Same boat which engine

[chambers1517]

If you could have the same boat with a 5.7 carb or 5.0MPI, which would you take?

 

[rbh]

Re: Same boat which engine

if it was 260 plus hp I would go with the newer fuel injected style, hopefully would get a little better fuel economy.
rob

 

[_chris_]

Re: Same boat which engine

5.0MPI = more reliability and better mileage and plenty of power for my needs.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Same boat which engine

Even though it has a claimed lower HP and not as user friendly it would be the 350 hands down. I?m sure the 350 makes more torque anyway and 10 HP is not much. The 305 to me is very undesirable.

 

[rp23g7]

Re: Same boat which engine

I would like to see what a 5.7 would do for my 17' Starcraft. Even with the 3.0 it is a little speedster, gets up and goes pretty good.

Wonder if that was a option for it. Probably not, as that much motor in that short little boat would probably over power it.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Same boat which engine

I've owned three 305's and many more 350's and I'd always rather have the 350 it's a much better design better block (may even be 4 bolt main) better heads ...

I'd say 350 with the carb.

 

[jkust]

Re: Same boat which engine

Tough choice since I haven't ever driven either but my boat is rated to 270hp. The MPI grabs me just because carbs to me are so outdated and set to phase out however I have a carb now and it has been rock solid. I do wonder what the torque differences are.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Same boat which engine

I've owned three 305's and many more 350's and I'd always rather have the 350 it's a much better design better block (may even be 4 bolt main) better heads ...

I'd say 350 with the carb.

They are basically the same block. One just has about 1/2" bigger bore.

5.0MPI = more reliability and better mileage and plenty of power for my needs.

Reliability should be the same, carbs can go many years trouble free. The mileage will be about the same also.

 

[_chris_]

Re: Same boat which engine

They are basically the same block. One just has about 1/2" bigger bore.


Reliability should be the same, carbs can go many years trouble free. The mileage will be about the same also.

I have never had a problem starting or running with fuel injection and have had many problems with carbs needing adjustment and rebuilds, accelerator pumps and just not wanting to start or run when cold so I choose ease and reliability. With a carb there is always that trick you have to do to get it going and most people now days wouldn't even be able to start it. But yes I do agree they can but alot wont go years without constant maintnence.

 

[QC]

Re: Same boat which engine

5.0 MPI hands down . . . No discussion for me. 10 more bhp and I'd bet your house that it would get out of the hole just as fast as the 5.7 Carbed if all other things are equal.

Reliability should be the same, carbs can go many years trouble free. The mileage will be about the same also.

I disagree with both, but I hate carbs . . . Just scan the I/O forums and the OB forums for Carb issues vs. EFI anything, OK forget the FICHT's, but the point is the same. When was the last time your EFI car had a fuel system issue? Anybody remember f'ng with carbs on their cars endlessly?

I usually agree on fuel, the 5.0 MPI will be better, but not a whole lot. $2 a trip? $1?

 

[_chris_]

Re: Same boat which engine

Hey QC are you saying that the 5.0 will only save you a buck or two over the 5.7 or the 5.0 carbed? I thought the 5.0 got a little better than that compared to the 5.7 but then again I don't own a 5.7.

 

[QC]

Re: Same boat which engine

I just think most of us only burn 10 - 30 gallons a day. And if the MPI saved 5% at $3 a gallon that would be $4.50 on a 30 gallon day, or $1.50 on a 10 gallon day. Heck maybe it's 10%, but genrally decisions made on fuel for pleasure boaters are flawed. Commercial I feel differently, but either way you have to pay back the price with that savings. Especially true with repowers.

I am sure there is data out there. Let me check. What's the price difference?

Oh, and hole shot is torque that's why I made the comment about betting the house. All things equal, the 5.0 MPI will be the same out of the hole, slightly faster (.5 MPH) and get slightly better fuel efficiency, less maintenance costs and fewer headaches. That is from personal experience. The only pluses for the 5.7 IMHO is lower purchase price and waaaaaay easier to significantly modify with trick stuff. With that said, I have never done engine mods on my boats. BTW, I have been in the engine biz (diesel) all of my 30+ year career. Real owning and operating cost savings from mods is my current focus.

 

[_chris_]

Re: Same boat which engine

OK I was just not sure if you were comparing the 5.0 carb to the 5.0 MPI or the 5.0 MPI to the 5.7 carb on fuel mileage(I am still a little confused) I will do some research myself although I would still stick with the 5.0MPI over the 5.7 carb even if they get the same fuel mileage.

 

[QC]

Re: Same boat which engine

Sticking with the OPs comparison. 5.7 carb to 5.0 MPI . . . You'll make more of a difference on fuel by being in the sweet spot or not. What is sweet should be consistent with the hull as long as gear ratio and props, drives etc are the same.

 

[_chris_]

Re: Same boat which engine

I get what you are saying I was just confused by how you were saying it, I tried looking up the specs on my boat but they did not make them with the 5.7 but according to four winns you will get one more gallon per hour out of the MPI if you were to compare MPI to Carb on the 5.0 from cruising speed to WOT but anything below that and tehy will get the same.

 

[QC]

Re: Same boat which engine

Here's some interesting data (where's 45Auto when I need him?) . . . Not specifically relevant to the OPs deal, but interesting none the less.

3 Cobalt 220s (not the same specific hull, but the same model) I did not read all of the stuff, so one might have had fat sacks and they were full, but I highly doubt it. They were tested at the same time from what I can tell. But . . . I don't trust all data, and I don't trust anything without data, so I am basically screwed . . . All MPIs:

5.0 Volv 270 DP 4.35 MPG @ 26.9 MPH 50.1 max 7.2 sec 0-30 $56K
6.2 Merc 320 B3 3.46 MPG @ 19.4 MPH 51.7 max 6.0 sec 0-30 $59K
8.1 Merc 425 B3 3.61 MPG @ 27.5 MPH 59.8 max 7.2 sec 0-30 $74K

All from BoatTest.com (they do scramble their data sometimes . . .)

 

[_chris_]

Re: Same boat which engine

Am I reading that correctly? So the only thing the 5.0 is lacking towards the 6.2 is torque and lacking speed compared to the 8.1 but gets much better fuel mileage.

 

[QC]

Re: Same boat which engine

Well . . . yes. Different drives could be the speed difference. And the boats could've been setup differently.

And, back to my suspicions regarding data . . . BoatTest.com could've accidentally copied the 8.1s 0-30 number over to the 6.2s page, I dunno I have actually emailed them about a similar type of mistake. I got a very nice email back apologizing, but that doesn't change my lack of confidence.

 

[chambers1517]

Re: Same boat which engine

I think I agree with the majority here. I have had several boats. I recently bought a used 2005 caravelle 207 with a 5.0mpi. I took it to the lake for the first time. It hadn't been started in a month. Put it in the water turned the key and it fired right up. No pumping the gas or reving the engine, just instant smooth idle.