As reported by our friends at speedonthewater.com, the first re-power project with Mercury Racing’s 400R outboards has been completed by Grant’s Signature Racing in Sarastoa, Florida.
The boat was a Skater 32 that had previously been running triple 300 hp outboards. After initial runs, the twin 400Rs matched the top speed of the former triple package with more dialing in to be done. The 6,500-pound cat topped out at 103 mph with 32-inch pitch modified Bravo I propellers. With the twin engines, the boat lost 345 pounds. Grant Bruggemann, president of Grant’s Signature Racing, also replaced the triple gauge seats with a Garmin GPS and a Mercury VesselView monitor in a carbon-fiber dash that features dual helms.
The project also featured Mercury Racing’s factory-installed tie bar kit that the manufacturer recommends on any boat that runs faster than 85 mph. It comes with custom rear mounts that are critical for proper installation of the wing plate on each motor. The motors also have an advantage over other big four-stroke outboards: the availability of the Sport Master gear case, which is also designed for boats capable of speeds that exceed 85 mph.
