20 ft grady white 470 mercruiser 5100$

would like imput on motor hull is a 1984 boat is walk around cuddy has new head fuel lines and carb is fresh water cooled

Re: 20 ft grady white 470 mercruiser 5100$

Way over priced........... unless there is $3500 hidden th the glove box.

Welcome to iboats.

Motor is obsolete and no longer made, maintenance nightmare......... do your homework

Re: 20 ft grady white 470 mercruiser 5100$

Hey mudd. Welcome aboard! Do some searching regarding the Merc 470 in the Merc section below. Some people love them, but the fact is they have some very unique and difficult repair and maintenance issues that should be avoided if there are other choices. There are

Re: 20 ft grady white 470 mercruiser 5100$

Great boat, not so great motor, far from great price. Keep looking.

Re: 20 ft grady white 470 mercruiser 5100$

I don't have a problem with the price. He's selling the boat for more or less hull value. I sold my 1986 with a "87" 175 Merc outboard on the transom to the first person who came out for $11.5K.

The problem I have with it is the motor. First off, an I/O in that hull is going to beat you to death. That boat performs much better with an outboard. Second, parts and support for that motor is problematic at best. Best figure in the cost of the new motor in the next couple of years. With the performance issues of the I/O, you would be throwing good money after bad.

If you like the hull, find an outboard version and repower it. You would get Better performance and do much better at resale price down the road.

Re: 20 ft grady white 470 mercruiser 5100$

dingbat said:

an I/O in that hull is going to beat you to death.

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Can you elaborate on this? Don't want to hijack, but I don't understand the ride comment, and I respect your opinion. Usually higher weight and lower CG = better ride.

dingbat said:

That boat performs much better with an outboard.

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That I believe, especially speed and trim leverage. But faster, lighter and bow up, does not usually translate to a smooth ride . . .

OP, no confusion from all of us here. Best to avoid the 470. And I understand the aversion to I/Os too, but they certainly have their place. Just not usually on a fishing machine, and even that should be debated (read "clean(er) transom").

Re: 20 ft grady white 470 mercruiser 5100$

I finally got rid of an older Grady White with mercruiser 470. The boat wasn't bad but the engine was a nightmare. Nothing but trouble, a lot of overheating and electrical issues.

Re: 20 ft grady white 470 mercruiser 5100$

QC said:

Can you elaborate on this? Don't want to hijack, but I don't understand the ride comment, and I respect your opinion. Usually higher weight and lower CG = better ride.

That I believe, especially speed and trim leverage. But faster, lighter and bow up, does not usually translate to a smooth ride . . .

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Faster, lighter and bow up, translates to a smooth ride if the hull was designed to run that way.

I have a 40 degree entry, 30 degree mid-ship and a 22 degree transom. The 40 deadrise at the front of the boat slices into the wave then the decreasing deadrise slowing brings the entire weight of the boat to bear on the remaining length of wave to smooth them out. I?m not beating my way thru the waves. I?m running over them and using the weight of the boat (~#5500) to flatten them out as I go over them.

Note the exaggerated keel on the bow of the boat.


The boat the OP was asking about is rated for 235 HP. HP hungery hull. It could use as much HP as it can get.

The 470 is a 170HP, 4-cylinder motor I/O that weighs roughly #850. By comparison, the 175HP outboard has 6 cylinders and weighs less than #500. The outboard with its 5hp and 15% weight advantage is going to out perform the I/O hand down.

Re: 20 ft grady white 470 mercruiser 5100$

dingbat said:

The 470 is a 170HP, 4-cylinder motor I/O that weighs roughly #850. By comparison, the 175HP outboard has 6 cylinders and weighs less than #500. The outboard with its 5hp and 15% weight advantage is going to out perform the I/O hand down.

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I never disputed that. Still think the lower CG and higher weight helps with the ride. Nothing more.