Merc 500R vs 520/XR
08-22-2023 | 07:43 AM
#81
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,337
Likes: 1,838
From: Merritt Island, FL
One of the issues with the 2 stroke OB's they are starting to get old, and then you lose reliability on most of them.
I own both I/O and OB, and have friends with older OB performance boats, they are NOT any more reliable then my old HP500EFI's.
Old performance anything means you will work on them.
Sure a brand new twin OB 500-700K plus new or slightly used cat is reliable, that is just out of my league.
I own both I/O and OB, and have friends with older OB performance boats, they are NOT any more reliable then my old HP500EFI's.
Old performance anything means you will work on them.
Sure a brand new twin OB 500-700K plus new or slightly used cat is reliable, that is just out of my league.
08-22-2023 | 08:42 AM
#82
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,871
Likes: 798
From: St. Pete Beach, FL
One of the issues with the 2 stroke OB's they are starting to get old, and then you lose reliability on most of them.
I own both I/O and OB, and have friends with older OB performance boats, they are NOT any more reliable then my old HP500EFI's.
Old performance anything means you will work on them.
Sure a brand new twin OB 500-700K plus new or slightly used cat is reliable, that is just out of my league.
I own both I/O and OB, and have friends with older OB performance boats, they are NOT any more reliable then my old HP500EFI's.
Old performance anything means you will work on them.
Sure a brand new twin OB 500-700K plus new or slightly used cat is reliable, that is just out of my league.
08-29-2023 | 11:49 AM
#83
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Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 53
Likes: 43
From: Lake Michigan to LOTO
Two guys you know bought new boats and motors and didnt do research to find out what was important to them? Fuel economy... Isnt that there own fault?
Having experience in many many types of boats and I/O motors, having experience in OB motors as well. I know many here are die hard I/O guys, but the reality is, the 450's sip fuel compared to I/O's in that power range. they run on very low maintenance compared to I/O's. Are they perfect, nope, but show me a mechanical item that is. I know many of you hate to hear this but They are a step forward in technology.
Show me a High 37-39 cat with a I/O that runs around at 75 mph doing 2mpg, show me a I/O that can run for hours and hours at a time going 100+ mph at 1.8 mpg. Show me a I/O that can get away with over 110 hrs and need nothing but the 100 hr oil changes and belt change service.
I love my I/O power. The qc4v power and reliability is awesome. The O/B wont have that same punch ever but dang they OB are pretty darn reliable and fuel efficient for me.
Having experience in many many types of boats and I/O motors, having experience in OB motors as well. I know many here are die hard I/O guys, but the reality is, the 450's sip fuel compared to I/O's in that power range. they run on very low maintenance compared to I/O's. Are they perfect, nope, but show me a mechanical item that is. I know many of you hate to hear this but They are a step forward in technology.
Show me a High 37-39 cat with a I/O that runs around at 75 mph doing 2mpg, show me a I/O that can run for hours and hours at a time going 100+ mph at 1.8 mpg. Show me a I/O that can get away with over 110 hrs and need nothing but the 100 hr oil changes and belt change service.
I love my I/O power. The qc4v power and reliability is awesome. The O/B wont have that same punch ever but dang they OB are pretty darn reliable and fuel efficient for me.
08-29-2023 | 01:37 PM
#84
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 113
From: Oakville,ON
This is something I've been thinking about lately. With the price of a Merc 520EFI/XR combo being about $40k and the Merc 500R being about $70k, at what price do you still save money going with outboards? Seeing all the new boats being built with twin outboards on them I've been asking myself this question a lot.
08-29-2023 | 08:45 PM
#85
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 250
Likes: 37
From: MN
Menage
I love my I/O boat "Topless". Its a awesome piece of hardware. You are correct that I use the OB boat alot more just simply because it makes boating much easier. The OB boat Cats Ass is still fast and fun as heck.
In the past 12 months I've boated about 150-155 hrs between these two boats and 125 of those hrs are on the OB boat with very little maintenance expense especially compared to the I/O.
I love my I/O boat "Topless". Its a awesome piece of hardware. You are correct that I use the OB boat alot more just simply because it makes boating much easier. The OB boat Cats Ass is still fast and fun as heck.
In the past 12 months I've boated about 150-155 hrs between these two boats and 125 of those hrs are on the OB boat with very little maintenance expense especially compared to the I/O.
08-30-2023 | 07:59 AM
#87
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,216
Likes: 380
From: Plainville/Old Lyme, CT Boca Raton, FL
Would definitely be interesting to take an OB layup 36-39 Wright Performance or MTI and rig it new from the factory with some 565's and 6's. My only question would be if they would even fit with these new OB cats being cut down so much.
