Catalytic converter update

[Magicfloat]

Just talked to Mercruiser. Black motors built after 12-31-09 will have to be catalized ( except the 4.3 V-6 as it will soon be discountined) Any engine already built will be legal,regardless of when sold.CC will add 2-3 K to engine cost. Blue motors are exempt,something about having credits from black motors?A couple of my boat builders have already suggested I order boats with black motors early,as Merc is not going to stockpile non compliant motors. Just what our industry needs,an unnecessary price increase Thanks,tree huggers,enjoy your sailbotes or your 12K Bayliner 4 cylinder,that is now 14K.

[BradH]

I thought Merc and Volvo were increasing their stock of motors? It will be very interesting to see Mercury's conversion to catalyzed motors, as we have not heard a lot about it. The same goes for Volvo. I wonder if IndMar will work with them, or license their Etxcat technology?

Blue motors are exempt because of averaging. Mercury produces enough compliant motors so that the entire lineup falls below the required limit. Yamaha does this with their outboards, still producing small and mid-range two strokes for the US market.

[WFORob]

Any truth to the rumor that the 496 has gone away and has been replaced with a new 502?

[Magicfloat]

Yes,Mag is 380hp,HO is 430 hp. Volvo is sticking with the 496,apparantly they will stockpile a bunch of blocks,but Merc is not.

[J.T.]

Just talked to Mercruiser. Black motors built after 12-31-09 will have to be catalized ( except the 4.3 V-6 as it will soon be discountined) Any engine already built will be legal,regardless of when sold.CC will add 2-3 K to engine cost. Blue motors are exempt,something about having credits from black motors?A couple of my boat builders have already suggested I order boats with black motors early,as Merc is not going to stockpile non compliant motors. Just what our industry needs,an unnecessary price increase Thanks,tree huggers,enjoy your sailbotes or your 12K Bayliner 4 cylinder,that is now 14K.

What's up with them killing off the 4.3 ?...that's a pretty
popular engine.

[BradH]

What's up with them killing off the 4.3 ?...that's a pretty
popular engine.

Maybe the tooling is worn out and not worth reinvesting in. It happened with Jeep's venerable 4.0l straight six.

[Magicfloat]

Another update,smaller builders( Indmar,Pleasurecraft,Marine Power,etc) have another year,1-1-2011. Large builders( Merc and Volvo) are 1-1-2010.This info is from Pleasurecraft.

[2112]

What about super low volume custom builders?




.

[Magicfloat]

Exempt,apparently,just my opinion.They seem to be under the radar,and they should be. How much harm can a small builder do to the environment?

[Coolerman]

Yeah, I can see how the gov't has nothing better to do than to go after someone like Eddie Young, Gellner, Tommy, etc...... Not that they wouldn't or won't in the future (i sure hope they don't).

[rschap1]

Boating Magazine just wrote that the 4.3 and 496 were staying. Everything else is going away...November/December 2009 "motorhead" article

Sorry. Just re-read the article. All stern drive engines except 4.3 and 8.1 liter must be catalyzed by Dec. 31, 2009. Sidebar mentions how Merc "snagged aftermarket 502 cid blocks cast by GM Performance parts...Volvo purchased a large bank of 496s"

[publius]

Cat converters. damn enviro wackos. That reminds me, I've got a bunch of old tires at my farm that need burning. Beautiful thick black smoke.