Topic: Jaguar Motor

Keymaster

Engine Option opinions on the Jaguar STS for every day questions: 2020 through today hulls.

Before we jump into this we have always known the Jaguar STS market is a very small ‘niche’ that many desire, and can not afford to select. Few individuals drive Ferrari, Mercedes, Jaguar, Bentley and even upper Tesla’s. The market in vehicles has grown as have home expenditures with the growing wealth in America. Even a loaded Puma STS presses into this today, just like a GMC Yukon Denali or a Cadillac Escalade Blackwing. The market expanse has grown from those that finance 15-20 years, to those that pay cash on six digit items.

Further; we do truly believe we have hit the wall on single engine horsepower. We do not feel there to be a reason to surpass 500 horsepower. This (500 HP) has been our line drawn on horsepower since inception of the 350 SCI Mercury Racing engine. That opinion has not changed and we do not expect it to, that is, until further developments alter present configurations.

1. 250 Pro XS > for anglers who must run 250 HP. Fuel efficiency suffers some and Paul Elias loves this combination. Fuel efficiency matches Yamaha while a Mercury is usually better on normal sized rigs. The large load hurts the GPH burn. While hydraulic plates ware preferred, your just loosing a smidge of hole shot with a Manual plate. The less parts that move, the less maintenance for long term ownerships.

2. 250 SHO > Yamaha really handles a load well with heavier loads. Not many could select this until availability improved. You can select a Manual jackplate without sacrificing.

3. 300 Pro XS > for folks that want 300 HP and can bridge mainline engines and costs a little less.

4. 300R TM Case > More expensive engine, lots of ponies, gotta stay 300 as fast as I can go folks.

5. *300 Verado AMS engine > V8, naturally aspirated, Wonderful user experience and suggested for everyday users that don’t compete. Very low selection volume, it’s very respectable while not exceptionally fast, but hey it’s a Jaguar and it’s big anyway. Pushing the edge is never this customers intent.

6. 350 Verado AMS V10 > Why? We don’t offer it, Just jump up… Jumping right past the 400 mainline, skipping #7.

8. *400R Verado SportMaster case > This is absolutely the PERFECT and most eloquent combination, in our opinion. It’s extremely impressive, V10 that’s naturally aspirated, burns pump gas, runs up into 90 MPH, amazing midrange torque, cruises easily at any speed selected. Holds on top at lower MPH ranges with ease. As with the *300 Verado the user experience is truly wonderful. At this point your not after price point ($55k to $60k retail) Digital throttle and shift, Mercury Power Steering and the offset combination with a hydraulic plate is amazing. Do select either a Bob’s or SeaStar hydraulic plate on this combination. You can back off the throttle and burn fuel at the pace you prefer. It is not as efficient at 60 MPH as the 300 hp engines, though does fine unless you truly are looking for range and then drop back to the 300. Yes, a very few folks use their rigs as water transportation and they are after a luxury rig with range, to turn a loop. Any talented and experienced driver can wring top end performance in this rig.

Our thoughts on the Jaguar STS are the most eloquent user combination we have is the 400R Mercury V10. Bowden Marine now has the one combination in the market.

9. 450R SportMaster > Mercury will end the 450R in 2023 and this engine was replaced by the 400R and 500R as they chase the envelope. We love this engine and we do have our demonstration model in stock. Fuel is acceptable for the engine HP burn and it’s just a fun combination. Easily mid 90’s for fun, staying below “triple digits” with ease. Pushing the “trips” range starts with this engine.

10. 500R R-Sport gearcase > The ULTIMATE single engine experience. Truly top tier of bass fishing rigs. This plays with those MTI/NorTech/Cigarette/Fountain/Midnight Express/ powerboat aficionado’s, which spend upwards of $1,000,000 on their rigs. Also at a fraction of that cost. This is pressing the envelope and will run “triple digits”, only in the right hands. Pushing 90’s is a breeze and the R-Sport gearcase has maximized surfacing and lifting properties. This is a Supercharged engine and Mercury Racing has done extensive research to improve this supercharger, at a cost. It develops more lower end torque than its predecessor of the 450R and performs differently.

This engine presses $80,000 MSRP with parts, before install, and it’s for those that definitely ant something very special. With boat equipment selected, that most choose, you will be into the $150,000 up range and quite possibly a $200,000 bass boat. Of course, those that choose a Mercedes or Ferrari desire everything, no differently than those custom boat 34’ to 65’ consumers spending seven digits on their hot boat rides.

Lower performance is fine, cruising torque is amazing and you can run 90+ inside of 3/4 mile with ease. Also, this is not as comfortable a user experience as other engines as it does require trim and jackplate systems to be constantly utilized for water connections at varied speeds. You can’t just cruise with this rig due to the need for engine travel.

The Jaguar STS and 500R Mercury Racing engine, will only be sold to Bass Cat Owners, who are approved and we are assured that they understand the complexity and cost of ownership. Exotic vehicle companies also do this to better protect consumers and assure their expectations are within reality. We are following that mantra for those owners and the company’s benefit. And consumers have been denied boat ownership, which does create difficult relations. As obviously those consumers are affluent. We are willing to engage a few difficult relationships for overall safety. In one such situation we have been glad we were protective of the consumer and our brand, after an ownership error in another boat (unrelated style). And there are other older examples. In the fairly recent two stroke 300X and Eyra template, we had this same policy, as we did in prior years.

FUEL BURN: Horsepower is fuel burn is a big question. While the 250 Mercury usually is about 22-23 gallons per hours full throttle, larger horsepowers press that further. Four Stroke engines ALL characteristically use 10% of horsepower on engines. 500 HP is just under 50 gallons per hour, 10 Hp is about 1 gallon per hour.

We hope this answers your questions and these are all incredible packages.

Rick Pierce