BULLET 20XRD/Mercury 300 XS
A 200 Yamaha sho is a really good option. Can easily run 75 in stock form loaded to fish. Flash the ecu with hydro tech and run up to 90mph without having to change the lower unit. The sho has all the torque you need for fast holeshot, great mid range and good top speed with just about any decent big diameter prop.
I have 225 sport. Sportscaster 1.62. Seen 84 with fairly heavy load.
1.5 to 1.75 above. 26 inch props seem best.
1998 bullet 20xd 2006 225 sport xs
Merc 280 is a beast but needs new rings about every 100 hours. It is rather thirsty too.
"Rather thirsty" Understatement of the day. LOL.
But man are they fun, especially on an 800 pound XB2002!
The issue with the yammi is the the gear case, if you want to take it to the next level it just cost to much money to get a sproty on there. In all honesty I prefer the SHO over a opti, But the cost to make a yammi fly is just so much.
300 xs sport w/ DBR flash worked great for me. That was on an 01 20XD. Was a great ride on the top end .
2020 Allison XB 21
Merc 300R
2018-SST Bullet
Merc 300R
Bullet 20XD
300XS DBR
A 280 would fly!
The OP didn’t ask which motor would be the fastest. He just asked for a good option. If dependability, reliability and good performance are the ultimate goal then a sho is a good option. Some people actually fish from their Bullet and for fishing a SHO in my opinion is the best option. Also I’m pretty certain there are some extremely fast strokers with SHO’s in them.
The Sho is a fantastic motor ! I had a 300x for 14 years before this Sho , no complaints here .
BULLET 21XRS 250 SHO
Love the 300x on mine. I fish 8-10 hours out of it. And not too thirsty till ya put your foot down, which is hard not to do.
2003 Bullet
20xrd/300x
I have a 2012 250 Sport XS for sell. I bought it new in 2012. Has 205 hours, I had it checked out by my dealer Dec 4, 2019, 125 psi on all 6, leak-down test was great, never has thrown any codes. Sportmaster lower with 1:62's. It's an awesome motor. I currently have it on my 20XDC. I tournament fish and carry a heavy load most of the time, 36v troll, two 10' power poles, still runs upper 80's. I had a 280 before I bought the 250 Sport. The 280 was a beast but this 250 Sport holds it's own for sure. I'm asking $10,500 for my 250 Sport.