Jul 7

Jul 7 The Tuff 24 and Mercury Racing 300R: Prepare for Takeoff

The demands performance boat enthusiasts put on single engine V hulls are really high. Once upon a time there was a class of boat referred to as SOB (single outboard boat) and these boats were 21-24’ in length. Currently, a similar class is OPA class 7 but stipulates boats that are 20-22’ with a speed cap. With the current crop of outboards in the 300 HP range being so popular and the fact that a 24’ hull is probably the best size for the big outboards it’s no surprise that there is a growing interest in 24’ boats again. A 24’ can be as fast as a 21’, handle better and be better in rough water, making the larger size more well rounded. Right now, the newest and greatest 24’ on the market is the Tuff 24. Let’s take a look at their latest creation and how it pairs with the Mercury Racing 300R.

Whenever I’ve talked to Mark and Thomas Weigl about their boats, they seem to get especially excited about the 24’. That’s not to take anything away from the other models, in fact the 28 is also incredibly exciting, and shares some qualities with its little brother the Tuff 24. I think Mark and Thomas both really appreciate the 24 because it is now the gold standard for single engine V hulls. You could say the sharp and narrow Tuff 24 is an evolution of the design thesis for the company. Tuff has always been about using cutting edge materials, aesthetics and top speed performance. I would say their success lies in being laser focused on those qualities and nothing else. Tuff is a low volume custom builder and the reason why you don’t see many outside of their home territory of Ontario, Canada is because the local demand is so high, the need to export them isn’t necessary. Of course anyone can order one but you’ll have to wait in line.

The latest Tuff 24 is painted, capped and utilizes a full carbon fiber layup.

This year’s demo boat is truly a special boat with a few really trick features. First off, the boat has custom House of Colors paint, as opposed to the usual gelcoat colors, for a little extra pop. And this boat was designed for a big number, so it is an all carbon fiber layup, making it incredibly light and strong. To give a little extra special touch, this Tuff 24 is fully capped which adds to the overall look. And, they used a custom SeaDek floor for a nice durable finish. For what is one of the most stunning V hulls on the market in any size, this one is a work of art. The white and red sparkles but is subtle and the lines of the boat are insanely sleek.

Tuff boats are very custom and this build is a showcase of the unique things they can do from the interior, to the gauges and SeaDek flooring.

Paired up with the Mercury Racing 300R powerhouse, the 24’9” boat, with its 85” beam runs 110 MPH in preliminary testing with a Dewald 32” prop. With some more work, Mark and Thomas think they can get to 115 MPH. The fastest Tuff 24 out there is running a 300XS at 116 MPH. Mark said they could use a race hatch and possibly get there. With a 350 Lbs ballast tank, you can load the boat up for different conditions.

The 300R HD with wing plate and side steering is an incredibly robust setup. The Tuff 24 incorporates serious setback and the setup is key with the big Mercury Racing 300R.

Because the 300R has the larger diameter SportMaster the setup is critical with Tuff and others saying it has to be setup extremely high in order for the fatter gearcase to perform. The Tuff has plenty of setback built into the hull and they are running a SeaStar jack plate with another 10” of setback. They also used the 300R HD version to incorporate the wing plate and Imco side mounted steering cylinder for ultimate control and rigidity. Mark did say the big four stroke is different in that it makes loads of torque but has other characteristics “The new V8 likes to be loaded down with propping, make it work, not the old 'let it zing' approach.”

I think we are seeing and will continue to see some interesting single engine options in the 24’ range as manufactures take advantage of the latest powerful four stroke outboards. 110 MPH to 115 MPH for a 24’ foot boat with a stock 300 HP is an incredible accomplishment. The dimensions of the hull mean the handling and overall performance are better than Tuff’s older 21 and any other 21 or 22 on the market. Tuff Marine continues to forge its own path and pushes incredible designs in performance boats. Every Tuff demo boat goes one step further each time and this 24 is the epitome of pushing what is possible.