It's a Chevy vs. Ford argument really. Some guys like Yammies and some like Mercs. You should really drive an identical boat with both brands to see what you like. Any dealer will give you a test drive if you tell them you're looking for a new boat.

I've spent some time behind the wheel of a SHO on a Skeeter and I wasn't impressed at all (but that's based on what I like).

I like my motor to run when I need it to, so I bought a Mercury. I haven't had any problems with my Pro XS. Until I get passed by a Yamaha, I'll continue to buy Mercury. If I ever do get passed by a Yamaha, my motor is probably blown up. So feel free to stop and render assistance : )

Drove both 250 SHO and E-Tec at the College Tx..The SHO was quicker out of the hole, but the E-Tec would blow by it within a couple miles.. Would expect the same with the XS..I would also compare cost of repair on the two.

What I heard was Merc and Etec meets regs but two cycle Yammies could not..they had to improve their 2 cycles so decided to just put all their eggs into 4 cycle basket..

make mine black..luv XS

I'm not an expert on fast motors...because I certainly don't have one. But I have observed over the last couple of years that the guys I know with Mercurys sure spend a lot of time at the repair shop with lower unit problems.

As in multiple lower unit problems...

SHO is new, Pro XS is already been out for a while and proven. In my opinion I would get the Pro and let the SHO get some more runtime on it for a couple years to see how it will hold up. Just my opinion though.

to me in order to really comment here you should have owned both. I had a yammie on my skeeter and now a merc on the basscat. I for one cannot wait to go back to yammie. Never had a problem with it in 10 years. the merc was in the shop with just 10 hours and then 40 hours for bad coils. You buy a merc buy some coils. Merc blamed it on a bad vendor but the vendor's name was not on the side of the motor! I have no faith in the merc like I did the yammie. They finally got new coils and the problem seems to be fixed. Do a search on the coil issue and you will see plenty of problems with them. At first merc would replace coils one at a time before they finally replaced all of them because they did not feel it was a safety issue. Sucks being down the lake with a new motor that has no power and merc said it was not a safety issue. I can say I will never have another merc and I hope I talk folks out of getting one

I was a Mercury follower for many years...Now I own a SHO. Glad I made the switch, becasue I have been impressed. However, if they had not come out with the SHO I would have still been in a Mercury 2 Stroke. Can't stand the Mecury Verado...it is a failure in the bass boat industry!

Pro XS and the SHO are both good motors...drive and deside!!! If you haven't driven both, then you have no dog in this hunt...

Why is the Verado a failure? I'm not very familiar with them.

I'm no expert, but me personally will run Yamaha from now on. I'm not degrading Mercury, I just trust Yamaha more.

I have always been a Mercury guy and never thought that I would own anything else. But my son ended up with a SHO and his new boat and it is amazing. The hole shot is like nothing I have ever seen and although I can't prove it I believe that the top end is better as well.

I bought a Mercury Racing 250 Optimax Pro XS. Until I get passed by a Yamaha, I'll continue to buy Mercury. If I ever do get passed by a Yamaha, my motor is probably blown up. So feel free to stop and render assistance : )

Pro XS and the SHO are both good motors...drive and deside!!! If you haven't driven both, then you have no dog in this hunt...[/quote]

+1

Just go Merc and save yourself alot of headaches... Dan

Agreed.......