By: Scott Way
Mercury Racing has announced the 300R outboard will now be available with the Advanced MidSection (Racing AMS), a third midsection option for improved handling, simplified rigging, an additional setback. The new platform with the AMS midsection will be available with a 5.44‑inch HD or Sport Master gearcase in either Phantom Black or Cold Fusion White colour schemes. All new models carrying the Racing AMS feature will come standard with Mercury Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) control, as well as Mercury electro‑hydraulic power steering.
Mercury Racing has made several big announcements in recent months, most notably the launches of the 200 APX and 360 APX competition outboards.
The AMS concept is designed specifically for high‑performance Mercury Racing outboards and is also available on the Mercury Racing 450R engine. The Racing AMS features heavy‑duty guide plates and stiffened engine mounts to stabilize the engine for enhanced high‑speed handling and an optional integral rear tie‑bar bracket for an ultra‑light mounting point for precision steering on catamaran and other ultra‑high‑speed applications. It also isolates the powerhead from the transom to ensure low noise and high run quality. It will also be available with Joystick Piloting for Outboards (JPO) for boats carrying two to six outboards to create precision 360‑degree boat control for docking and maneuvering in tight quarters, as well as Skyhook® position‑holding features and integrated auto piloting.
The Mercury Racing 300R is naturally aspirated and is based on a 4.6L V8 four‑stroke powerhead. It includes four‑valve cylinder heads and a double overhead camshaft valve train and Mercury Racing‑designed short‑runner intake, high‑performance intake camshafts. It also boasts an oil cooler and a performance‑optimized ECU calibration that increases the WOT range to 6400 rpm. The Racing 300R is designed to make full power on 87‑octane (R+M/2 or 90 RON) fuel, and includes a three‑year limited warranty with the optional additional MPP (Mercury Product Protection) coverage.
According to Stuart Halley, Mercury Racing general manager, “(w)ith the addition of Racing AMS, more powerboat enthusiasts can experience maximum performance in the 300hp outboard class that is only available from the Mercury Racing 300R. This package should be especially appealing for use on high‑performance, stepped‑bottom center‑console boats, many of which have transoms already optimized for the added set‑back of the AMS as offered on other Mercury Marine and Mercury Racing outboard products. It’s a better fit on many of these transoms and permits more tilt range within narrow motorwells. With the new 300R Racing AMS models, more performance enthusiasts may now experience the awesome punch of a Mercury Racing V8 outboard.”
Orders for the new 300R with the Racing AMS package can be placed immediately, although the powerplant will only be available in limited quantities for the 2022 product year.
You can get the technical breakdown from Mercury Racing below: The 64‑degree V8 powerhead is covered by a slim‑line cowl shaped to accommodate 26‑inch center‑to‑center mounting on multi‑engine transoms for seamless original‑equipment and repower‑ready installations. The industry‑exclusive Top Cowl Service Door makes routine maintenance more efficient — just pop it open for regular engine oil checks and top‑offs without removing the cowl. A 115 amp belt‑driven alternator is designed to maintain peak charging performance in the most demanding conditions. Exclusive Idle Charge battery management helps prevent battery drain on boats loaded with power‑hungry electronics and audio systems by automatically increasing idle rpm to boost alternator output until batteries are recharged. Adaptive Speed Control (ASC) automatically maintains engine rpm as load or conditions change due to sea conditions, tight turns, tow sports or a lower planing speed, and boat momentum is maintained with less frequent throttle‑control adjustments. Advanced Range Optimization (ARO), a closed‑loop fuel‑control system, utilizes electronic sensors to precisely adjust the fuel mixture for the best possible efficiency at all speeds. An available Mercury VesselView display can simultaneously monitor the rpm, speed, fuel flow and efficiency, temperature, trim and more on up to six outboards on an intuitive seven- or nine‑inch touchscreen. VesselView rigged with a 300R with Racing AMS also enables Advanced Sound Control, a dual muffler system that can be toggled between an ultra‑quiet mode and a deep sport tone with a stirring growl on start‑up.
Two gearcase options are available for the 300R outboard with the Racing AMS: the surface‑piercing Sport Master for boats capable of speeds over 85 mph, and the 5.44‑inch HD gearcase for use on bay boats and multi‑engine performance stepped‑bottom center‑consoles where the application requires a broader, more submerged gearcase to generate lift.
The Mercury Racing 300R outboard will continue to be offered with both the CMS and HD CMS alongside the new Racing AMS models. The CMS features solid lower mounts, stiffer upper mounts and an integral Tri‑Ram trim system, and is available exclusively in a 20‑inch shaft length with the Torque Master gearcase for tournament‑loaded bass boats, or the Sport Master gearcase for ultra‑high-speed bass or performance flats boats. The HD CMS features solid upper and lower mounts, heavy-duty forged transom brackets, and a robust single‑ram trim system with a remote‑mounted trim pump. In addition, rear tie‑bar mounting plates and side steering brackets are available for high-speed catamaran or vee-bottom applications when using the Sport Master gearcase. Both the CMS and HD CMS available with DTS or mechanical controls and Mercury electro‑hydraulic power steering.
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