New to I/O's, request info

[redneck joe]

......... kids or adults do not matter in the eyes of the LEO's - 10 people is 10 people, since the capacity plate is a people or weight - which ever is reached first thing..............

huh, always thought is was *or*

 

[Scott Danforth]

huh, always thought is was *or*

assume your capacity tag is for 1000# or 8 people

if you have two people weighting in at 500#, you are at capacity. if you have 8 refugees from some under nourished 3rd world country weighing in at 50# each, you are at capacity, even though you may have 600# worth of capacity left.

If you have 2 people at 200# each and 600# of gear, you are at capacity.

As I stated, its what is reached first. weight or number of peoples.

 

[Slayer315]

^ +1. you can wakeboard behind a rowboat with a 10hp because they have a lot of surface area.

if you are the only one in the family with a boat, you may want to remind the relatives that boating isnt cheap. have them pitch in for fuel. When the BIL / SIL and kids come down for a weekend of skiing and tubing, I go thru about $250 in fuel, about $100 in beverages, and dont forget the $6 worth of TP and chemicals in the porta-crapper.

As far as the fuel, I will say the gam has been very helpful. When we go out for our yearly week long family camp trip, I don't pay for fuel all week. I don't ask, they pretty much force it on me, so I am very appreciative.
As far as the wakeboard thing I guess I should have mentioned that I am not an experienced boarder and I can kinda bog the boat down trying to get out of the water. I get there but, it ain't pretty.
Alldodge, you have created another question- Bravo 3? I know there are multiple out drives, what's the difference? I keep hearing( or seeing) boats advertised with alpha 1? I don't know the difference or which is better for what application.

 

[alldodge]

Alpha drives and Bravo 1 drives use one propeller. The Bravo 1 drives can handle more HP then the Alphas and also use an external water pump driven off the engine. The Alpha drives have the water pump inside the drive. Bravo 3 and Volvo Penta Duo-prop have two props on one drive which rotate opposite from one another. This counter rotation offers better performance for an under powered boat or a heavy one. Fuel economy is also slightly increased. The B3 drive also uses an external seawater pump

Bravo 1

Bravo 3

 

[keith2k455]

Sport seating would be when there is a bench across the back instead of a doghouse for the engine with one or two seats around the doghouse. The bow would pretty much be the same on most bowriders. My boat has a bench in the back that wraps up one side. There are two swivel seats in front of the bench along the windshield, then the bow up front. My bow also has fill in cushions so the entire front can be a couch.

I don't think the motor debate will ever end, just listen and make your own opinion.

Everyone has a budget, some brands resell higher than others, but know that motor severely drives price. The price of an identical boat from a 4 cyl to a 5.7 may be 5k in the used market.

 

[Slayer315]

Alpha drives and Bravo 1 drives use one propeller. The Bravo 1 drives can handle more HP then the Alphas and also use an external water pump driven off the engine. The Alpha drives have the water pump inside the drive. Bravo 3 and Volvo Penta Duo-prop have two props on one drive which rotate opposite from one another. This counter rotation offers better performance for an under powered boat or a heavy one. Fuel economy is also slightly increased. The B3 drive also uses an external seawater pump

Bravo 1

Bravo 3

Ok, that's what I'm looking for. That is all new to me, so really appreciate that kind of info. Thanks. So, if the water pump goes out, it sounds like the Bravo would be an easier, less expensive repair?

 

[Slayer315]

Sport seating would be when there is a bench across the back instead of a doghouse for the engine with one or two seats around the doghouse. The bow would pretty much be the same on most bowriders. My boat has a bench in the back that wraps up one side. There are two swivel seats in front of the bench along the windshield, then the bow up front. My bow also has fill in cushions so the entire front can be a couch.

I don't think the motor debate will ever end, just listen and make your own opinion.

Everyone has a budget, some brands resell higher than others, but know that motor severely drives price. The price of an identical boat from a 4 cyl to a 5.7 may be 5k in the used market.

Ok, so I have sport seating( bench across the back) in my current boat. i never realized that was what it is called. I have seen the price difference your talking about. Mostly between 3.0 and 4.3. similar boats 3-5k difference.

 

[thumpar]

Ok, that's what I'm looking for. That is all new to me, so really appreciate that kind of info. Thanks. So, if the water pump goes out, it sounds like the Bravo would be an easier, less expensive repair?

It depends on if you can get to it or not. I had to remove the sunpad supports to get to my seawater pump.

 

[lg260ss]

Alpha drives and Bravo 1 drives use one propeller. The Bravo 1 drives can handle more HP then the Alphas and also use an external water pump driven off the engine. The Alpha drives have the water pump inside the drive. Bravo 3 and Volvo Penta Duo-prop have two props on one drive which rotate opposite from one another. This counter rotation offers better performance for an under powered boat or a heavy one. Fuel economy is also slightly increased. The B3 drive also uses an external seawater pump

Bravo 1

Bravo 3

Just to add on to this:
The Bravo drives (cone clutch) shift much smoother than the Alpha drive (dog clutch)
Both the Volvo SX and DP drives have cone clutches like the Bravo drives do
There are more advantages to a douprop or Bravo 3 drive: slow speed handling, and much better steering in reverse to name a few
The water pump on the Bravo drives should be changed every 2 years or so, the Alpha pumps are more robust and usually last longer than that

If the OP is considering a BB engine, I would take a 496 over a 454 any day, neither of which are manufactured by GM anymore.
If you end up looking at newer boats, your choice would be between a Merc 8.2 or Volvo 6.0. Displacement doesn't mean as much as it used to with variable valve timing and weight savings.

