adequate power

[kingzoo2]

I am looking at deck boats 22 to 24 foot - new or nearly new. Most are 5.7 engines. Is a 5.0 enough power for a 24 foot boat with up to 10 people, same for a 22 ft. I don't care to be the fastest guy on the lake, but I do not want to be underpowered. Will the performance of the engine deteriorate over time?

 

[gcboat]

Re: adequate power

I think the smaller 5.0 will do just fine. However, if you have the opportunity to test drive both I'd definately make that a plan. My $.02

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: adequate power

10 people on a 22 foot deck boat is pushing the limit i think. check the USCG plate on the boats to make sure you'll be able to hold that weight and capacity.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: adequate power

i have a 23 ft Chris Craft Deck boat, 4600 lbs dry weight. 5.7 Volvo it does great, but would not want smaller engine. when loaded it needs all the gusto it can get. 5 or 6 on board, it is great as a water sports boat also.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: adequate power

We have a 5.7 Mercruiser on our deckboat. With 13 onboard I can still get mid 40s (speedo). Pulling skiers and tubers with a full boat hasn't been a problem either. I wouldn't go less than a 5.7.

 

[lkbum]

Re: adequate power

A couple of other points. You get worse performance with Ethanol in your gas. If we continue the trend to more ethanol than currently used, your performace will trend lower accordingly. HP ratings are done at 70F. "Hot weather" perfomance is lower than the HP ratings. As a rule of thumb, always choose more HP.

 

[QC]

Re: adequate power

You can get 5.7s that are only 250 bhp and 5.0s that are 260 bhp . . . Both propshaft. This discussion is not about displacement, it is about horsepower . . IMHO 250 bhp is a minimum, 300 would be kinda fun, 320 would be more fun . . . ;

I guess the point is that a 250 5.7L would not be as good as a 5.0 MPI 260 . . .

Engine power does not deteriorate if maintained properly until waaaaaaaaay down the trail. Boats gain weight though . . .