VIDEO: Mercury Marine debuts four new engines

[EB News Bot]

FOND DU LAC, Wis. — Mercury Marine introduced four new engines — 75-, 90- and 115-hp 4-strokes and a 4.5-liter 250-hp MerCruiser gasoline sterndrive. “These engines are a result of a tremendous amount of consumer research and development activity by [our] team and we are proud to unveil them here and have you put them...more

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[Sean]

I'm sure it'll be a Loooooooooong time before I accept this new Mercruiser sterndrive engine (and I'm a Merc guy). The higher acquisition costs combined with the exclusivity of parts distribution would create us as slaves to Brunswick, held hostage by their high pricing strategies.

Then there's the "unproven" portion of this equation... I'm sure they'll work this out but, I know Brunswick engineers are designing for OE application and not for me.

 

[Peels]

I applaud them for doing it, as the I/O's all need some updating. But wonder the same thing about exclusive rights..

I guess was more hoping they would adapt some already proven SMALLER, more efficient engines for the I/O. I hope it works out.... it could be a good thing. Boat engines designed by boat builders... could be worse I guess.

 

[Chris]

Interesting.

I'm sure the competition and the laws of supply and demand will keep things in check.

-Chris

 

[Sean]

Interesting. I'm sure the competition and the laws of supply and demand will keep things in check. -Chris

I suppose it will depend on IF GM wants to stay in the marine engine business. Can they afford to drop this business? can they afford to keep it? What about over the long term? Maybe there will be new options arising from this?

I'm a MERC guy, and personally I feel Merc is overpriced , and has been for some time. I see this "proprietary" movement as nothing else but a way to protect high margins and reduce alternate sourced competition.

The good news is that the current technology will be with us for a very long time. With companies like SEI building replacements and the sheer volume of parts and availability there's no urgency to adopt Mercury's new venture. We might become with our boats as Cuba is with their cars... driving & maintaining 60 y/o technology!

This could be a rather large gamble by Brunswick/Mercury.