Of course, this is a high volume engine (in its original configuration
from Ford) which helps the base price of each. A specialty engine
would have to cost more to deliver the same result when looking at
amortization differences (total cost & profit / num of builds).




Boat engines often run at max power constantly- you throttle up and leave
it. Those high-performance auto engines are built to go 'balls out' for a
short period of time. It's doubtful that any "marinized" version of some of
the newer, lighter engines would handle the constant stresses that would be
thrown at them.

Granted, boat builders could do a better job of squeezing more HP out of
"lower end" marine engines, but then again, that's how they can charge so
much for the "upgrades" to more powerful ones.