Mercury Racing announces 60hp 4-stroke racing motor!

[25xs]

Yes, the Mercury 40/50/60 4-strokes are built in a Mercury plant in China.

What I read said the motor was built in China. Isn't Tohatsu/Nissan in Japan?

That's correct, David. This hp range, 40/50/60 is built in a full blown Mercury plant in China.

The 30hp & under 4-strokes from Mercury Marine are now just Japanese Tohatsu motors built in Japan.

[David_L6]

That's correct, David. This hp range, 40/50/60 is built in a full blown Mercury plant in China.

I can't post what I'm thinking...

[Bill Huson]

4-strokes are beautiful!

True, they are a tad heavier per horsepower. About 10% by my rough comparison of specs. My old 115 Yamahonker 2-stroke redlines at 5500rpm according to my Yamaha tach markings. My new 250 Yamahonker 4-stroke has a digital tach so no readily visible redline, but I've had that quiet, smooth running beast turning close to 6 grand!

True - to hit our normal race RPMs, there would have to be a bit of tweaking on the little black boxes that operate the fuel & ignition. Just look for the 17 year old geek down the street who has a laptop next to him on the seat of his Honda Civic - he be a *tuner*. Valve trains can be upgraded as well.

Oh sure, we have plenty of 2-strokes, but save for the PROs who have new engines, most of our engines are old, some close to antiques. One possible reason our wonderful sport is in decline is lack of *turnkey* racing equipment. The new Hot Rod series shows promise, but where is the brand/marque identification for the average spectator?

Some day down the road we will be "going green" with 4-strokes. The engines will be heavier, but then again you can lighten your trailer by leaving tons of tools home

[nbass]

My Sincere Thoughts

I think this is a good discussion that everyone can learn from. Two cycles are light, simple, cheep to fix, simple to inspect, and we all have a history of knowledge about how to make them work well as racing engines. However, the two-cycle does not currently hold much for the future on the common market. However, with out a doubt a fuel injected two-cycle can be designed and manufactured to meet EPA requirements. Tohatsu, Mercury, Bombardier, to name a few make several fuel injected two-cycles that exceed EPA requirements, but are typically 50HP and larger. And they are not necessarily all racer friendly engines. My guess is that smaller engines are cheaper to make as four cycles and maybe sell better.

Sure, Mercury has all the capability of making a first class racing engine for every stock class. What is the market, maybe 100 engines in ten years? At best they may cost in the $8,000 to $12,000 range. What kind of issues would they face trying to bring a new engine to any of the stock classes? The reason large manufacturers do not look at stock boat racers as a market is because they are too small and too difficult to work with.

Why China and Japan as manufacturers, economics. I recently had an importer go to China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam to get a price on about 200 gears. They would not give a reasonable price unless we ordered 8,000 gears. We would never use up 8,000 gears, but the large manufacturers can and get a great price for high quality work, cheaper. Everything is being sent overseas. Not good for the USA. Seems like all we are doing is selling each other life insurance, newspapers, and hamburgers. Buy the way; we do continue to have gears made in the good old USA.

Bottom line, stock racing as originally developed will be replaced by specialty manufactured engines, maybe by Rod Rod, maybe by overseas powerheads as we did for the D-stock, or just maybe by the future is in off-the-shelf four-cycle products. Just maybe stock racing as we have known it, is coming to an end. We are such a small population set. Too small to be focused on what is good for only me.
Neil Bass

[raceright]

wow

I can't post what I'm thinking...

I can, ever since the intitlements for workers started to out way the wage (checked out Detroit lately) Corps jumped ship to foreign countries. Then along came Global Warming to put the iceing on the cake
(its spring of course its warmerlololo) epa and the like.
So get used to foreign everything show ya how gulable I'm my Diesel Chevy's engine I found out is made in Japan.

Pat

[DeanFHobart]

Neil... Exactly

Well said Neil.

Oh by the way.... Congratulations on the D Stock Tohatsu win in the East in the E Mod class.

And, the Tohatsu performance by Troy Holmberg in DSH at Lake Lawrence.

[Jeff Akers]

Neil, I wouldn't give up on the two stroke just yet. I have a good source at BRP that tells me we should see 20 hp-35 hp E- tec product by 2009 and 9.9hp-15 hp by 2010. and these engines will have a greater margin for further and future environmental regulations and restrictions than 4 strokes.From what I understand, 4 strokes on the other hand have very little margin left for more emissions improvements without going to catalytic converters. (not a good thing in a wet environment) this will also ad # to the already overweight 4 stroke..Other problems with the 4 stroke in a racing application would be after a roll over or crash where the engine has been submerged. we now have a great potential for water in the crank case oil and worse yet,(as an environmental concern) "oil in the water" (as in the body of water you are racing on) that may become an issue .....................?

I do think it is great that Mercury marine is backing this "new class" and I hope it brings more racers to the water and to the great sport of boat racing . However I personally am not ready to give up on the 2 stroke and it's direct injection technology for now or in to the future.

One thing is for sure and I think we can all agree.....Boat racing is going to change like it or not.

[Skoontz]

Now Jeff, what you say, is EXCITING!!!!!

[oldracer]

2 Stroke

Skoontz (Bill)- Looks like KTD might be looking forward to an E Tech OMC A and AX, Will this bring you back from the DARK SIDE?
Ye Olde Desert Geezer

[nbass]

Future Dictates Change

What I know about the current injected two cycles is that the systems are more expensive and they do not like to go beyond their production RPM level. I do think a high RPM aftermarket system could be added to an engine that has been designed for injection. However, once again, the market is too small for any real serious investment into production of aftermarket products for ten, twenty or thirty HP engines. Is two cycle in the future, maybe yes. Is there going to be a big company like Mercury catering to small engine stock racing, I doubt it. Hence, we need to keep stock racing change in mind for the future.

Never short of an opinion,
Neil

[Skoontz]

AL:

In a New York minute! I'm tired of coming in from testing having to wash off with peroxide...LOL

I'm anxious to see what the E-tech 60 does on a 45 rig.....

[T Chance]

If the Mercury motor is now built in Japan and China, what is made in the big factory in Fon Du Lac? My guess is that is where those big square blocks of cheese that Packer fans wear on their heads comes from!

[oldracer]

Cheese?

Tim- You just might be right. If we start seeing cheese cocored Mercs on the market, it will prove you right.
Bill- One heck of a way to come out of the DARK SIDE as you would have to repaint the Merc. Is KT twisting your arm about the 45? Tell her that if you get it, Pops will run it.
Ye Olde Desert Geezer

[Skoontz]

AL:

The deal is grades, grades grades....She is so motivated about this she has begun developing a marketing plan for sponsors. Now if her grades are as good as her business instincts, she just might get someone to pay her to drive.....

Far as driving, never liked bubble boats, don't like cabs on my tractors, can't even stand driving with the windows up during a rainstorm. So, the best place for me is on the shore collecting data and turning wrenches.

We shall see. First things first and debt free by seasons end.