Anybody running the Stainless Marine exhaust system on 525efi rather than the CMI's? I'm thinking about replacing my headers before my luck runs out. The SM system is considerable cheaper than CMI's and they have a 5yr. warranty. I've known people running them with pretty big power with good results.

There are some pics here. They might not look as good as CMI's but I don't think they look bad either.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/StainlessMarineINC

I have them on my 540's and must say I have had zero issues.

I like them. Have thought about this a lot as I might end up with a 525 boat next time around. They look just fine to me. I'm not a showy guy anyway who sits around with my engine hatch up. It only goes up when I need to get in there

I thought I read somewhere that you have to redrill the heads because the 525's use a different bolt pattern for the exhaust. That doesn't sound like fun. Ideally, I'd like to bolt them on and roll.

That is true... Or you can bolt the CMI's back on and roll down to the mechanic. lol

In all seriousness, the SM will probably outlast those engines and the number of years you own the boat. I'd also look at the Thunder and Lightning system by Diamond Performance. They are the old Keith Eikert's and you get a full length header with the reliability of a manifold system. http://www.diamondperformanceparts.com/home.php?cat=282

The SM's will NEVER eat your engine.

stainless marine is great stuff....last forever.

But doesn't the 525 need the scavenging effect of long tube headers to make full power?

we have installed several sets of sm manifolds on the 525 mercs no complaints on speed loss,sm sends you a complete custom jig to re tap your heads,give me a call Dave when your ready and you can bring your boat to the shop and we can do the tapping if not we can hook you up with a set of genx cmi also