525 boat hands down. Hours and graphics of the 525 boat too.

So the 525s are 454ci and the 500efis are 502ci. I thought the 525sc's were 502s. Kind of thinking the 502 route would be better.

525SC's are 454's with 177 blowers. They are great engines and very dependable/turn key. The 525SC intake manifolds do not do well in salt water.
Easy to work on and if you can find smaller top pullies, easy bump up to 550hp. Keep in mind, they need 92 octane fuel also.

500EFI's are also excellent engines. The biggest issue as stated would be head gaskets if they have not been done.

Great info there, muddies the water of decision even more. I did not realize 92 octane needed for the 525SC's, that could be a P.I.A. depending on how/where you boat.

The 800sc mercury was a 572CI. The 1075 Mercury is a 557CI. Ill take a 1075 over a 800sc anyday.

[QUOTE=4bus;4056875]Actually you will learn to love cold days with those little blowers

Yes you will. On a cooler overcast day is when I got to 81.5 GPS. Great little motors.]

Didn't realize the 525 boat had cmi headers. My choice would be the 525 boat as well. Clean with low hours. Yes high octane is needed, but less fuel problems with high octane IMO, it's cleaner fuel.

Don't let the 454/502 thing bother you, it's really not a big deal. That 525 will make 600 with a cam swap and pulley change. If you ddid any upgrades to the 470 hp 500 hp it would also require high octane.

That's a big boat for bravos, I would go the low hour route. The 300 hr boat prob needs a comple drive service right now.

The later year 525SC's came with CMI's from Merc.

The 525SC's will use about 25% more fuel than 500EFI's. They are just not as efficient.

Not sure if I like the high octane choice. I'll trailer most of the time so not a big deal but I'll be up at Boyne for a week and not sure if the marinas up there carry 92. Thought I only saw 90.