2.5 Offshore vs 300XS
05-10-2011, 07:13 AM
#11
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2.5 offshores and reliable can not be used in the same sentence. The 2.5 series get to speed much faster than the lazy feeling 300x. The 300X boats seem to have more top end on the same boat but take a while to get there. I love the 2.5 for punch and hate them for the rebuild every 100 hours.
I would rig the 32 with tripple 300x or xs motors in a heartbeat.
I would rig the 32 with tripple 300x or xs motors in a heartbeat.
05-13-2011, 08:20 PM
#12
Thanks for all the input, the boat is a buddies and it looks like he's probably going to be going with two 300Xs's for this season and then add a third or maybe a forth for next season. The only way he'd do four is if he goes ahead with widening the hull this coming off season.
05-18-2011, 01:07 AM
#13
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Cool, my buddy has a 32 with twin 300x's. Boat runs awesome for the power (just under 100 in the south Florida humidity and heat). However he already purchased the third motor and will be rigging it very soon.
If the boat is for pleasure use the 300's are perfect, for racing the 2.5's let her fly level in the rough stuff.
And to the person who said 2.5's aren't reliable, I disagree. Maintenance might be more, but that does not make it un-reliable. Look at all the offshore race catamarans. Everyone I have seen runs 2.5's.
I re-ring every 80 to 100 hours (about every 18 months), and thats about it.... Not really a big deal. Now like I said before the drive housings drive me nuts!
Do other cats suffer this problem? I eat drive housings about every 12-18 months. It gets expensive when its 3 at a time! And yes its like clock work!
I start seeing cracks within a couple months of hanging the new drives, and they get progressively worse until I feel like if I don't change them I am gonna lose them!
30 motion, triple 2.5's, I usually cruise in the 80-95 mph range, with occasional bursts to 11x +
If the boat is for pleasure use the 300's are perfect, for racing the 2.5's let her fly level in the rough stuff.
And to the person who said 2.5's aren't reliable, I disagree. Maintenance might be more, but that does not make it un-reliable. Look at all the offshore race catamarans. Everyone I have seen runs 2.5's.
I re-ring every 80 to 100 hours (about every 18 months), and thats about it.... Not really a big deal. Now like I said before the drive housings drive me nuts!
Do other cats suffer this problem? I eat drive housings about every 12-18 months. It gets expensive when its 3 at a time! And yes its like clock work!
I start seeing cracks within a couple months of hanging the new drives, and they get progressively worse until I feel like if I don't change them I am gonna lose them!
30 motion, triple 2.5's, I usually cruise in the 80-95 mph range, with occasional bursts to 11x +
05-18-2011, 07:22 AM
#15
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And to the person who said 2.5's aren't reliable, I disagree. Maintenance might be more, but that does not make it un-reliable. Look at all the offshore race catamarans. Everyone I have seen runs 2.5's.
I re-ring every 80 to 100 hours (about every 18 months), and thats about it.... Not really a big deal. Now like I said before the drive housings drive me nuts!
I re-ring every 80 to 100 hours (about every 18 months), and thats about it.... Not really a big deal. Now like I said before the drive housings drive me nuts!
I'd go with the 300XS motors in a second, especially on a bigger boat. New technology, warranty, fuel efficient, etc. Plus, you're not having to pull powerheads every 100-150 hours to rebuild. I would imagine the new 300XS motors are good for at least 400-500 hours.
05-18-2011, 10:04 AM
#16
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Parts for the 2.5's are getting harder and harder to come by and the prices are getting rediculous. List price on a single piston and 2 rings is $406.00!!! Don't forget too, that Jim Ruck is getting older and won't be doing the machine work forever so who the hell is gonna step up and be the man for block work???
I'd go with the 300XS motors in a second, especially on a bigger boat. New technology, warranty, fuel efficient, etc. Plus, you're not having to pull powerheads every 100-150 hours to rebuild. I would imagine the new 300XS motors are good for at least 400-500 hours.
I'd go with the 300XS motors in a second, especially on a bigger boat. New technology, warranty, fuel efficient, etc. Plus, you're not having to pull powerheads every 100-150 hours to rebuild. I would imagine the new 300XS motors are good for at least 400-500 hours.
