Why nobody uses Crusader engines in performance boats?
 

Sorry for my ignorance, but why do you not see crusader engines on performance boats? I know the engines are more for bigger boats, but so are diesels. Lately I've seen a couple of people thinking outside the box and trying diesel engines in high performance boats, so why not consider a crusader engine? It seems pretty obvious that these engines have superior life than mercury, especially in salt water conditions. I see boats from the 70's still running on original crusader power yet their priced much less and they offer the 2 year warranty. Their 496 is 425hp, and they even have a 6.0 375hp small block. Didn't the old magnums come with crusader engines? Probobly not ideal if you run WOT all the time, but I usually cruise around 3-4000rpms.

Comparison of merc vs crusader
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/GasEngines.htm

That' A Pretty Good Rite Up .
Make's You Think About Your Next Motor .

bump, somebody has to know the answer to this.

they don't have a motor/drive package??

Straight from the horses mouth (crusader)

Most of the mercs are what they call high performance engines and usually they have modified the internal engine to achieve more power. There is no reason the Crusader package would not work. I know we have been installed in the repower side. As far as the top speed is concerned, it is hard to say. How many horsepower are you running now? If the new engine is installed and reaches full rpm, it should give the same results

This has been the problem with many engine builders, I have never understood why one of the drive companies and engine builders don't partner up and offer a competitive package.

WILL:drink:

Did you notice the post date 1997?

We forgive you for your ignorance :)

NOPE DIDN'T SEE THAT :)
BUT IF YOU WHERE STAYING WITH A 496HO MOTOR MPI CRUSADER HAS THEM FOR UNDER 14 K , SOUND LIKE A GOOD DEAL BUT I HAVEN'T CHECK MERC PRICE'S ON THESE MOTOR'S

Merc prices are around $17,500 for the 496HO, and the crusader warranty is two years compared to merc's one year. I don't care if that post was from 1997, if bigger boats still choose crusader over merc today then there is sure to be a reason for it. Perhaps Ed Cozzi can give us his surveyor opinion.

resale value perception is something to consider also.

If you make a half dozen phone calls you can find someone to sell you a 496HO for 13/14k. Crusader, Marine Power, Kodiak, and others all use "GM Powertrain" engines as their base platforms. These are excellent long block foundations and even the cheapest 2bbl carbed 350 has a hydraulic roller and vortec heads. Some companies do a better job of marinizing then others, and most have decent flowing cast aluminum exh manifolds. There is no issue regarding durability in a performance application, but unless you have a donor engine the same as the one you are upgrading to then you are out of luck for a lot of applications and have to buy all the stuff to adapt it from merc. None of those companies make drives, so they don't offer compatable bellhousings, no power steering on some, shift actuators, some wiring harnesses are pinned differently, etc... These are not difficult to adapt but will bring you right up to the cost of the merc, which you can bolt right in. If you need a drive it becomes even worse because merc stings ya if you buy things seperately rather then in a package and it will end up costing almost twice as much to mix and match. Finally on a service level every marina in america has a shop that will honor a merc warranty. But if ya want a turn key 425hp 496 I can sell ya one for $10,200, 6.0 with variable valve timing 375hp $9000, Or supercharged and intercooled 545hp 14k... All with the standard GM powertrain warranty.. whatever that's worth.
:food-smiley-007:

Interesting, if they haven't changed from 1997 they will be out of business. Carb motors won't pass the new EPA requirements.

THAT'S A GREAT PRICE FROM WHAT I CAN SEE . ARE THE 496HO MOTORS FOR $10,200 BRAND NEW ?
DO YOU OWN A MARINE SHOP ? IF SO WHATS THE NAME ?
THANK'S
MIKE

It is a great price but it's not Merc. So unless you have a donor you'll need power steering setup, engine mounts, drive coupling, bellhousing, shift actuator assembly... If you price all that out it adds up pretty quick. There's no free lunch.
Or if you want to build your own, with any options try these guys

http://www.flagshipengine.com/

Thanks for posting. I do have a donor merc engine - this would be a repower. Have you ever repowered a mercury boat with a marine power or crusader bobtail engine? :)

Yes, Marine Power engines are very popular up here, especially in jet boats. I haven't tried any of the newer crusader stuff, but on their older stuff the exhaust manifolds were the biggest deterrent because they wouldn't line up with anything.. I have swapped and mixed a lot of different brands, and the only way it pays off is if you are working within the same engine family. Even then you'll sometimes run into clearance issues, like power steering pumps hitting exh manifolds etc.. :rolleyes: