500 hp on a crownline 202 worth it?
 

Ive got a 98 crownline 202 with the merc 454 and bravo 1. Pretty much stock only thing I have done besides maintenance is I added captains call through hull exhaust.

Im fairly happy with the boat as is but im pondering upgrades. It has 350 hours on it.

I was thinking of install a fast or holly efi kit implace of the carb for better starting and reliability.
Im no stranger to efi but no experience in a boat.

Wondering if its worth the funds or if I should just upgrade to a newer boat.
My boats still incredibly nice for the age of it and just needed a tune up at this point I think.

Thanks for any info!

If you want to do it, do it.

I would consider put the stock power away just in case it can get you more $$$ later if you ever sell it.

You put something about a boat and "worth it" in the same sentence! haha!
If boats were a good investment, we'd all be rich on here! The investment is in the fun of doing it and the fun of seeing what it will do after you're done. (more of a feeding the addiction thing then investment in fun really)

As SB said, if ya wanna do it, do it! (and keep us posted)

Haha yea I know what you mean. Ive been playing with jet skis for some time now and wanted to get into boats more.
I was wondering if it would be a better to buy a efi boat "newer" or install efi myself.

What are some of the routes to 500hp for my 454 merc? From what I read step one is exhaust.
What should I look for?

Thanks

You have a 22 footer with 330HP and you want to go to 500, that's a big step. My 23 foot Rinker cuddy (4500 pounds) will hit about 60MPH with the same setup. You could do it but maybe think along the line of the 385 to 415 size. No expert on engine building here (been trying to get info my self), but I pulled my 454 and put a 502 in. If you have a lot of hours on your 454 maybe pick up a 502 crate motor like I did and install it. Going from 330 to 415HP on mine made a large difference, but I also weight in a 10,000 pounds.

I think it would be a great experiment. Keep your motor and make it a stroker 496" class motor. Add EFI like you stated. What a great project. Take your time and have fun. Most importantly report back lessons learned, pictures and performance improvements.

Dose a regular 454 auto style efi intake bolt right up to the heads?

Oval or rectangle ports?

Your gains would be negligible compared to what you would see with a performance boat. I am not bashing Crownline, as they build a nice comfortable, plush family boat. I have owned two, my first boat a 182BR and second a 266LTD. You would be better to enjoy it for what it is. If speed is what you want, then sell it and buy a more performance oriented boat.

A buddy had a CL 202 w/ a Bob Lloyd 454 motor putting out about 450hp and it was a handful. It was a quick little boat, but much over 65 and it was scary. Like Cory said, if it's speed you want, go bigger. I went from a CL 225LPX to a 32 Advantage cause I wanted to go faster (safer). Good luck!

Thanks for the info. I will start looking at other boats.

Ok, let me play devil's advocate: In the mid 80's I had a 20' Executive walk thru V-hull. Very nice plushy family/ski boat. It had a Mercruiser 260 horse and Alpha, and was a nice 60 mph boat.

I got a wild hair, and decided to put a B&M 144 blower on it. After getting it sorted out (very long story) it was pretty much bulletproof and unnoticeable (except for the high pitched whine on boost). It had jump seats and the top opening to the motor cover was about 1'X3'.
I painted the blower black, put the "Mercruiser 260hp" ornamental air cover on, covered the blower snout with hoses, and when you looked down in the little opening, it you didn't know what you were looking for, it was almost invisible.

I would run down the lake and jet boat guys would come by with their hot little girl friends, gas it and take off. They'd look up and I'd be beside them. They would nail it WOT and I'd just slide up beside them again, then I'd look over, wave, trim up and scoot away!

I ran a solid 72mph, and at the time, could take most "regular" boats on our lake. The other guys would come over at the beach, ask what I had in it, and I'd shrug my shoulders, and say "I don't know, it says 260hp"!

Sometimes it's not about being the fastest (there's always somebody faster), it's about having fun being faster than you look!!!

CDshack - you must be a long lost brother I never met. LOL. Love it !

Thanks SB---To be honest I had more "fun" with that boat than all the thumpin' rattlin' go fast boats I've owned. After a couple of years I lost the bottom box pulling a skier, year after lost the upper box pulling a skier. (I believe I may have exceeded the Alpha's design capabilities) ;) It was sitting in a buddies shop waiting on a new gearset and a guy came in that HAD to have it. Still wish I had that one back!

Somewhat different class of boats, but my buddy had some fun with the Fountain guys in his Force 235 with a 509 / B&M 250 combo. Boat ran about 83, which is not that fast by today's standards, but somewhat unexpected from a stock appearing older boat like that.