The first outboard was actually electric (left). The 12-cylinder block for Mercury’s 600-hp Verado shows how far outboard technology has come. World History Archive/Alamy stock photo Once upon a time, ...

Even just a handful of years ago, if you wanted a custom sport-fisher in the 35- to 55-foot range, the likely option was inboard power. But today’s new breed of high-horsepower outboard engines, with ...