I hear you, thankfully I don't pay retail! I have only needed to have block work done once. That was to fix a scarred cylinder that came with the boat. And you can get a Wizard piston/ring set for much less than the Merc ones...
I have 300xs's on my center console, and I love them, on that boat. I just feel like the 300xs's will be WAY to heavy on the back of the Motion. If I was going with twins I would go 300xs's all the way, but for triple motors the 2.5's get the nod for me.
Now the 32 Skater, in my opinion, can go either way. Just depends on what the use of the boat will be.
Also don't kid yourself with the reliability on the 300xs. I have blown two powerheads, in two years, and I do not run that boat nearly as hard as the motion.
We can go back and forth on this forever. Both motors are awesome. They each just have their pro's and con's.
05-18-2011, 10:49 AM
#17
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I had the same problem on Sport midsections breaking. Talked with Mercury and they told me to re-torque the lower units after a few hours of install. I would check them once a month. They were right as many times after installing the drive they would be a little loose the next time I checked. After the re-torque never had one lossen again and never cracked or broke a mid again. I have owned at least 6 cats with twin or triple 2.5's. Seems when they are not real tight they vibrate and crack the mid. I actually lost a a CLE with a Mazco prop when it broke the mid section off.
Cool, my buddy has a 32 with twin 300x's. Boat runs awesome for the power (just under 100 in the south Florida humidity and heat). However he already purchased the third motor and will be rigging it very soon.
If the boat is for pleasure use the 300's are perfect, for racing the 2.5's let her fly level in the rough stuff.
And to the person who said 2.5's aren't reliable, I disagree. Maintenance might be more, but that does not make it un-reliable. Look at all the offshore race catamarans. Everyone I have seen runs 2.5's.
I re-ring every 80 to 100 hours (about every 18 months), and thats about it.... Not really a big deal. Now like I said before the drive housings drive me nuts!
Do other cats suffer this problem? I eat drive housings about every 12-18 months. It gets expensive when its 3 at a time! And yes its like clock work!
I start seeing cracks within a couple months of hanging the new drives, and they get progressively worse until I feel like if I don't change them I am gonna lose them!
30 motion, triple 2.5's, I usually cruise in the 80-95 mph range, with occasional bursts to 11x +
If the boat is for pleasure use the 300's are perfect, for racing the 2.5's let her fly level in the rough stuff.
And to the person who said 2.5's aren't reliable, I disagree. Maintenance might be more, but that does not make it un-reliable. Look at all the offshore race catamarans. Everyone I have seen runs 2.5's.
I re-ring every 80 to 100 hours (about every 18 months), and thats about it.... Not really a big deal. Now like I said before the drive housings drive me nuts!
Do other cats suffer this problem? I eat drive housings about every 12-18 months. It gets expensive when its 3 at a time! And yes its like clock work!
I start seeing cracks within a couple months of hanging the new drives, and they get progressively worse until I feel like if I don't change them I am gonna lose them!
30 motion, triple 2.5's, I usually cruise in the 80-95 mph range, with occasional bursts to 11x +
05-18-2011, 08:56 PM
#19
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I had the same problem on Sport midsections breaking. Talked with Mercury and they told me to re-torque the lower units after a few hours of install. I would check them once a month. They were right as many times after installing the drive they would be a little loose the next time I checked. After the re-torque never had one lossen again and never cracked or broke a mid again. I have owned at least 6 cats with twin or triple 2.5's. Seems when they are not real tight they vibrate and crack the mid. I actually lost a a CLE with a Mazco prop when it broke the mid section off.
That definitely sounds like something for me to look at. I usually hang em and forget about them!
You had problems cracking the Mids or Lowers?
Thanks!
05-18-2011, 09:28 PM
#20
Skater Brother
Platinum Member
The 2.5s work great on my 28 Skater and Diamond marine in Florida can fix anything on them including welding up the blocks. Just had mine rebuilt and they did a great job!! I'm going to take it to the Bimini race if anybody would like to run your boat over lets go!!!
