MerCruiser or Volvo Penta?

[ederm]

I am looking at a new boat (cruiser style) and I have a choice of motors.

I am looking at 320 hp 6.2 liter Merc MX MPI with Bravo 3 or if I want to spend $5K more (not really) I can get the 375 hp 8.1 liter Merc 496 MAG with the Bravo 3.

The other option is the 320 hp 5.7 liter Volvo Penta with the composite XDP drive or drop the XDP and get the DP and save $1.5K. I can also go with the 375 hp 8.1 liter Volvo that only comes only with the DP and be $2K under the Merc 496.

Too many choices and I have no experience with sterndrives.

Given the boat weights 7,500 lbs. I think I would like the extra hp of the 496 or the big Volvo, the Merc is more serviceable in my area (New England), but I have heard the Volvo's are great reliable motors.

Any thing people can tell me that I should know about the Mercs or the Volvo would be appreciated. I have read about some of the corrosion issues with the Bravo 3, but if the boat will be stored our of the water is this a big issue?

Thanks for anything people can tell me about these motors that I should know.

[drumfish]

Hello,

I have the new composite outdrive inmy new Albemarle! I have had it for two years and really love it. I also love my Volvo Penta engine. I two had the same two options and did some research and pick the Volvo Penta setup and I am glad I did. If you want you can pm me and I will be glad to talk to you in more detail about the setup. THe new Volvo Penta Ocean series is the way to go. It is a sweet setup. Also the Volvo Penta has a better warranty it is twice as long.

[cooz]

I just had to make the same decision a couple of weeks ago, After asking the same question on a couple of forums. Almost everybody told me to go with the volvo penta. my 25' glastron came with 5.0GXI. I opted for the bigger 5.7GXI-Dp ($5600 more) I know I will never regret spending the money for the bigger engine. But there might have been a chance of regretting not getting it. As far as the ocean series, I opted not to get it because the volvo engine comes with a top mounted engine flush fitting.

[steveyacht]

If you are planning on leaving your boat in the water, the Volvo Ocean Series outdrives are the way to go. The composite outdrives are not effected by electrolsis and are lighter. In addtion, and for what it is worth; I was speaking to a boat manufacturer recently that offer both; he mentioned that the mix (for them) is approximatly 60% Volvo Penta and 40% MerCruiser.

That said, if Iwere in your position, I would seriously consider the Volvo Penta 375-HP (8.1 Litre) with. The extra money spent, amortized over the amount of years you will own the boat, as well as the increased re-sale value will greatly mitigate the initial additional cost involved.

[ederm]

That's two for Volvo. With a 7,500 lbs. boat is 320 hp sufficient or would you go with the 8.1 at 375 hp? If I go with the 8.1 liter at 375 hp they only offer the DP.

[cobraarvey]

I'll endorse Volvo too. My '02 280GXI Duoprop has been flawless. Can't say that about the Mercruisers I have owned, (2). But I would make sure that I can get it serviced in the area. Nothing is perfect forever.

[285exp]

I'd go with the big block Volvo. A single small block in a boat that size is not enough. Torque is your friend.

[samblate]

My boat is 5200 pounds drys + 1002 lbs. for the 5.7 GSi/Duoprop + 900 lbs. for gas + electronics, fishing goodies, radar arch,etc. I get a top speed of about 36 knots and a cruise of 27 @ 3800 rpm in calm weather. Hull is about 24 degrees deadrise. These figure are typical of 24' and 26' Ospreys.

It seems to me that with a heavier, longer boat, the larger engine would be the way to go. This is an informe guess, of course. Why not speak to owners of the model of boat you are after?

[abbie]

Do a serach or ask around at your dealer. Volvo has had a buch of water intrusion problems with the big blocks.

[docj]

I have a Volvo diesel w/ a DP. The price of their parts will make your hair curl & believe me, they need plenty of parts (like their cars). They truly have no shame. As for me, I will live with what I own but will never own another Volvo product. I buy on line but even so, since there is no aftermarket supplier for their stuff (volume is too low)the discounts are meager.

[Seawolf2]

I'm an outboard fan, but from the Mercruiser rust issues I see at the drystack, I think that the Volvo composite drive is a good idea. Also, consider the closed fresh water cooling option, it should help protect the iron block that is rust prone. Remember that the Volvo and the Merc use basically the same GM engine, the difference is only in the drive.

As to docj comments, don't compare Volvo cars to Volvo's other products. Volvo cars are made by Ford.

[docj]

Same crap. Still made in Sweden. Ford only owns them Actually the cars are more reliable since Ford bought them. Remember Swedish socialism. There is really no need to work so why should they???

[LouC]

Can't comment because I have an OMC.
About the Merc vs Volvo issue, buy whatever has the best service where you are, that makes or breaks the whole experience. Most say stay away from OMC but I had a good experience, because I have excellent local service for the Cobra drive.

[thomas70]

We install Volvo's and Mercruiser's in our custom boats. We have less issue's with Volvo. Their parts cost no more than Merc, although the one gentleman said his diesel parts are, he's comparing apples to oranges. Any diesel parts are costly. The other gentleman spoke of water ingestion that is correct but only because of builder installation (Ablemarle, Carolina Classic) not the engines. As a professional in the bussiness I would go with the 8.1 Volvo and stay far away from the Merc with the drive that will rot of of your boat.

[a7ewizard]

Ederm:

I started with the 7.4 Gi (310 hp) fi motor in my Pro-line. When it blew at 1475 hours, I installed a 5.7 Gxi(320 hp) and fi.

The 5.7 is a much better "fit" for me. I get 15-20 better fuel economy, downsized 2 prop sets to make it turn to proper RPM's., gave up maybe 4 knots, gave up 200 pounds of engine weight, have more engine bay access and easier maintenance into the bilge area.

My cruise speed is about the same but dropping from 42 to 38-39 knots at top end was a non issue to me.

Total running wt, deadrise, superstructure drag all influence the decision. Take both options for a spin if you can.

[Doug Patterson]

WE talking about a gas engine right?,go volvo for gas engines ,cummins for diesel,I have spent a loooooot of time on both,volvo diesels are good but a lot of maintenance,

[swashbuckler]

thomas70

What kind of custom boats do you build with volvo O/Ds? I'm intrested in having a boat built but I want diesel Volvo outdrives.

[ederm]

What's your experience with the Merc 496 MAG? From the Merc Web Site this seems to be a new motor with all the bells and whistles. The 8.1 Volvo Penta seems to be an older design and composite XDP drive is not available with it. Again for me the big advantage is that the place I store the boat is a Merc authorized service location. It will be stored out of the water so the corrosion issues with the Bravo 3 may not be too big a concern for me.

[Chuck Bates]

The 8.1 Ocean Series has been available from Volvo for the past year. It is call the 8.1Osi/xdp. 375hp. If you are going to store it out of the water, I don't think'll you'll need the composite drive. As mentioned earlier, a closed cooled system would be the way to go. For what it's worth, I'd go Volvo for a number of reasons: made in Tennesee, 2 yr warranty, smoother shifting, rated #1 gas sterndrive by JD Power, and last but not least I like the red paint job!

[abbie]

Volvo is an old design that sucks water in due to the wrong cam shafts, to much overlap. ASk around about the plastic drives, they are not holding up on heavy high HP boats.