It's official, 350 Yamaha and 300 Verado

[Dirk Diggler]

Even in a down market, new products proliferate at Miami

By IBI Magazine/Michael Verdon


Dyskow was speaking at the launch of Yamaha's F350, the boating industry's first 350-hp V8 5.3-liter four-stroke outboard.

Yamaha's new 350-hp behemoth is designed for boats with lengths up to 40 feet or more. It was designed in collaboration with several of Yamaha's OEM boat builder partners.

"The new engine is a groundbreaking design, with over 600 new components," Dyskow said, during a presentation that featured simulated lightning and thunderbolts—an energetic contrast to some of the traditional presentations earlier.

Dyskow said that companies Grady-White, Pursuit, Edgewater, Century, Sea Hunt, Contender and Scout will take delivery of the engines by summer 2007.

Mercury Marine was not to be outdone, and launched its own slate of eight innovative products, including the Vazer, a new sterndrive system designed for boats traditionally powered by outboards. Mercury President Patrick C. Mackey unveiled the Vazer to a crowd of boating writers, noting that the 100-hp sterndrive engine is built with a compact design. Mackey said the engine uses a patented approach to reduce engine height by tilting the engine to 50 degrees, allowing it to fit under seats, platforms and decks of a variety of boats, including pontoons, fishing boats and runabouts. He said the Vazer will allow boatbuilders to use more space for passengers and gear, and provides improved access to the water compared to traditional sterndrive or outboard engines.

Mercury also launched two new Verado engines, a 200-hp four-cylinder and 300-hp six-cylinder version.

[Aidan]

Hi DIrk, What weight is the 200? That is my max Hp.

[Dirk Diggler]

I'm told it's a little over 230kg's

[Roy Smith]

804 lbs for the 350
Wow

[codprawn]

Quite why it needs to be such a huge engine is beyond me - 5.3L V8 makes me think of old tech Yank engines. The Ferrari V8 for example puts out 480bhp from 4.4 litres.

Unless of course they have just gone for low down grunt for hauling big boats around at lowish speeds.

[Alex-341]

I should think its so they can tune it for more power in the future.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by zodiac rover

I should think its so they can tune it for more power in the future.

No doubt it will prob see 400hp but the same bhp/litre figure as the Ferrari engine would see almost 600hp - can't see them pushing it that far!!!

[Alex-341]

Yep, around the 400 mark or more possibly. I don't think they can push it too far because they have to rev for longer and need to be tougher than a Ferrari.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by zodiac rover

Yep, around the 400 mark or more possibly. I don't think they can push it too far because they have to rev for longer and need to be tougher than a Ferrari.

Good point I suppose - car engines don't live over 1/2 throttle all day long like outboards have to.

[Pete7]

Hmm, 5.3 litres and 32 valves with variable valve timing, wonder how much a full service is