 

[thumpar]

I agree on the cone clutch. It is much smoother than my old Alpha. If you are looking at a 3.0l or 4.3l you will have a hard time finding a Bravo so the only cone clutch would be a Volvo-Penta drive. Get the boat with the biggest engine you can afford. I went from a 2.5l to a 5.7l EFI and still wouldn't mind more power.

 

[Slayer315]

I agree on the cone clutch. It is much smoother than my old Alpha. If you are looking at a 3.0l or 4.3l you will have a hard time finding a Bravo so the only cone clutch would be a Volvo-Penta drive. Get the boat with the biggest engine you can afford. I went from a 2.5l to a 5.7l EFI and still wouldn't mind more power.

So if I were to want this set up, would i have to go with a Volvo- penta engine as well? Do they/ can they intermingle? Again sorry if these are stupid questions. I dont know much about inboards. I am trying to get as much info before I commit.

 

[Slayer315]

Ok, sorry but more questions. Just looking on Craigslist. I have seen mercruiser 4.3 some with round air cleaners( I think) and some with a more rectangle cover/top. What is the difference? Also I saw one that said thunderbolt ignition. What's this? Also I have seen gx and lx after the 4.3?
I have tried to google some of this but not getting very good results.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the rectangle cover sits over the round air cleaner. all Mercruiser motors have thunderbolt ignition. its Mercury's name for their ignition system on both the outboards and I/O's Carl Kiekhaefer coined the advertizing phrase in the '50's along with "full jeweled power"

 

[alldodge]

So if I were to want this set up, would i have to go with a Volvo- penta engine as well? Do they/ can they intermingle? Again sorry if these are stupid questions. I dont know much about inboards. I am trying to get as much info before I commit.

If by intermingle you mean using a Merc with a Volvo or vise versa, then no this does not work

 

[thumpar]

So if I were to want this set up, would i have to go with a Volvo- penta engine as well? Do they/ can they intermingle? Again sorry if these are stupid questions. I dont know much about inboards. I am trying to get as much info before I commit.

Each manufacturer has a different setup so the engine and drive need to be the same. You can find some 5.0l and 5.7l Mercruisers with the Bravo drives. Mine has the Bravo 1.

 

[Slayer315]

Thanks guys. I can't say this enough, but this is the place to get answers. Is there a way to, just by looking, tell if it has fuel injection vs carbed?

 

[thumpar]

It will usually say on the rectangular cover on a Mercruiser. It is really just a decoration with the round flame arrestor under it but usually will have the engine size, ignition and drive name on it. The only true way to tell is to dig into it or get a serial number of the engine. EFI is nice but it would not be my first requirement. A carb that is setup right is good too. Depending on what years you are looking at it could be hard to find a boat with EFI. From what I have seen it seems that EFI was more of a custom order thing in the 90s and still not too common in the 2000s.

 

[keith2k455]

You're getting a lot of good info, but make sure you don't go overboard on requirements. I would look at size, price and motor. The Bravo 3 or duo prop may be nice, but if you're like me you wouldn't know the difference since this is your first. I can tell you that I can load, unload, dock and undock with my alpha drive without issue. Would a two prop be nice...I guess, but I've never driven one.

 

[Slayer315]

It will usually say on the rectangular cover on a Mercruiser. It is really just a decoration with the round flame arrestor under it but usually will have the engine size, ignition and drive name on it. The only true way to tell is to dig into it or get a serial number of the engine. EFI is nice but it would not be my first requirement. A carb that is setup right is good too. Depending on what years you are looking at it could be hard to find a boat with EFI. From what I have seen it seems that EFI was more of a custom order thing in the 90s and still not too common in the 2000s.

Thanks for that info, again more I didnt know. I wouldnt say its a requirement, more of a desire. As with most things in life, I would like prime rib at ground beef price. Probably not gonna be able to afford all that I want. As keith2k455 said, I may never know the difference since I am not familiar with I/O's anyway.( not sure why bold now but cant stop it)

 

[alldodge]

I was leaving the "probably would.t notice the difference" :facepalm: comment alone because so many others had stated there is a difference. There is a difference and you most defiantly notice it when in reverse. A single prop boat when backing moves to starboard as it backs from the rotation of the prop. A twin prop drive does very little of this because they counter act each other. You would also notice it in forward from much more power being transmitted. But the forward direction would mainly be noticed by comparing hole short with similar boats.

Do understand the prime rib comment, and it may not be in the budget. Just a clarification for you and future readers of this thread