HPBCANADA.COM

Looks like a "new" F4 engine.
Probably just the older Formula Race 60 with the 60R rev limit and new decnals.

https://www.mercuryracing.com/engines/c ... 60apx.html

247 lbs? 112kg. Not what I would call lightweight, I don't think they're even trying. Tohatsu 20hp 4 stroke is 43kg, could almost have 3 of them and be the same weight as the merc 60. That's 3 gearboxes, legs, transom brackets etc. I'm sure if Mercury really wanted they could make a 60hp 4 stroke sub 100kg

Tohatsu 60hp is 98.5kg, and thats in long shaft
https://www.tohatsu.com/marine/int/outb ... fs60a.html

It is essentially the exact same short 60 they had previously in the FR 60 and the 60R, which were also examples of not trying very hard..
They are just doing what is easy for them.

But nice to have an option for short shaft, instead of none..

Back when one of our clubmates had one (Formula Race 60) on his T-Boat, it performed about the same as an average-used, stock 2stroke Yam70 with a small case (55hp case)..

Maybe this version is worth an extra 1 or 2mph due to the higher rev limit (6400 vs. 6250)

It was smooth and quiet, perfect for long fun runs or spirited adventure at 50mph at 5000rpm around the bay.

But yes, it'd be nice to see something lighter and with racier tuning options.

If they made a proper engine that was lightweight and shortshaft I'd definitely be interested for my thundercat

Mercury is the only outboard manufacturer interested in boat racing.

You only need to look at motorcycle racing to see that companies such as Suzuki and Yamaha can manufacture high performance racing 4 strokes. They know how to build those motors. There isn’t enough return on investment for them at this point in time to manufacture racing outboards.

The best hope is the aftermarket suppliers. Better cams, stronger valve springs and programmed ECU boxes. Those products if they appear will come from the states where the market is larger.

A long shot could be Tohatsu who had success in boat racing with the Bass/50 Tohatsu combo. But now Bass company is having manufacturing problems. Plus Tohatsu’s link to mercury may have mercury dictate what Tohatsu can do.

85hp.. hm. that'd be alright - for a sporty, medium performance daily driver:
https://www.lethalperformance.com/vr-tu ... at-32.html
although, 60hp + 15hp != 85hp...

some interesting info and ideas shared here:
https://www.crackerbaythundercats.com/four-stroke-tech/
https://www.crackerbaythundercats.com/f ... -4-stroke/
https://www.crackerbaythundercats.com/f ... erc-60-4s/

[quote="mattmak"]85hp.. hm. that'd be alright - for a sporty, medium performance daily driver:
https://www.lethalperformance.com/vr-tu ... at-32.html
although, 60hp + 15hp != 85hp...)

Now this thread is getting interesting!
I have a 60 hp Race 4 Stroke mercury. Back in 2016 I was checking to see if there were upgrades that could be done to improve the performance without getting into the internal parts of the motor. My first thought was a “FLASH” ECU program which was common with the larger horsepower motors. After a lot of correspondence with racers. They pretty much agreed that not much could be done due to the weakness of the motor itself. It’s a long stroke motor, with not a lot a cam duration, the cam lift and weak valve springs . It really wasn’t suited to be a “race motor “ in its current form. This was in 2016. I was given a company name Simon Motorsport?? That did a ECU flash upgrade for the 60 mercury. The cost was $1100.00 Canadian and it increased the horsepower to 65 hp. They did say the most noticeable difference was acceleration.
I didn’t move ahead on the flash.

In T750 class we had our first 60 hp race 4 stroke mercury. I sponsored a 50 hp tohatsu in the same class so I had the ability to see a direct comparison of those two motors plus how they compared to the other OMC and Yamaha that also raced.

The 4 stroke mercury was very competitive with the Yamaha and superior to the 50 tohatsu. It was I bit slower compared to the OMC’s. The difference was it didn’t accelerate as quickly out of the turns as the OMC,
I thought about telling the mercury owner about the flash...But I decided not too!

Now Matt makes this post.....15 hp gain!! Improved acceleration!

I hope that company link can provide contact names of people who have done the flash and verify the performance improvements.

There are claims from a tuning company in Aus about getting the Yamaha F70 from 60ft-lbs/70hp to 75ft-lbs/80hp with just a tune, but on higher octane..
So just imagine adding mild cams - maybe another 5hp.. Maybe with valve springs they can up the RPMs to like 6800rpm.
These 60ci engines become WAY more interesting at 6800rpm/85hp..

The 4 stroke is a neat motor on a long course like grave hurst Tom led every lap I believe I passed him on the last corner of the last lap it was tough to get past him ! at one time I wished I had the rapid craft setup with the merc just to mess with on the river to see if anymore could be squeezed out of it ,