Thinking about buying a 21' Sea Ray Sundeck with a 220hp 5.0 Mercruiser. It has the crappy Alpha 1. Should I avoid it and look for something with a Bravo, or do you guys think it'll hold up?

The alpha is a good drive and would live fine behind a 5.0. Just can't be holeshoting it all the time... They have put alphas behind quite a few Big block boats from the factory..

John jr

Sounds like a good package.I wouldn't expect any problem with it.

I have gone thru 2 350s, 2 454s and a 502 in a 21ft boat that weighs 5000lbs fully loaded and my stock 25 year old Alpha 1 hasnt broken yet..
Its getting ready to blow up anyday now but still hangin on for dear life.

Well thanks for the info, guys! It is greatly appreciated...

hey...
my 22 scarab, 24 condor and 26 sutphen all had the 350 mag/alpha combo (s)... the 24x7 condor actually had 330 hp...no worries and easy maintenance...the drive, when used responsibly, is good for 400 hp....btw, the sutphen is 22 years old....
c

I'd question the 5.0 220 in a heavier deck boat before questioning the Alpha. 5.7 DP would be ideal, but at least an MPI.

Lots and lots of smaller deck boats, running small blocks and Alphas out here. They seem to be about the most reliable of all. A few friends of mine have them and slam the sticks forward when pulling skiers all day long. Stock small blocks don't really break the Alphas. These guys do it week in, week out.


Darrell.

I would say go for it! We had a 3.0L and a alpha in an 18 foot bayliner and the thing ran awesome for 8 years and that was a 100+ hours a year and 5,000 rpm speed runs for miles at a time. Every time we accelerated it was slamming the sticks down, so ya, go for it!

We've got the stock Alpha One on our 1986 22 Pachanga. They work fine on a light boat with mild power.