Indmar-ROUSH Raptor 575 Engine: Alternative Energy
What constitutes “big horsepower” in powerboats always is, of course, relative to the type of boat you’re talking about. A collaboration between Indmar and ROUSH, the new 6.2-liter Ford-based Raptor 575 is a beast on the towboat side. But toss a pair of those 500-plus-hp, supercharged and catalyzed beauties—the “575” designation refers to the engine’s foot-pounds of torque output—into a go-fast V-bottom or catamaran and you’re looking at a power package that is decidedly entry-level. Still, the notion is intriguing. And based on a chat I had with Scott Clack, the vice president of Indmar Marine, and a couple representatives from ROUSH Performance near the end of the opening day of Miami International Boat Show last week, it’s promising.
For some time, Ford had been on a rather long hiatus from providing engine blocks to the marine world. But three years ago, Ford and Indmar reached an exclusive agreement for the engine/automobile giant to supply F-Series Super Duty 6.2-litre blocks for Indmar to marinize. As it also happened, three years and some 5,400 development hours ago Indmar began collaborating with ROUSH on the project. The results of their partnership, the Raptor 575 for towboats was on display next to a custom-painted, trickedout Ford F-150 truck with the “street version” of the engine.
and then