“These 1350 HP engines just purr like a big exotic cat,” said an enthused Skip Braver, Cigarette President and CEO, “The performance of the boat epitomizes the partnerships and synergy we have with Mercury Racing and AMG — we all have our hearts in building only the best!” 

The companies worked together closely for the past few months ensuring that the 46 and the 1350′s work perfectly together. “This boat has become the new 46 Rider model which with these engines, is the smoothest and fastest Cigarette ever, Braver noted, “Each of our boats is special and is built for a specific purpose and customer — this one was built to validate this new engine for the person who can appreciate and afford the newest Mercury Racing technology.”   

While there have been many “offers” on the new boat and orders pending for the next one, Cigarette is still guarding its use and care for testing and may even build additional AMG-Inspired boats. “We look forward to getting our first set of production engines and getting this boat out on the market,” says Braver, “The interest level has been high as are expectations–Cigarette will deliver.”

Cigarette Racing was founded in 1969 by Don Aronow, who won numerous World Championship titles, and raised the profile of his company by association with stars, presidents and kings who were customers and friends.

Cigarette is not just a powerboat, it is a lifestyle.

This boat hull was designed by the folks at Baja, and since then the deck has been restyled by Sea Ray, and all Baja boats are now built by Fountain Boats (they bought Baja awhile ago). She uses a 27’ 5” hull with a swim platform and hull LOA of 29’ 2”. The beam is 8’ 6” and the weight is 5,100 lbs.

Note how much more of a “needle nose” she has and how far back towards the transom it goes. This a very traditional go-fast deep vee with a truely now old fashioned 24 degree bottom at the transom. There are no steps or breaks across the running surface in the Baja 277 boat hull. That all gives and outstanding soft ride in a chop, but takes extra Hp to over-come the drag that such a hull shape requires. Do not under power this boat!

Top power for this race-boat inspired Baja family boat is the 600 Hp Mercury Marine Bravo XR inboard outboard stern drive I/O. Fountain includes both trim tabs (K-planes) and external steering (Latham steering) with this engine and drive power package.

From Merc Racing…The HP600 SCi was the first Mercury Racing sterndrive engine package certified for sale in the European Union (EU). The popular engine, packed with Mercury Racing exclusive components, meets the emissions requirements as set forth in the EU Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) 94/25/EC amended by 2003/44/EC. The engine also meets requirements of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 89/336/EC. The certification expands the availability of the 600 SCi sterndrive engine package to all countries that fall under the EU’s RCD.

The 600 SCi engine continues Mercury Racing’s heritage of producing engines packed with state-of-the-art technology that delight customers with outstanding performance.

The engine outperformed the larger displacement Ilmor MV10-625 in a recent Speedboat Magazine® shoot-out featuring identically rigged Outerlimits 39 Quatro vee-bottom hulls.

The Mercury exclusive Propulsion Control Module (PCM) 07 microprocessor, combined with a 3.3 Liter Lysholm® screw type supercharger, roller camshaft and sequential fuel injection for impeccable idle quality, instant throttle response and unmatched performance throughout the engine operating range…

The 600 Hp Mercury Marine Bravo XR inboard outboard stern drive I/O uses a Mercury Marine cast and built 502 cu. in. block that this year is now being offered with Hp ratings as low as 380 Hp. Note that this 600 Hp engine power requires upgraded by two steps Mercury Marine Mercruiser inboard outboard drive from the Bravo One, and not the Bravo One x, but the Bravo XR I/O drive as a standard Bravo One drive is only rated up to 400 Hp by Mercury Marine.

The standard engine in Baja’s 277 Islander bow rider is Merc’s 320 Hp and Bravo One I/O.

Short version; massive power and a unique torque curve that does not “curve” and thus it is re-named: Torque Mesa (or Mesa, for a one word title). It’s the biggest thing about this new Mercury Racing engine, transmission, and outdrive and that drove the internal secret code name for Merc Racing…Project Mesa.

Spec version; a 6,500 rpm red-line, 4.57 bore and a 4.21 stroke gives boaters a 9.0 liter V-8 with 4 cams, four-valves per cylinder, and turbo-charged engine that computer controls boost and torque at high rpms.

Click to the second page for more photos and more words from seabuddy.

More added details version; dry-sump engine and drive, special aluminum cylinder bores that leads among all the differences that perhaps doubles engine lifespan. Merc Racing gives a one year pleasure boater warranty. 7.8:1 compression ratio, requires 91 grade fuel, mated to the new M8 surface-piercing drive via a Merc racing dry-sump hydraulic transmission. The M8 is 35% stronger than a number six drive and uses new stronger single CNC props choices with a choice of gear ratios.

BTW, gain 50 Hp for a 1,350 Hp rating if your boat builder teams up with Merc Racing to get together in the design of how the engine gets its intake air within your boat’s air intake design.

Package weight (engine, tranny, and drive) is 1606 lbs. The engine dimensions out at a length at 26.69”, width at 34”, and a height above the crankshaft centerline of 29”.

Mercury Racing has caused a stir with this new sterndrive marine engine - outdrive package.