Mercury problems

Many people have been asking what's happening with our engine following problems on both legs of the race that we've run so far. I thought that I'd first describe why I made the engine choice and then explain the problems so far...

Why another Optimax? Our 225hp was faultless
It's built strong for racing. It has a fast Speed Master underwater unit with 1.62 drive.
It's lightweight. Because it is two-stroke, it has less moving parts so less parts liable to fail. And it is proven in the US on Bass boats.

What's happened so far?
1. Prop shaft seal on gearbox fails - meaning gearbox damage in month.
2. Replacement gearbox with damaged selector seal due to dealer modification which fails in month ...
3. there's seawater in the gearbox again.
4. Low oil alarm in Lyme Bay due to air in oil reserve tank it has been running for only an hour and a half.
5.Alternator belt comes off in middle of Irish sea. This is due to poor design. (I am told that you can get a tensioner pulley with a groove which stops this happening. (So this problem was known about.)

So instead of buying the best, I have ended up with the worst. Worst in terms of fitness for purpose.

And every time each of these issues happens, Mercury say this is a known fault with some kind of a fix!

I still like the engine, the concept. But it has so many faults. It has ruined our race chances despite enormous attention by expert engineers at Dave Crawford Marine and E P Barrus.

I write this in Inverness with half the race still to do. I sincerely hope that we aren't challenged again before the finish.

- Gavin 26th June