Mercruiser Reliabilty

Silversurfer · 10-01-2006, 01:32 PM

Hi all, back again with my questions.

Thinking of buying a family boat with junior on the way!

I am going to look at two boats on Saturday

Boat 1 has a 5.7L mercruiser in it on a bravo leg I think

Boat 2 has a 3L mercruiser

I have only ever had outboards and my dad shaft driven boats.

I could buy boat 2 in an outboard configuration.

My questions are as follows:

How long do these engines last? After how many hours do they need major surgery or a rebuild - legs like wise?

Would the outboard be cheaper to run bar fuel costs e.g. maintance

What do i look for to try and tell if the engine or out drive need attention or is likely too in the near future.

The boat is going to sit on a mooring which drys out for most of the day. If I want the least hassel which type of power plant is best suited to my needs?

Thanks in adavance

The boats I am looking at vary between 5 and 3 years old.

The outboard option could be a four stroke or a more powerful two stroke?

Boat 1 is 23 and a bit feet boat 2 is 19 foot.

Jon Fuller · 10-01-2006, 01:39 PM

If you're not doing the maintainance yourself, and it's gonna be on a 'drying' mooring, I would go for the OB powered boat every time. You can tilt it clear of the water (and mud) and servicing 'Should' be cheaper and simpler. I'd personally go for a two stroke type (generic talk) rather than four stroke, as I like simplicity, but would stand corrected by someone who's more up to speed with modern OB's than I.

jf

Silversurfer · 10-01-2006, 01:43 PM

My heart says 5.7l would be great but my head says go for the outboard as well !

Silversurfer · 10-01-2006, 01:45 PM

Anyone have any experience of the the Fletcher 19 GTS

http://www.fletcher-boats.co.uk/19a.htm

???

Rockey · 10-01-2006, 02:49 PM

sent you e mail in box full

Silversurfer · 10-01-2006, 02:59 PM

I have emptied the box now! Pls resend!

Foolish · 12-01-2006, 07:36 PM

DON'T go with the 3.0L it's a bag'o'shite ...
It's noisey - underpowered - and for me nothing but "Feckin Unreliable"

Silversurfer · 12-01-2006, 10:17 PM

going for an ouboard !

Silversurfer · 13-01-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Foolish
DON'T go with the 3.0L it's a bag'o'shite ...
It's noisey - underpowered - and for me nothing but "Feckin Unreliable"

I was thinking of buying a 2300 they look really nice saw this one (which has since been sold) http://www.boatshed.com/viewboat.php?boat=16463

Whats the performance like are you pleased with it? Apart from engine problems?

BluFin · 14-01-2006, 10:48 AM

Stuff the fletcher talk the mrs into this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/31-FOOT-SPORTS...temZ4604782776

Or
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/fletcher-arrow...temZ4604919493

Those splits can be expensive, what sort of woman takes a blokes boat away from him!!!!! My Ex

Silversurfer · 15-01-2006, 10:05 PM

First one looks a bit old style dont like johnson engines either, been looking at the fletcher its been on ebay manay manay times guy want 10K for it the bidding neither even reaches £8K. Really want an outboard and something that has a table and cooker on it, woman didnt take boat away from me, engine kept blowing up! I have a baby boy on the way and want something more socialable! You know something you can have a glass of wine on the back of.

Wayne · 27-01-2006, 03:46 AM

Knot shurrrrrr of what Mercruiser sterndrive you are looking at or looked at ? Go to i need help page http://www.sterndrive.info/sterndriv...help_page.html
Picture or drawing of all the inboard drives there. I like the i/o units there great on gas and no oil to add

Wayne ps try to find V6 or V8 the 3L to small an engine for the boat

Ben · 27-01-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BluFin
Stuff the fletcher talk the mrs into this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/31-FOOT-SPORTS...temZ4604782776

Interesting to note that the copy mentions "new graphics".

Must have included the Scarab logo cause the boat's a Chris Craft 311 - same as mine.

Wild Card 09 · 29-01-2006, 04:43 PM

I still have a boat with twin OMC 5.0 litre EFI´s in it and they´ve done 1200 hours and are still running strong with NO loss of power or oil pressure. The drives are still completely original and perform perfectly. The boat is from 1993 and was used every weekend in summer.

- The biggest enemy for a boat engines longevity is not using it regularly enough.

My experience with the four stroke outboard on our rib, after 200 hours is that outboards have come a long way in the last years. Quiet, economical and super reliable.

- If you are not sure how often you will go boating, get a four stroke outboard. Maintainance and winterising is EASY!

Just my tenpennyworth.........