Triple Mercury outboards help water skiers claim world record
It takes some serious grunt to pull 80 skiers arranged in formation, but Mercury was up to the jobHow much grunt does it take to tow 80 skiers arranged in pyramids with a single boat fitted with outboard motors to set a world record? According to the US-based Rock Aqua Jays water ski club, that number is 900hp.
Details have emerged of the world record attempt, which was officially confirmed last month. The record was set after the boat, equipped with a trio of 300hp Mercury 300R outboard motors using 15-inch Revolution four-blade props, towed 80 skiers arranged in pyramids up to four people high, for a distance of 350 metres along the Rock River in Wisconsin.
The Rock Aqua Jays used tandem boats equipped with a combined 1800hp to handle the initial load from the dock. However, Mercury said the lead boat was released once the circus reached open water, allowing the record to be set with a single 900hp 21-foot Legacy ski boat.
Yamaha claims the 224kW 4.6-litre V8 300R FourStroke is the highest performing engine in its class. Customised intake cam profiles and short intake manifold runners maximise power throughout the rated speed range, while an integrated oil cooler keeps oil temperatures down throughout the Racing exclusive 5800-6400rpm operating range.
The club originally attempted to set the world record using 72 skiers arranged in pyramids, but added more on a later run to break its own benchmark and erase the previous 64-skier record from the history books.
The world record for the most number of skiers pulled behind a single boat still stands at 145. It was set in Tasmania in 2012, at Macquarie Bay, the home of the Horsehead Water Ski Club, which had also set the previous world record of 114 skiers two years earlier.
Pulling them for the record attempt was the 114-foot, 3000hp World Heritage Cruises catamaran Eagle.
A Gold Coast-based ski club is believed to be looking into how it can break that record.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
