250R on professional tours

[Jaxstix]

Anyone know the reason why we never see the 250R on pro tours? Are only the pro xs models available to their pro staff?

[Sleepy111]

The R motors only come with the sportmaster lower which is useless for 99% of pros boats. A lot of regular folks that bought the R motors have had to buy a torquemaster lower to get their boat to run right since the sportmaster is designed to run above pad. If you have an Allison, Bullet, Ballistic or Stroker then the R is a fine choice but for all other boats it’s the wrong choice. The only difference in the XS and the R is a solid lower motor mount, other than that they are the same.

[Mikes250r]

The R motors only come with the sportmaster lower which is useless for 99% of pros boats. A lot of regular folks that bought the R motors have had to buy a torquemaster lower to get their boat to run right since the sportmaster is designed to run above pad. If you have an Allison, Bullet, Ballistic or Stroker then the R is a fine choice but for all other boats it’s the wrong choice. The only difference in the XS and the R is a solid lower motor mount, other than that they are the same.

That being said, do you think that a BC Puma with a 4-stroke 250 Pro XS will realize any benefit from changing to solid motor mounts?

[WranglerSS]

The R motors only come with the sportmaster lower which is useless for 99% of pros boats. A lot of regular folks that bought the R motors have had to buy a torquemaster lower to get their boat to run right since the sportmaster is designed to run above pad. If you have an Allison, Bullet, Ballistic or Stroker then the R is a fine choice but for all other boats it’s the wrong choice. The only difference in the XS and the R is a solid lower motor mount, other than that they are the same.

According to Mercury Racing, it also has longer intake runners and tri-ram mid section.

[fishnfireman]

The R motors only come with the sportmaster lower which is useless for 99% of pros boats. A lot of regular folks that bought the R motors have had to buy a torquemaster lower to get their boat to run right since the sportmaster is designed to run above pad. If you have an Allison, Bullet, Ballistic or Stroker then the R is a fine choice but for all other boats it’s the wrong choice. The only difference in the XS and the R is a solid lower motor mount, other than that they are the same.

According to Mercury Racing, it also has longer intake runners and tri-ram mid section.

According to Mercury-- both the 250R and the 250 Pro XS have Performance-Tuned Long Runner Intake Manifold.
Like Sleepy111 said-- I know of no performance gains other than the solid MM and the sportsmaster LU which will only help the above average performance hulls.
However the 300R vs the 300 Pro XS has several actual performance gains..

[Elwood]

You do have the option of a SM TM or HD lower with the R motors If you have a boat motor combo that will do over 85 then Mercury racing will say go with the SM. If low 80’s is your game then the TM is money. Hard mounts run much better is rough water. Just my experience so far. 1.5 year with a 300R and SM lower on a Bass Cat Eyra. I also owned a Eyra with a 250 SHO.

[EuropeanAM]

You do have the option of a SM TM or HD lower with the R motors If you have a boat motor combo that will do over 85 then Mercury racing will say go with the SM. If low 80’s is your game then the TM is money. Hard mounts run much better is rough water. Just my experience so far. 1.5 year with a 300R and SM lower on a Bass Cat Eyra. I also owned a Eyra with a 250 SHO.

In the 300R, yes.

250R... not so. Limited to the Sportmaster.

[Bass Cat Boats]

Yes, no TorqueMaster available in the 250R and we wish it was, like the 300R.

[Jaxstix]

This all makes more sense. If they offered a 250r with a TM then all it would be is a pro xs with solid MM and a performance intake manifold. On another note I saw how the 300r offers a straight vs cambered skeg. Is that where the skeg has a slight bend to counter act the prop?

[fishnfireman]

This all makes more sense. If they offered a 250r with a TM then all it would be is a pro xs with solid MM and a performance intake manifold. On another note I saw how the 300r offers a straight vs cambered skeg. Is that where the skeg has a slight bend to counter act the prop?

According to Merc both the 250R and the 250 Pro XS have Performance-Tuned Long Runner Intake Manifold. First mtr I've had from the racing division that had no (motor) performance edge over the non racing counterpart.

[Wackyjig]

There's a guy on the Phoenix board that put a 250r on his 920 and swapped the lowers. He reports about 2-3mph more on top end than pro xs and sho guys.
This is the internet so take it as you will.

[jphillips2546]

That might be me. There are many part numbers that are different than the pro xs. Are they all due to more performance, I don't think so. Some,.I think are for the race application perhaps. I have been able to get over 80 pretty routinely. 81.3 so far is the best for me. I got one of the early motors, so maybe that helps or maybe I just got a factory freak. I'm objective, but I can say with certainly that other 920s with Mercury or Yamaha 4 strokes haven't been an issue so far.

[MengRanger]

I did talk to the owner of the 920 / 250R. He got a unique opportunity through the dealer to swap the lower unit. I wanted to do the same, but the costs would have been too high. Pay to play LOL...

[fishnfireman]

Be interesting to see some random dyno numbers.
At the very least I wish they would have raised the rpm limiter on the 250R vs 250Pro XS------Odd that they changed the RPM and the intake on the 300R vs the 300 Pro XS but not the 250's

[EuropeanAM]

Probably has a lot to do with what the PS horsepower would have ended up at. 200 RPM's (with appropriate torque) is a potentially significant PS horsepower increase.

[fishnfireman]

Probably has a lot to do with what the PS horsepower would have ended up at. 200 RPM's (with appropriate torque) is a potentially significant PS horsepower increase.

Makes me think it wouldn't take much to up the power on the 250R.

[EuropeanAM]

Nothing wrong with “thinking”.

[JAZII]

Yes, no TorqueMaster available in the 250R and we wish it was, like the 300R.

Why? 250R same RPM limit as the 250 Pro XS
also same performance tuned long intake runners

Main difference of 250R and 250 Pro XS is hard mounts and tune.

[fishnfireman]

Why? 250R same RPM limit as the 250 Pro XS
also same performance tuned long intake runners

Main difference of 250R and 250 Pro XS is hard mounts and tune.

What's different about the tune ?

[jphillips2546]

The ecu's are different part numbers. (250 Pro XS vs R) What does that actually mean? No idea other than speculation.