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.

 

[Leejohn]

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...

Your 280 drive does have a reverse lock. Check it out real close and the end of push rod linkage is not able to move up and down.

 

[sd455dan]

Your 280 drive does have a reverse lock. Check it out real close and the end of push rod linkage is not able to move up and down.

Thanks . Sold the boat maybe the new owner has that lock figured out. Some people had trouble with the screw drive lift, mine worked OK. I do Know some Penta parts were pricey.
Locally way more service places for the Mercs.

 

[rangerfredbob]

There were different levels of engines, carbureted and fuel injected although for a new boat carbureted likely wasn't an option in 2012, I don't know what got what but the fuel injection of that time was pretty simple and robust

 

[Bearsixty7]

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

23 years ago when I was shopping, the Merc was way more common and sold for much less than the Volvo-Penta equipped boat. Also back then the Merc was considered more reliable and easier to have serviced.

My old Wellcraft has a 7.4L Bravo III and has been trouble free for the most part. I have had it serviced a few times by dealers/repair places as I've never pulled a drive myself. So far the service hadn't been too expensive, ~150-300 depending on what all I had done/checked. Today that service may be $300-600 (NTX prices).

 

[super55]

The GM 4.3 has been a mainstay in the marine engine for years. My '95 crownline has the 4.3 with 4bbl carb. Really strong running engines and fairly decent fuel economy if I don't keep it hammered.

As for Volvo/Penta vs. Mercruiser, Merc has a much larger footprint in the industry and parts are cheaper. As others mentioned, it is also much easier to find a certified mechanic. You can find a ton of vids online for repairs of them as well.

 

[Leejohn]

I have worked on both for 30+ years and a master mechanic on merc and a certified mechanic on volvo. I stopped working on boats in 2000. Super55 is right about certified mechanics are hard to find in some parts. I like the Mercruiser but the Volvo upper gear box is a lot better and harder to shim up right, its like a swiss watch very well made.

 

[sd455dan]

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

No ski tower.

Hey Coobie did you end up with the Chaparral?

If so how do you like it Is the Merc outdrive holding up well?

Asking because I bit the Bullitt again and picked up an older but well cared for Sea Ray 210 with the Merc 305/5.0 and Alpha drive.

Hopefully the Merc will hold up, but have only owned Mercury outboards before never one of their stern drives.
Also looked at a Larson with a Bravo 3 but the outdrive steering was beyond loose and would have needed major service to tighten up the gimbal and steering arm
At least on the lighter duty Alpha it was nice and tight.

 

[JasperFrank]

Volvo used clutch cones, as does the Bravo Merc. The Alpha I and II are STILL a dog clutch, that relies on an ignition cut off to work. This is a very primitive way to engage and disengage gears. Volvos are better in every way. More expensive, but better. Merc isn't a USA company any more, by the way.. Sea Ray was a good brand of boats. They are designed and built well.

 

[sd455dan]

Volvo used clutch cones, as does the Bravo Merc. The Alpha I and II are STILL a dog clutch, that relies on an ignition cut off to work. This is a very primitive way to engage and disengage gears. Volvos are better in every way. More expensive, but better. Merc isn't a USA company any more, by the way.. Sea Ray was a good brand of boats. They are designed and built well.

Looked at the design and some service videos. Another Volvo 280 would have been just fine for me but the engine and boats condition are also a big consideration. I was never crazy about the screw drive trim / lift on the Volvo though.
I made the mistake of not checking out the earlier Apollo boat and that resulted in me rebuilding the AQ 140 OHC the floor.... stringers, and motor mounts... I hate working with fiberglass. and want to avoid it above mechanical repairs I guess I will get used to the clunk into gear, but yeah a cone clutch would be Far better in the out drive.

I know Brunswick -same company that was the Billiard King for years owns both Merc and Sea Ray and some of their boats are now built in Mexico. No such thing as a Volvo outdrive in a Sea Ray because of corporate policy, at least from the factory after Brunswick bought Mercury
Was not aware they moved the drive production off shore.

Anyway Hoping this Sea Ray is a keeper. The 5.0 in this one is a really sweet running engine. I guess it is a thinly disguised GM Vortec with hydraulic roller cam. No complaints at all there. Full original print no. 24 service manual on the way from ebay

 

[JasperFrank]

Which model Sea Ray are you talking about? I love all the 24 degree dead rise boats. I shouldn't talk about boats. This is a Tractor Site. LOL.....