496ho vs 525efi
 

I may be buying a new boat 33 to 37 feet. I wanted to know what the rebuild time would be between the two? Also would the 496 with bravo ones hold up as well or better then the 525 with xr's? Or if I go with 496's would it be better to get the xr's? Also does anyone know what the real cost difference should be between the two?

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

you will beat up the 496 ho motor's more .less power means the motor's have to run harder :(
525s will last longer becuase you wont have to work them so hard . pluss they have better parts in them ..
big boat bigger power will be more eficeint :) :)

you under stand me now mr. montana

mike

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

xrs are the ONLY way to go.... especially on a boat that size... 525s are running 530-560HP

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

They will cost more initially but your resale will be better, the XR's should hold up better, the 525's are a b!tchin looking motor and about a 125 more hp. The 496's are for Sea Ray's............. :evilb: :D

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

What do you know punk :drink: :evilb: :evilb:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Say hello to my little friend........... :eek:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

little friend """" tommy gun """"" :) :)
so when are you buying that bad boy boat tuff Guy..

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Check the insurance on the same boat with both power packages, this might make your decision for you.

496 HO can get an extended warranty too.

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

496 and XR's in my 35 Fountain. The $30K I saved buys a lot of gas and the insurance was about half. 5 year warranty is great piece of mind. I'm about 8 mph off the top end as compared to the 525's. Great cruise efficiency and you can pound on them all day and they don't make a peep. And sorry, resale is BETTER with 496's in the bilge. Ask anyone who sells boats for a living. I've also heard that the CMI pipes on the 525's in the salt are maintenance intensive. Flush them frequently or they bust motors.

Your choice!

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Tony:

The Merc HP525's are great motors, but for the cost difference and others you might want to visit our website
www.raylarengine.com for some 496 options. we have a real nice HO525 - 496 for this application to.

Ray @ Raylar

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Does anyone know what rebuild times would be between the two? Also no one knows what dealer cost is between the two? Thanks :cool:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

I don't know dealer cost but a pair of 525 xr lists at 106,200.00 496ho bravo 62,280.00. I have one 525 ITS XR when I told the ins co. they said sorry but go elsewhere. if I had a 496 HO they nwould have wrote me for less than a 1/3 of what I am paying now. If I had it to do all over I would go with the 496HO just for the price and ins cost. Fact is I am thinking new 33 with 496HO bravos for next year. the blue motors just arn't worth all that go along with'em just my 2cnts : :cool:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

what are you looking to put these motors in?

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Blue motors!

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

:rolleyes:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Thats like comparing a chevy 305 to a 350. :eek:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

I have always had blue motors in my last few boats and with mostly good luck.Yes the look and power is awesome but.......
With my latest purchase i found it a better situation to go with the 496HO MAG power for ;
1) Insurance cost as with my 28 Eliminator cat it was a fraction of what a 525 powered boat would be
2.) extended warranty.

My current boat still goes over 100mph with the twin 496 MAG HO package so i felt it was the way to go.

just my .02

Dave

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Any one?

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

You are looking at at LEAST $35K to $40K more for 525EFI-XRs over 496HO-XZs. If you build your boat with 496HOs, and have them installed by a Mercury authorized technician; all blessed and such by Mercury, you can have CMI headers installed and KEEP your warranty.

If you are looking to build an Active Thunder, get in touch with me. I can help.
btcomm500(a)aol.com. I'd give you my cell #, but it crapped out.

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Very good points. I don't know about the resale is better with the 496HO's over the 525's, (not doubting it) but I think he means that alot of people are buying with these motors for the reasons stated above

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Warranty has come up several times in this thread. A 5-year Passport Premire policy is available on the 525 through Brunswick Product Protection. Let me know if anybody needs any info.
Kyle

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Wouldnt the CMI's put the 496HO in 500efi territory(which is how much more $$$ than a 496HO from mercury)? What would it take for the additional horsepower needed to get into 525 range.....and keep warranty?

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

The 525EFI comes out of the factory somewhere between 530HP and 560HP at the crankshaft.

The HP500EFI came out of the factory at 512HP+/- at the crankshaft; 470HP at the prop shaft.

The 496HO would need more than headers to get to 470HP at the crankshaft; and as far as I know, there is nothing else you can do without voiding warranty. Remember your Torque Curve on a 496HO is not going to be the same as a 500EFI once you install headers, even though you may be near the same HP.

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

I could be wrong, but I'm think'n the black motors are rated at the prop so 496HO's 425 + the documented header gains and you'd be close to the HP500's 470, not sure on the torque but the real speed numbers gained suggest that improved too.

Merc gets a lot of premium for the blue paint, more than the value they deliver. I know the blower I had on my 575SCI was a POS design with puny sealed brgs that went south at 140 hrs- granted the Lysholms they use now are a nice piece.

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

well maintained 496ho's,500's, and 525's should go at least 500hr's before overhaul.....

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

An uncorked (unmuffled) 525 can scare/startle unsuspecting people standing near it when started :evilb: :evilb: :evilb: That right there is worth the price of admission! :D

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

I know of one CMI 496 HO installation that did not gain anything on top end!

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Yeah, I know that guy too, but he smokes a lot of crack! :D

Like I said, I think the header is good for the motor, and should increase your HP which will help with SOME setups, but I don't know what it does to the torque curve. The midrange and cruise may improve, but top end may not; or vice versa.



I am fairly confident I will get my boat to 80mph with stock 496HOs one day. It won't be a consistant thing, but I have seen a best of 77.5mph with a heavy load in no current fresh water body of water.

With labbed props, some exhaust tuning, salt water, cooler/low humidity air and a light load, I know she has 80 in her. I still have at least 250 RPMs that I have never seen with the stock 28s.

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Brian when you going todo the deal on the offical start and trade the 37 and get some blue motors OR Ilmores and then I can get the 37 from Pat :rolleyes:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

You know, about 5 people are on the "list" if Monsoon goes up for sale. Clark calls me about once every two weeks! :D I can't imaging not owning my boat.

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

our colors are so close I might be able to sneak it by the wife :rolleyes:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Hey how did this get turned into an Active Thunder thread :confused:





:evilb: :evilb: :evilb:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

isn't that what you are looking at? :cool: are you the offical start?

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

I wish.............but yes its what I am looking at ;)

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

Does she drink a lot? Your plan might work?

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

33 or 37? good luck Tony keep us posted the Thunder family likes to be in the know :cool: Brian no she doesn't drink but it still might work :cool:

Re: 496ho vs 525efi
 

how can a tough guy like you have anything else than the 525s
..they have your name on them :) just go for it