Nothing get the ladies lubed up like a set of shiny headers on some blue motors, just sayin!!

Sounds like everyone on the forum is buying black motors...that's a shame, there is really no comparison.

Your 100% right but it is kind of like asking do you want a new Corvette or a 15 year old Lamborghini.......If you don't have the money to fix it and you just want to drive it then go with the cheaper, more reliable option. A 72 mph boat is better than a 0 mph boat waiting on parts or funding for parts!

Someone on here rebuilt a pair of 525's and it was eye opening expensive.

the 496's are great engines...limited if you want to try and bolt on some HP because that is not what they were originally built for. if you want performance and resale you know that blue is the way to go (document work done while you own it) but with the reputable builders out there today I would be more apt to go with them vs merc due to mark up if the idea is to keep the boat for awhile. just my .02

Another interesting comparison would be the resale value on rebuilt vs. not motors and the ROI.


Boat with 300 hours on factory sealed 525's vs. a similar boat with $20,000 in refresh receipts. I would suspect you don't get the full 20K back.....but it might sell quicker.

I never hear anyone with 525's say they wish they had 496's.

See posts 17 and 20 then consider Sydwayz's AT is a 496 boat.

That being said the 525's look great, perform great but at a cost (headers/rebuilds etc). In a 32-35 ft boat you probably don't need the 525's but at 38+ it is hard not to have them.

what kind of white trash wrench turning ladies do you hang with, that know any difference in what's under the hatch?

I am someone that has owned a 496 boat and road in many 525 boats and I never want a set of 525's but would get another 496 boat any day if it fit my needs.

As an upgrade, what do they get for 525s new?