3.0 or 4.3 mercruiser??? HELP!!

[gchapman]

Right I need your help....My friend and I are about to buy a bowrider and want to know whats the better power plant.

We have narrowed it don to two boats: Maxum 19ft 3.0 Mercruiser and Bayliner 20ft with 4.3 Mercruiser.

Both boats are 1999 Bowriders and simular condition, but we want to know what one out of the two will empty our pockets more, mainly in terms of fuel useage. - also what about the power diffrence between them?

We want to use the boat for wakeboarding/towing toys and general runabout.

weve heard a few storys about the 3.0 using more fuel as it has less power, so will be revved more than 4.3 - is it true?

any advice would be much appreciated.

cheers guys and gals
:/

 

[edwardh1]

Re: 3.0 or 4.3 mercruiser??? HELP!!

I have the 4
I think they are noisy and filled with harmonics at different engine rpms- maybe I am spoiled- my last car was a 4 cyl Toyota engine with a balance shaft.
can you test ride in each one?

 

[tommays]

Re: 3.0 or 4.3 mercruiser??? HELP!!

This is a 95 maxum 2000SC powered with a 3.0 for general running around and tubeing it has plenty of power and gets about 4 MPG with a top speed of 41 MPH

If your main use is going to wakeboarding i would lean to the boat with the 4.3 BUT the extra power you are useing will burn more gas

Tommays

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: 3.0 or 4.3 mercruiser??? HELP!!

L-T's theory on power: Get as much as you can, and use only as much as you need. Its a lot easier on the engine, drive line and wallet, if your not running at or close to the engines max. Then of course, there will be times you will use it all, and want more.

 

[skibug]

Re: 3.0 or 4.3 mercruiser??? HELP!!

I have owned both the 4.3 and the 3.0, which is the one I currently own. If it was up to me, I would get the 4.3 but in the maxum. I stay away from bayliners. My previous boat was a 1997 1900SR Maxum with the 4.3 and I loved it. It had plenty of power to maintain speed while pulling water skiers etc... But I have to say that I love my gas sipping 4 banger I have now in my Caravelle bowrider. The 3.0 seems to be powerfull enough to do all the cruising that I want to do. But if I had 4 people in the boat and I tried to pull a skier, it's going to almost be imposible. The 4.3 could be loaded full of people and gear and I could still pull a 200lb skier out of the water. If wakeboarding and sking will be your main focus, the 4.3 would be a must for me.

I got approximatlly 3.9 - 4.3 mpg in the 4.3 merc. I get about 4.9 - 5.3 mpg in with my current 3.0 merc. The gas savings are starting to add up with the way gas prices are going up.

I miss the power and low end torque of my V6 in my previous boat, but I do less watersports now in my older age than I did in the past and the 3.0 is just fine for my needs right now.

 

[smoothbadger]

Re: 3.0 or 4.3 mercruiser??? HELP!!

thanks alot for you thoughts and comments.....any more suggestions would be massivly welcombe

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 3.0 or 4.3 mercruiser??? HELP!!

I have them both, and yes the 4.3 does have more power and will go a bit faster. On the 19' i have the 4.3 and it does what i expect a boat to do that is get on top of 3' chop and ride smoothly and yes it can also dig a trough making wake boarding for the kid's more exciting. (these are luxury features as far as im concerned)

Now my 17.1' 3.0 after a prop change and trimtabs installed will accerlate just like the 4.3, it will also tube,ski and wake board just as the bigger boat will, not as with much authority bit it will. On water's up to a 2' chop the crusing is very similar on long trips rarely to i exceed 30 mph

The striking difference is economy the 3.0 cost's a lot less to keep full and i do have a 4.3 efi. (its just power no econ as far as i can tell, the efi that is) The 3.0 run's all day on $30.00 and the 4.3 not even close to that.

That's a compliment of 3 people now if i go with 4-6 there is no question i just take the big boat but i know i am going to pay for it........... Again to have the luxury of doing what ever i choose.