HELP decide on new boat!

[danpar]

I currently have an '88 Cajun fish&ski with a 3.0l I/O. I am looking to upgrade to a newer bowrider something 2004+ maybe even new! I can't decide on a 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder. It will be about 18'. I wakeboard and pull a tube. The engine I have now does it fine - so do I stick with a 4? Is there much fuel difference? What would you go for and why? And if you already have one what kind of WOT speeds are you getting and revs??

p.s - I know this is kind of an engine topic, but there is no 'general I/O' option in the forum.

 

[danpar]

Re: HELP decide on new boat!

Does nobody have any input on this?

 

[sickwilly]

Re: HELP decide on new boat!

2004 Stingray 190 lx, with a 4.3 v6 -- that is what I recommend as that is what I have.

 

[danpar]

Re: HELP decide on new boat!

That looks nice, that is the kind of thing I'm looking for, I just don't know if I want a 4 or a 6

 

[sheridon]

Re: HELP decide on new boat!

I have a 2010 Sea Ray 185 Sport with the v6 4.3L 190HP. I really like the performance from the 4.3. I could have gotten either the 4 cyl or the 6 cyl engine in this boat but I wanted a bit more power.

At WOT the Speedo indicates that I'm running about 52 mph, have yet to check it with the GPS. I cruise at about 3500 RPMs at about 35 mph (according to speedo).

 

[JimKW]

Re: HELP decide on new boat!

I have the 4.3L V6 in my 180 Crownline and it's great. I would not want the 4 cyl at all.

 

[danpar]

Re: HELP decide on new boat!

I have a 2010 Sea Ray 185 Sport with the v6 4.3L 190HP. I really like the performance from the 4.3. I could have gotten either the 4 cyl or the 6 cyl engine in this boat but I wanted a bit more power.

At WOT the Speedo indicates that I'm running about 52 mph, have yet to check it with the GPS. I cruise at about 3500 RPMs at about 35 mph (according to speedo).

Just out of curiosity, what pitch prop are you running?

 

[cr2k]

Re: HELP decide on new boat!

Would you rather HAVE a 4 banger and Wish you had a V6, or have the V6 and wonder if the 4 banger would have done the job?

little more fuel consumption with the V6 but not so much if you are just cruising.

 

[sheridon]

Re: HELP decide on new boat!

Just out of curiosity, what pitch prop are you running?

Looked at my prop after a few hours out on the water today and it says its a 21. Its the prop that came on the boat.

 

[ziggy]

Re: HELP decide on new boat!

i'd go with the largest engine i could get.
no one ever wants to have less hp on their boat. but everyone wants to know how to get more hp out of the engine they have. many engines don't have hp upgrade options either. like the one i have.

i got a L6 engine. largest ya could get on my boat in it's day. i think i'd be unhappy with the performance of anything less than the 165hp i got.

fwiw, i get 42mph @ 4300 rpm. 19p aluminum prop.