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

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

This is the book for a Christmas present to a boater.

John Crouse, Dick Genth, Yachting magazine, Jim Wynne, Mike Gordon, the Beatles, Chubby Brown, Walt Walters, the Donzi sweet 16, Bobby Moore, Knocky House, the models, some of the tricks, the Wyn-Mill II, the Banana  boat, outboards, inboards, I/O, Mercury Marine, Magnum Missile, Molinari, Carl Kiekhaefer, Aeromarine, Roger Penske, Betty Cook, and Mark Donohue are all in the book.

It is a who’s who of power boating and power boat racing offshore. A real history of the racing scene.

Don Aronow made the offshore power boat racing scene very early on and made it into the force it is today. He left New Jersey for south Florida while still a young man and built an empire of race wins, trophies, championships, boat building companies, showmanship, and hard work.

It is only really available on the collector book market. The ISBN number is 0945903227.

Get a nice one and have a good look all at the photos and a good read from the material that Michael shares about a rare man in the boating business in this boating book.

One of 419 examples of this model size built the year that she was made and one of the best old style ski boats is this mahogany Century 16’ Resorter model. This one has a replacement 260 Hp Chevy Mercruiser inboard V-8 for power and she really goes when a skier says “hit it”. She is a high speed, speedboat.

A wood runabout Century boat has a good amount of v (vee) at the bow that flattens aft for a very shallow amount of deadrise for the most speed and quick acceleration that a performance boat on lake waters needs.

Further, a Resorter Century from this era used the light but strong batten seam construction style for her hull construction. She has many athwart ship frames as well as having seam covering longitudinal battens that the planks are both fastened to (A separate wood batten runs behind all of the planking seams to add strength and water tightness to the hull in this style of boat building).

 A hard chine, v-bottom mahogany runabout was and is the runabout style of choice for many water sports. She is best described as a utility, as each passenger row is easy to get between, rather than being described as a twin cockpit mahogany speedboat.

Straight shaft inboard runabouts with their separate prop, rudder, and propeller strut, are one of the oldest, most reliable ways to design a timber boat. And, Century was a quality leader in both design and styling in the 1950s era. This classic mahogany runabout was the official tow boat brand in the late 1950s, not a Chris Craft.

Century Boat Company started in the wood boat business in 1926 and by 1969 had stopped production of wood hulled boats as they continued on with fiberglass boats.

The photos are from antique boat america.com that has this boat for sale.

16 century wood boat 1959 model

Dashboard of the 16' Resorter Century

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.

Check out the back seat leg room for the O/B verison versas the I/O verison. Big Difference.

Nice boat with a nice ride, but many families will need more.

    Wednesday – January 19 12:00pm to 9:00pm

    Thursday – January 20 12:00pm to 9:00pm

    Friday – January 21 12:00pm to 9:00pm

    Saturday – January 22 10:00am to 9:00pm

    Sunday – January 23 10:00am to 6:00pm

Parking-

Astor Parking Corporation, 1515 Broadway at 44th Street, 212.869.3543

Central Parking System  www.parking.com  800-836-6666.

485 10th avenue

433 West 37th street

453 West 35th street

550 West 37th street

Convention Center- 551 W. 38th street

417 W. 35th street

447-9th avenue

490 11th avenue

521 9th avenue

346 W. 40th street

Lincoln- 324 W. 34th street

West 40th street

640 W. 42nd street, New York

Penn Mark Garage- 304 W. 34th street

Oil Market Garage- 575 11th avenue

New York City Post Office- 360 W. 31st street

Port Authority Bus Terminal- 628 8th avenue

Enterprise Parking System www.enterpriseparking.com 212-564-3199

          404 West 37th Street (btw 9th and 10th Avenue)

          453 West 38th Street (btw 10th and 9th Avenue)

          451 10th Avenue (btw 35th and 36th Street)

          343 10th Avenue (on the corner of 10th Ave and 30th Street)

          506 West 30th Street (btw 11th and 10th Avenue)

          447 West 35th Street (btw 10th and Dryer)

          444 10th Avenue (btw 35th and 34th Street) 320 West 30th Street (btw 9th and 8th Avenue)

Square Industries, 306 West 44th Street, 212.247.5807

Show exhibits range from yacht builders and designers to exotic cars and brokerage yachts. A wide variety of boats and sea vessels will be on display including runabouts, sportfishers, high performance boats, center consoles, cabin cruisers, flats boats, skiffs, express cruisers, sailing yachts, motor yachts, bowriders, catamarans, ski boats, jet boats, trawlers, inflatables, canoes, and extraordinary superyachts. Added attractions include The Blue Wild Dive Show, IGFA’s School of Sportfishing and Hook the Future’s Kids Fishing Clinics.

My Monterey

Open Ocean Bow Rider Cruising in a Monterey

There was no other boat in sight. No land to see off in the distance. Nothing. I was alone on the Atlantic Ocean about 11 miles off the coast of South Florida, heading to Bimini in the Bahamas Islands chain. The boat’s sounder had stopped reading the water depth long ago. My cell telephone no longer had a signal. I had the VHF on channel 16 and heard other boaters, but they were beyond my horizon. I slowed to idle to take it all in. I spun the boat around a full 360 degrees and saw water in every direction. No land. No boats. No people. I was very, very happy.

The waves really were not bad at all. It was the a sea of broad spacing swells between the 5’ to 6’ high that allowed me a rather gentle cruise to an some what offshore island. The boat slowly would rise and fall on these Gulf Stream swells under my keel.

This little cruising adventure was a long-held dream of mine. I had been to the Bahamas several times, but always on other people’s boats. This time the good ship was mine. The Monterey bowrider that I had taken delivery of in Miami earlier in the month had been equipped. I’d also tested it for over 20 hours on short trips around the greater Miami area as I closely followed the weather forecast, waiting for the right day.