Check out a portion of the article from Powerboat Nation below, or click here to read the piece in full.
As the industry is evolving, so are the powerboats of today, and what makes this so significant is the fact the the engine and propulsion providers are really focusing on the 520, 525, 565, and 570 horsepower ranges. The primary reason being that we’ve gotten to a point with engines that making those numbers reliably has been proven to be economical, by no use of a supercharger, and are still maintaining the best performance to fuel consumption ratios.
But the real key reasons are, we believe, that these engines can provide such strong performance and speed levels from today’s OEM engine builders at a more affordable cost than before. Especially in the case of the Mercury Racing 520. Modern hull construction and designs are making today’s power boats faster and more stable with less power than before. These power levels are powering numerous boats into the 80-90mph range which makes for some truly exhilarating boating.
From our stand point as an enthusiast, gear head, or horsepower junkie, we find the most exciting point of view that these engines represent an amazing foundation to build from—whether you look at the coming advancements of the LS family of engines what the folks at Ilmor 570 are building with that product or the latest Mercury Racing offerings.
Source: www.powerboatnation.com; January 24, 2014.