Inboard boat motor question??

[coobie]

What is better in board boat motor setup merc-crusier or Volvo penta?Thanks for any info..

 

[rangerfredbob]

Do you like your apples red or green? Pretty much the same thing depending on the engine, for the most part they all start as GM bare engines and get the marinizing stuff added, most are about the same and use most of the same parts... Ford marine engines were popular through the mid '90's but they stopped building for that around then and everyone switched to GM, now in the last few years Ford is back in and undercutting everything but their engines are bigger... Depending on what you are trying to do and what engine you are looking at there's a lot of ups and downs of everything but a lot will do a basic job of running a boat...

 

[JasperFrank]

Everything now is outboards. What sort of boat are we talking about?

 

[sd455dan]

What is better in board boat motor setup merc-crusier or Volvo penta?Thanks for any info..

Only have experience with the Penta
Had a 1980s Volvo Penta 280 with the OHC AQ 140 inline 4 in an 18 foot run about.
I do know Volvo used real u joints in the drive unlike that Rube Goldberg nightmare OMC had and they can easily handle a V8 powerwise.

The only thing I really disliked is putting a 280 in reverse there is no lock on the outdrive so it can lift up the entire outdrive if over throttled...

My understanding is the Merc outdrives don't have that problem.

Hopefully someone that has owned both chimes in.

There are year and Drive model variations within those company lines as well.

I know Penta also had the duo prop Aquamatic

 

[coobie]

Everything now is outboards. What sort of boat are we talking about?

2012 charaprall 19 ft fish/ski boat with 4.3 mer-cruiser engine

 

[ddbackhoe]

2012 charaprall 19 ft fish/ski boat with 4.3 mer-cruiser engine

220 hp pushes it to ~50mph. Running hard skiing all day will burn 20-30 gallons.
Mercruiser is (IMO) easier to source parts and less expensive. Merc mechanics, in my area, are easier to find. Upgrades; 4 bbl carb, better prop (prefer torqueshift) and speed tabs. Unless you want a little more, bolt on intake and….

Does it have the ski tower too?

 

[coobie]

220 hp pushes it to ~50mph. Running hard skiing all day will burn 20-30 gallons.
Mercruiser is (IMO) easier to source parts and less expensive. Merc mechanics, in my area, are easier to find. Upgrades; 4 bbl carb, better prop (prefer torqueshift) and speed tabs. Unless you want a little more, bolt on intake and….

Does it have the ski tower too?

No ski tower.

 

[bnold]

Everything now is outboards. What sort of boat are we talking about?

 

[bnold]

I’ve had 3 direct drive inboards with mercruisers. 2 GMs and a Ford, all 3 carbureted sub 250hp.

1 mercruiser I/O in the 250hp range

1 mercruiser V-drive around 300hp

Now I have 2 Illmors which I have been very happy with, 1 direct drive at 330hp (GM 5.x variant) and 1 v-drive at 420hp (GM 6.2 variant)

Honestly, I’ve never had an engine or transmission issue other than routine maintenance and a blown transmission seal on the 1987 velvet drive trans.

 

[gstrom99]

+1 for the Merc. My buddy had a Volvo, and hated it. Always tinkering with it and hard to start - always.