Merc 500R vs 520/XR
08-10-2023 | 06:48 AM
#41
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From: Merritt Island, FL
Youtube videos of haulover inlet boats are not all the norm. For every one of those boats there’s a hundred boats with twin 300s.
I could flip my 800hr motors for 20k and buy sub 100hr 2023s for 40k. Get that deal done and motors swapped in 3 days. Really getting hard to find someone down here that wants to crawl into a bilge.
I inquired about getting the 330 MPIs in my 330ss converted to closed cooling. The most reasonable $/hr shop down here that I use wanted $6k for the job.
A 496 might give you comparable hours and corrosion resistance as an outboard but those haven’t even been built in a decade?
I could flip my 800hr motors for 20k and buy sub 100hr 2023s for 40k. Get that deal done and motors swapped in 3 days. Really getting hard to find someone down here that wants to crawl into a bilge.
I inquired about getting the 330 MPIs in my 330ss converted to closed cooling. The most reasonable $/hr shop down here that I use wanted $6k for the job.
A 496 might give you comparable hours and corrosion resistance as an outboard but those haven’t even been built in a decade?
I agree those to me seem the best bang for the buck when reliability is the goal. Hang a pair on a 30 spectra cat and that would be a cheap fun ride.
08-10-2023 | 08:49 AM
#42
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From: St. Pete Beach, FL
https://www.thehulltruth.com/parts-f...0-25-pair.html
https://www.thehulltruth.com/parts-f...is-2014-a.html
08-10-2023 | 08:52 AM
#43
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From: St. Pete Beach, FL
The fatcat DW28 + 300Rs would have been the ticket but they must have sold the mold.
08-10-2023 | 10:58 AM
#44
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From: central IL
How many new sport boat Vees and cats are built with triple 300s though? When the 450Rs came out, the "old" Verado 400s in stock dropped to $40k new. Now that was great bang for your buck on a solid proven engine platform.
08-10-2023 | 11:28 AM
#45
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From: St. Pete Beach, FL
They were a great deal there at the end. Boat mechanics like the serviceability and durability of the L6.
If you watch THT you’ll see guys flipping low hours L6 400s for the next couple years. Some guys just automatically repower every 2-3 years.
Last edited by hogie roll; 08-10-2023 at 11:30 AM.
08-10-2023 | 02:42 PM
#46
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From: Merritt Island, FL
Thank you for your post with the comparison. I was basing the price without ITS added and standard XR drive https://www.proboats.com/engines-for...California-US/
https://marineenginedepot.com/new-62...-airpac-620-hp
08-12-2023 | 03:35 PM
#48
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From: Omaha - LOTO
I don't see folks stroking a check for a new quad or quint 450/500 CC as being new/gullible boaters. More times than not they have been there, done that with big blown inboard powered boats, are a bit longer in the teeth, and their boating priorities have changed. They know what they want.
Seems old school going back to egg beaters no matter what the hp. Especially since they've eclipsed the cost of a decent hp I/O motors. Cost for maintenance these will not be any cheaper in the long run.
08-15-2023 | 12:12 PM
#49
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From: Lake Michigan to LOTO
Hogie,
My point is that the majority of the selling points for quad OB CCs are outright myths, offered up to make an upsell. Again, there’s no way you’re going to convince me that maintaining 4-5 OB is easier or cheaper than a couple of big IBs, and the upfront cost leaves plenty of room for maintaining the IBs down the road. There’s also no way they are more efficient. At the end of the day, HP means fuel. Period.
Thanks. Brad.
My point is that the majority of the selling points for quad OB CCs are outright myths, offered up to make an upsell. Again, there’s no way you’re going to convince me that maintaining 4-5 OB is easier or cheaper than a couple of big IBs, and the upfront cost leaves plenty of room for maintaining the IBs down the road. There’s also no way they are more efficient. At the end of the day, HP means fuel. Period.
Thanks. Brad.
Also, in regards to maintenance, I can assure you that I could change the oil, change the spark plugs and pencil coils, and even swap 4 starters faster on a quad Verado boat than you could do a tune-up on a side by side sterndrive boat. And I could do it from a step ladder.
08-15-2023 | 12:40 PM
#50
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From: Danville, IN
I don't have a good rational argument here as for the true fuel economy numbers, but I will tell you that a friend I run with has a 35 statement CC with 400s (non-R) on it and his fuel burn on those at WOT matches my more powerful big blocks. That's just reading GPH recorded off the dang Mercury software so not sure if its accurate, or even a viable argument. Our boats weigh similar, but his hull is wider and less efficient for sure. Its a real non-valid comparison. Still....we are both about 86 GPH at WOT.....and that's 400s. vs modern 540s. His boat does carry a lot more fuel, so on water weight is probably off by 1000 lb also
Something also to mention. 86mph and me getting it as hard as I can....86 GPH. Pull the sticks back just a tickle and run 80-81 and it drops 20 GPH fuel burn.
Something also to mention. 86mph and me getting it as hard as I can....86 GPH. Pull the sticks back just a tickle and run 80-81 and it drops 20 GPH fuel burn.
