525,s SC PROS &CONS
 

Am considering another boat with a pair of 525SC,s in it. The hours are around 240, on the power. Just throwing it out there for feedback on this power package, the good bad and ugly. 1999 era. Thanks in advance Bruce.

I can'ts speak on first hand experience, but the one's I've seen hold up very well.......like 500hrs before rebuild. They are very reliable. The blower is a weak link, but there is a kit to rebuild. Most boats I've seen with the 525SC also have a pretty clean bilge as they do not leak much.

Its a 454, not a 502. I would get it.

Great 454-based motor. I have a friend with 2 of them in his '99 38 PowerQuest. Both blowers had to be freshened as they began leaking fuel into the blower lube. He also lost a lobe (#5 exhaust, I believe) on the cam of one of the motors so he replaced both cams with new rollers. Added a nice boost to the HP. No intercoolers so there is another easy source of additional HP if you would decide to add Superchillers.

Its a great engine. Mine had 475 hrs on the bottom when I sold the boat and had about 525hrs when the new owner sold it for bigger power. I did a top end rebuild at 350 hrs and upgraded to roller cam.

Lots of threads on 525sc's. Use the search key. I have never read anything bad about them.

I had a 1998 525sc with 210 hrs not one problem,always service every 20-25 hrs,I never really beat on it.Just sold the boat this past july and she sounded and ran just like the day I bought her new in 1998.And also didnt burn oil,and no leaks.

Had a friend with triple 525SC's. Ran them to 660 hours with no problems. Decided to play it safe and rebuilt them eventhough all was still well with them. Merc. kept compression low (7.5 to 1) to get reliability out of them. They have a good track record from all I've been around.

Intercoolers kicked them up to 609 hp (on dyno).

thanks for the responses this is good to hear.!!!!!

Had twin 525sc's, would buy/use again. Toss Gil exhaust, lots of manifolds would crack inside & leak. Rebuild carbs. There are lots of good comments on them if you search back.

great engines... look for the small upper pulley swap, (blower)if the pulley is the same size as the snout its been changed, this ups the boost & spins the blower very fast.. also the headers changed to cmi sometime in 99 witch are better...

What boat are you considering?