Gun model.  It features the newest outdrive from Mercury Marine or Mercruiser division of Brunswick.

This hatch is the latest method to get dense air into the engine room and therefore the engine for more boating power.

Cigarette is noted for top shelf race boats and innovation in pleasure boating.  See a 2012 model year Cigarette wherever you can, its worth a look.

New electronics, new colors, and new interiors are very nice, but hot boats, real Hot Boats, are really about performance on the water.

Cigarette Racing is a built in Florida boat, the east coast of Florida. Its is and in the center of fast boats and safe and durable speed on the water.

Other models of Cigarette Racing Boats are made for open water cruising or for offshore fishing.

It seemed a natural fit for Vic Spellberg — a former racer to find his calling at Cigarette Racing Team, home to both performance and luxury.  As Director of Sales and Promotion, Spellberg will work with both retail customers and dealers while promoting brand awareness through Cigarette’s corporate marketing activities.

Spellberg raced “Secret Formula” a 302 with Scott Porter, Formula’s president in the late 70′s and over his 12 year racing career, earned a number of titles including back-to-back Southeast Divisional Championships in 1985-86.

“Loving the ‘performance’ side of the business, I see Cigarette as a brand, epitomizing that lifestyle,” says Spellberg.

Read the rest of this entry »

nice boat! its the new Chris Craft

World-wide, most would use the Mercury Verado supercharged outboards for the service support. Here in the USA, most would go with twin 250 Hp Yamaha outboards. Chris Craft also offers this boat sans any engines at about a $31,500 less of a price.

another angle

This 21 degree v hull is 29’5” by 10’ 2” and weights in at 8,000 to 8,500 lbs with engines.

nice seating and layout

A special option is a set of outriggers for fishing. Just think, fishing from your Chris Craft!

Sharp Helm layout

Known for its good ride in the ocean, this Chris Craft new boat model may signal a new direction for a top –of-the-line Chris Craft brand.

This is the cheapest set-up that Bayliner boats and Mercury outboards offers. That is its reason for being. In Chris Brown (seabuddy) opinion that is not a good enough reason to buy it.

Perhaps a new – to – boating family are looking for a boat at a budget. This one should be in the $15,000 range once the family gets the 90 Hp Mercury Marine engine, Sun Top, and the bow and cockpit canvas covers that every boater needs.

That is perhaps a reason to look at it.

A family will want the 90 Hp Mercury Marine engine for all around use. There is no question about that. Figure on “kids only” water sports, not Mom or Dad with the standard engine. Also, you must keep any friends on the pier with the small standard engine. No satisfaction in either of these situations. Buy it, dislike the boating experience, and that’s it. Boats and boating is out of your life until the grandkids come along. Figure on a 18 – 20 mph cruising speed and very low fuel consumption. The standard engine will break 30 mph at WOT and the optional 90 Hp Mercury Marine out board engine will go much faster – she will break 40 mph easily and that’s with a family onboard.

Set your budget at $25,000 and get a Bayliner boat and Mercury inboard outboard, sterndrive V-6 engine with standard power steering and the Mercury Marine Mercruiser Alpha I sterndrive in a Bayliner 185 and the family has a good starter boat package and one that will bring years of exploring, cruising, and everyone gets to do ALL the water sports for years to come. Lots of family fun and go boating is a joy.

 BTW, marine exhaust manifolds and other marine parts are widely available for all these Mercury Marine engines.

note the optional sun top shown

185 Bayliner with sterndrive offers more seating