New Motor for New Boat

[Essex502]

Looking for opinions....

We are starting our quest for the next boat which will be in the 25 or 26 foot range (V hull) depending on actual tip to prop measurement. This process will be done very methodically and we'll be placing an order late this year or very early next year for the 2004 season. While speed is not everything I do believe I want to be in the low to mid 80's with this size boat. While we haven't selected the builder yet, I am starting the process of deciding on how to power it and whether to go with a Mercruiser factory power package and Whipple or Procharger it or to start with a milder custom engine such as a Teague or Pfaff or xxxxx builder. I don't need nor want 90 or more just a comfortable 80 - 85 mph that can handle the rough water we encounter at Havasu or Mohave (forget the "big water" at Mead). Since Teague is a stone's throw from the house and one of the builders I will be strongly looking at is Howard, it seems to be a logical conclusion to have a Teague motor put into the boat right at the start. I think, but don't know for sure, that I can get better performance for the price (i.e. value) for a custom motor such as a Teague than with a factory Mercruiser.

Any thoughts? Any experiences with different builders?

[kc0000]

outdrive.....
outdrive.....
outdrive.....

A few weeks ago I drove an Elim 28' with a $32K blown 575 Pfaff, only fourty hours on the motor - attached to a Bravo I, assumed to be beefed up...

The mechanical sound of the motor was tight, it leaked oil, was originally fuel injected and had been converted to dual carbs. The motor had at least one fouled plug, so it never could fully clear its throat even at good rpms. You had to place the outdrive into gear in synch with the down stroke of the preasure build up in the blower, you also had to roll the throttle on notch by notch.

Out of the hole, any boat with a stock motor would be faster, once on plane it was just louder than others.

Weakness that I noticed..... no heat exchanges for oil cooling, the oil pan was blistering hot after fifteen minutes.... the guy giving us the demo ride was clearly afraid of destroying the outdrive by placing it into gear at the wrong time or rolling on the throttle.... the whole thing reminded me of a 67 Mustang that somebody had turned into a track car and beat to death.....

IMHO.... If your not willing to spend the $$$$$$ for an IMCO outdrive rated at 1000hp, then stick with the Mercruiser and add a pro-charger. Smooth roll on of power rather than instantanious gear ripping torgue.

Your going to own a monster!
KC

[kc0000]

Ask Cracy about his motors, they are the second cleanest sounding motors that I have heard - way nice! Probably because of a mild blower.....
KC

[Essex502]

KC - If I went with Teague or another motor "man" then I would have to consider a "beefed" up drive. Teague offers his Platinum Series drives supposedly good for 700 hp. I guess the "turnkey" benefits versus the aftermarket need to be weighed. Teague Platinum, Bravo Shop, IMCO - something of that nature. It just seems to be super-premium bucks for the 525 or 575 where I think the Teague 600 in combination with a Platinum Series Bravo 1 might fit the bill at a lower total cost.

[kevnmcd]

Essex502-You should talk to Travis (Beachbum). He is running a 640hp on his cat. I am sure he would have some input. BTW...where the hell has he been?

[kevnmcd]

KC-Is this the boat that you tested?

http://images.traderonline.com/img/6/dealer/759226/36289234_1.jpg

[kc0000]

yes, that is the one, bucket of boltz.........

[kevnmcd]

KC-They list it as having an IMCO drive. Was that not the case?

[THOR]

I too am starting my search 502 and here is what I have found out...

Gary Teague at GT performance does great work. He will be a straight shooter with you. The naturally aspirated Merlin motors are awesome. Just ask Travis (Beachbum).

Mercruisers are great. I am looking at a boat now that has the 525 Mercruiser in it. The 525 package with the outdrive will run about 45k brand new. That is too expensive in my thoughts.

25k for a 500HP, keep it.

Procharge for 6k, 3k in outdrive upgrades and you are running great. For 10k or so you can upgrade a good motor and it will last and not blow outdrives. I have friends that have Prochargers with more than 450 hour on them. That seems pretty good to me.

[THOR]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kevnmcd @ Feb. 12 2003, 9:53 pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">KC-Is this the boat that you tested?

http://images.traderonline.com/img/6/dealer/759226/36289234_1.jpg[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
What are they asking for this thing....

what year..

[Essex502]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (THOR @ Feb. 13 2003, 07:39 am)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I too am starting my search 502 and here is what I have found out...

Gary Teague at GT performance does great work. He will be a straight shooter with you. The naturally aspirated Merlin motors are awesome. Just ask Travis (Beachbum).

Mercruisers are great. I am looking at a boat now that has the 525 Mercruiser in it. The 525 package with the outdrive will run about 45k brand new. That is too expensive in my thoughts.

25k for a 500HP, keep it.

Procharge for 6k, 3k in outdrive upgrades and you are running great. For 10k or so you can upgrade a good motor and it will last and not blow outdrives. I have friends that have Prochargers with more than 450 hour on them. That seems pretty good to me.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I'm with you on the NO to $45K for a 525 from Mercury. I think that I can do better with an independent builder more hp for less bucks and just as reliable. Boat show coming up this weekend so I'll talk to as many as possible.

[kevnmcd]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (THOR @ Feb. 13 2003, 07:40 am)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">What are they asking for this thing....

what year..[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
THOR-They are asking $64,995. It is in the Boat Trader Online and seems to be at boat brokers in Havasu. Check it out (http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/3/4/36289234.htm)

[THOR]

64K? No f'n way. Yeh, it has a big blower motor, but still, its not worth 64K.

[In2Deep]

What's Gary getting for his Merlin motors...and for which HP?

[THOR]

I remember hearing around the 12k-15k range for the 540.

I am not positive though

[Chinewalker]

502, you need to look at a few factors:1. the builders warrenty, his reimbersment policy, his location, and what shops will work on his stuff out of the area. Sometimes when you add all that together, it isn't worth the money you save going with an independant. Merc has a great warrenty program that covers you coast to coast, GT and all the rest will not cover outside labor in places such as, the river. 525 with a Pro-charger is the ticket for production stuff.

G-man