2 BOATS, same price, different years, 525sc or 500efi need input
 

38zx 99 with 525sc 60-70hrs on rebuild motors, or a 01 with 500efi with 400hrs nothing done to motors...

i only know that the 500efi should have the heads pulled and gone through...which way would you guys go? Both boats at the same price
thanks

525 SC take 92 octane and burn thru it. 500 EFI will run on 87 and sip the fuel compared to the SC's motors. I'd go with the 500 EFI's even with the valve spring work.

I would do a leak down on the efi's. 400 hrs is pretty close to a major overhaul, not just valve springs. Good chance the heads will be cracked and need replaceing too. You need to factor those things into your descision.

chances of the heads being cracked are slim to none. if maintained properly and not beaten those motors will run forever. go with the efi's, do a head job and enjoy the boat for many more summers. the boat is two years newer, more desirable motors and a better resale too. good luck with it.

dito!!

but im a big fan of EFI motors :drink:

I just went thru a set of 500EFI's that had 400 hrs on them
and they looked remarkably good for 400 hrs....only thing that stood out was that the head gaskets were getting ready to check out.

I havent looked at the heads yet since they were upgraded,
but I can tell you that they do crack....I have 4 of my own off
my boat that were.

I'd still go with the boat with the 500EFI's though.

500's

Go with the EFIs, blowers need rebuilds every couple seasons, use more fuel, and require more maintenance.

EFI will be worth more in the long run

You know the saying......If it's got boobs or blowers, you're GOING to have problems with it! :drink:

ok with the hrs on the boat, would you say i could get away without doing the valve job till winter? Wouldnt you noticed the boat starting to misfire, or stumble?

Why do you see cracked heads on the 500EFI?

I had a 500efi and loved it . In my new boat I have two 525scs I love them . They eat eat more fuel but only when I run them hard.Mine have had alot of up grades and make alot more power . You have a hard choice . Who did the rebuilds on the 525s . Why were they rebuilt is a good thing to ask . Were they dynod before put back in the boat. The 500s have alot of hours on the heads . If you run them a little hard and drop a valve GAME OVER !I trashed a corvette motor like that. I had to learn high performance needs alot of up keep. If you don't you pay big. I paid alot of money for this knowledge but I'll give it to you for free. LOL

Sorry, gotta disagree here. I have seen several sets of 500efi heads cracked between the seats, my own included and they only had 375 hrs on them.

Get the 500 EFI boat

who has done the heads on the 500efi on this site? i would like to ask them a few question

get the SC one...EFI ( electronics ) and water just dont mix...so many problems with tuning and other BS its not even funny !

I don't know any details of the boats, but if one has been in salt water and the other in fresh water, go with the fresh water boat. At least the exhaust manifold should be OK. There is a good chance you will be pulling the motors out and redoing them within a year or two anyway. 400 hours is a lot. When I purchased my 1994 Cigarette Top Gun in 2005, it had 210 hours on the engines and boat. Had them pulled and refreshed as soon as a bought the boat. To find out that the engines have arleady been rebuilt. Had helly coils in both blocks. I was very dissappointed. $22,000 later, I had new engines. Good Luck. Assume the worst and be prepared on either. My engine have 250 B&M blowers with 7lbs of boost. Just in case you don't know, blowers force gas into the oil past the rings. This requires you to change the oil every 10 hours. At least that is what I do to protect my investment.

2001 38ZX, includes lift, trailer, and a/c heat, lowest he will go is 82,000 400hrs on untouched 500efi (9hrs away)
yellow/white

1998 38zx, includes color match trailer,gps, a/c heat, generator, hot water, rebuilt 525sc 60-70hrs. lowest he will go is 80,000
(7hrs away)
red/white

Given the choice between those two, I would go with the newer boat with 500's, hands down.

Let's face it, both sets of motors are tired and I would be prepared to need new power within a short amount of time in either case.

At least with the 500's you've got more to work with.

I've never really cared for the 525SC's (which are only 454s with a blower).

Last boat i had 525sc's and other then hard on fuel it was a vary good setup, but i dont think that they make that blower any more!

Current boat has 500efi's and i love the efi part of it and good power for the fuel that they burn!

My vote would be 500efi

Not only do you need to consider the motors, what drives?
Don't buy any boat with bravo 1's like I did. That's a mistake that is going to cost you more money down the road.

they both have XR's

I think Merc revised that down to 91 octane a 5 or 6 years ago, same time they did it for the 575s.

That said, go for the 500 and the newer boat if it's in good shape and is what you want. Get a leak down and compression check that will tell you a lot toward what needs to be done.

are you looking at the boat at GSC in morris?

the 525 sc is yesterdays news, go with the 500 efi.i had a pair os 525 sc 454s much more potentian with the 502 should you decide to upgrade later!

That's a good point . I still say who built the 525s if they were built right they do make HP. Mine have given me alot of trouble free hours.The budget is the thing . If he has the money to freshen the motors the 500s are the way to go. But when you open them up you just don't know . It could be a freshen up or total rebuild.I personally wouldn't run those 500s till they are refreshened they are time bombs.

X2 assuming ok leak down numbers. Plan on having the top ends of the engines done real soon.

lets say the guy with the 525sc, will go down to 75k, would you still go with the 500efi?
Also talk to a mercruiser tech and the valve spring issues is someting that they had an issues with the old carb HP500 and not the new 500efi, they use different springs

when i was shopping for a boat, i was hesitant about buying the one with the 525sc but it only has 10hrs on a complete rebuild with high end components. from what i read the 525sc will run trouble free with proper maintenance. my friend just had to have his 500's rebuilt and had some serious coin into them! can you swing the $20k in the next 2yrs to rebuild?

rebuild i would do myself in house.

the 2001. Newer boat and stock engines those other ones equal problems

I would keep shopping while you decide. But if it were me i would spring on the 500 efi boat. My bro had a 34 Hustler with 500efi's and loved it. No problems and we ran it hard for two summers.

500efis and later on Whipple it:drink:

Yes, unless you think its fun changing power valves, plugs, having the blower rebuilt every 200 hours, etc. Having the SC's die when you’re trying to park and make you look like a complete jack ass is always nice too. The EFI motors are turn key no matter what the weather/lake you run the boat on. I also had problems finding 91/92/93 on Grand Lake last year and had to blend 110 and 87 and it's not cheap. You can get 87 on every corner.

I agree with the Merc tech, but you're going to get a million different opinions on this. I can tell you I had a buddy that did the top ends on a pair of 500 EFI's last year with 450 hours on them. They checked the heads/springs and they were still perfect. He did need head gaskets, but he got them hot a few times with cooling issues due to oil coolers full of impeller parts.

What ever you save on the 525 SC boat now will cost you in the long run one way or another.

My 525sc don't stall trying to park and any motor is going to need maintenance . I had a 500 efi in my last boat and it was nasty . 400 hours is alot with on internal maintenance . You don't know what you'll find and who knows who built the 525sc they could be junk or they could be great . I would keep shopping to and there are other brands of boats that are great some might say better. I do like cigs but take the blinders off!

i like cigs too, but i want to keep a step haul and the cigs with step hauls are still pricey , and nice interior and i boat i wont see 10 more of on the lake. Thats why i like the donzi, i dont know if you would say i have blinders, just need to keep it at 80k or below

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-...#ht_500wt_1180

looks like a good deal

Ya talked to him he will do 110,000 which is way over my budget

I know you said you want a stepp bottom but I would call Kenny from velocity they have helped people alot lately buy or sell boats real good people . They might even have a step bottom in on trade.