250 xs power

[RidgeRunner]

The new power is a direct injected 2-stroke Optimax. Average fuel mileage is better by 40 to 50% over the somewhat crude fuel injection on the 250 EFI it is replacing. The 250XS is a motor Mercury Racing put together for go fast boats. Requires 91 octane fuel due to higher compression and a little more radical timing. They also changed the fuel rails and a few other tricks.
Bass and Walleye tested the 250XS head to head against the Verado, Yamaha 4-stroke and Suzuki 4-stroke. The conclusion was that the 250 XS had the best acceleration, fuel mileage and top speed of the bunch. Downside, noise and lack of refinement. Verado was the heavyweight but the quietest. The Yamaha was dinged for unpleasant exhaust note? Huh? So I don't put much confidence in the touchy feely reporting but numbers don't lie.
We will see in the next few weeks. Parts arriving daily. Paint on the XL mid is dry and ready to assemble.