When Mercury Marine introduced its first supercharged six-cylinder Verado outboard engine—a 200-hp model—in 2004, rumor had it that next up was a 400-hp offering. Despite that Claus Bruestle, then manager of the Verado program, tried to dispel that rumor by saying the power output was “possible” but not "not needed at this time," good gossip is hard to squash. So when the next Verado outboard turned out to be a 300-hp version, more than a few folks were disappointed.
Completed in the 2005, the Skater 30 Prototype is among the most beautiful catamarans the Douglas, Mich., company has ever built (click image to enlarge).