What can a fleet of high-performance boats do with 700-hp engines from Ilmor Marine and Mercury Racing? Knock your socks off.

Two issues ago we ran a roundup of V-bottoms and catamarans powered by 600-horsepower engines. Although impressive, it was no surprise that every boat in the field topped 80 mph.

Click on image to enlarge.

Upping the ante this time around, we asked builders to send us whatever they chose with either one or two 700-hp engines. As with the 600-hp fleet, our only requirement was that the engines had to be from either Ilmor Marine or Mercury Racing-the only "production" high-performance marine engine builders that are direct competitors.

And once again we were dazzled. Every entry in this seven-boat fleet topped 85 mph. To the unending credit of Mercury Racing and Ilmor Marine, there wasn't a mechanical problem with any of the engines during the roundup. It wasn't all that long ago that engines in the 700-hp range were a reliability crapshoot.

Beyond the engines, the field of catamarans and V-bottoms had little in common. But every one of them produced strong results on reliable and what has come to be considered mild power. Every one of them commanded our attention, regardless of the badge on the engines.

The real "winner" isn't Mercury Racing or Ilmor Marine. If you're lucky enough to be in the market for any of the models in this roundup, the real winner is you.