Does anyone have any info on the reliability of the Crusader 6.0 375 HP engine.
It soundes like a great package based on the New GM 6.0l not a stroked 5.7l. Fresh water cooled good warranty ect.

Crusaders marinzation of this engine is an excellent package. This is a LS1 engine with very good head flow and a strong block and a good torque producing package for 6.0 liters.If your boat is a 30 footer and weighs in excess of 6000lbs this probably still won't be enough grunt for good performance or long term engine life. This engine only develops about 365ft/lbs of torque and its torque curve is not a high and flat as a big block. If this is the case I would opt for the Crusader 8.1 Captains Choice motors which will give you 465ft/lbs of torque each and I also think your boats resale value will be much stonger with the bigger C.I.D. motors. Testing has shown that these motors will use not a great deal more fuel, but will deliver a lot more performance with a lot less stress on the engines. Remember, there is no replacement for displacement in boats!
Good Luck!
Ray @ Raylar

bump.

What would it take to convert a bravo one merc boat to a crusader engine? I'm not really impressed with the hours I'm seing with the merc 496, and am curious as to the feasability of a crusader 496. I'm sure there's a good reason why you don't see crusader engines in performance boats, but I don't know what that reason is. Anybody care to explain? In a go-fast application would I see any improvement in engine life of a crusader engine over a merc. I spend 90% of my time cruising around 3000-3500rpms. Thanks in advance.

over the years i have had both crusader and merc engines apart and found that the crusader engines started with a better series long block than the compairable mercs, not talking about high performance units....4 bolt mains, bigger rods, forged pistons.....

I've got a 6.0 litre Pleasure Craft Marine in my Ski Nautique. It is silky smooth and has been trouble free. It however does not feel as torquey as a 5.7. The torque also seems to come in around 4000 rpm. It was a 4K upgrade from their 340 hp. 5.7 and not really worth it. The closed cooling was the best attribute. I think probably a big block might be similar in cost and be more fun. Eric

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/GasEngines.htm Pretty good article comparing merc to crusader, but still didn't go into depth on why they are not used in high performance applications.

Wow I forgot I even posted that....update I ended up going the budget route and put in two PCM complete carb to oil pan 350's, 4 bolt mains, roller cams, Vortec heads, after 3 seasons and about 185 hours they still run strong, start right up, and use/burn/leak no oil, reliable as a timex. It may not be the fastest but it gets me there.
After the crap I went thru for three seasons with the old motors, it has been great to jump in and run to Newport, Block, Montauk, Greenport, and Sag Harbor without having to worry if I will get home on two engines.
Most of the time I run around 3-4k RPM but I have run them for close to an hour on the way back from Block at 4500-5000

PCM???? So you did put in crusader 350's? These - http://www.crusaderengines.com/Products/5_7.html 330hp? On the 30ft Sonic? How fast does it cruise? Top speed? How much does the sonic weigh? Thanks for posting the update. Do you have any pics?

As far as I know (could be wrong)PCM and Crusader are the same. Crusader is marketed to the inboard crowd and painted blue and PCM is for the ski boat and I/O guys and painted black.
The engines I bought are listed as 310-325hp. I changed the secondary metering plates to blocks, rejetted all four corners, changed the power valves, added K&N stub stacks and flame arrestors, GLM manifolds and IMCO SS risers. Alpha SS drives rebuilt with HD 1.47 gear set, running Mirage plus 21 pitch cut down to 20.2 and a bit more cup added. Slip is very low at around 7%
It cruises 43 @ 3100rpm and tops out (when all is right) 63 @ 5200, normal (combo river and ocean) fuel consumption is around 18 gph (for two)
The boat is listed at 7500# but loaded for a three day weekend I'm sure it is way more, and it will still run high 50's.
I am not as concerned with top speed as I am with reliability, I like to go away for long weekends, and the Sonic has been great for this....although my daughter is getting older and it's time for an express cruiser
I'll snap a pic but they aren't much to look at except for the shiny bits

I really appreciate you posting on this. Those are good speed numbers. I'm the same way about reliability. I jus want to turn the key and go. I know their not much to look at. My boat weighs about the same......just a little lighter. By the speed numbers you posted I think I would definitely see 70 with the 6.0 375hp. How do the engines sound? Any different than what you had before? Sounds like you did a lot of exhaust work.