Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

[180shabah]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

So, " for about the same money" turned into six grand. I would have to say at this point, the alpha is looking pretty damn good.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

exactly what I was thinking- what happened to the same price?

I wonder.....How much are the free props now?

Alpha all the way for $6K savings.

 

[yamamarinetech40]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

I .work on boats for a living...the Alpha is just junk....ok for 3.0 liter for four years...then sell,sell,sell....the Volvo has a cone clutch, this is the main thing....almost bullet proof...much better in salt too...what size boat is this that you are thinking of an Alpha and a duoprop in the same sentence...sounds like a single prop Volvo is all you need...cost is about the same...

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

I agree with above yamamartech. If boat is small, light go with SX. The alpha is junk in comparison to the VP. . My 1st boat I ever owned had a alpha and it will be my last. I do a ton of wake boarding, which means it goes in and out of gear all day, full throttle starts etc. In other words I am hard on drives. I blew the alpha up 3 times and finally bought tools and rebuilt it myself the last time to save $$. After seeing the internals of it I see why. I am mechanical engineer and have done some gearbox design and the SX drives are just heads and shoulders above the Alpha in thier design. If you can swing it go Volvo Penta all the way IMHO.

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

Howdy!

Man! Thanks guy's!

First: f - in' ... didn't mean to slam your rec-room. I've know people who's livingrooms were their workshops.

Okay - okay, the price thing. One big difference between the Volvo quote I got ($20/k) vs. the Merc. quote ($14+/k)
is the install charge. The Volvo guy's (@ $3/k) included removal of the existing 898/Merc system and sea-trials to make sure all works well. My Merc mechanic will drop in the new set-up for $600/Cdn. and be done with it in less than a day. I've told him I'll pull the engine and drive and bring him a bare boat with servicable stringers, transome and engine beds. That I can do.

My mechanic likes Merc stuff and he's claiming I'm getting the new engine and drive at cost. I believe him.

That said, I'm leaning towards the Volvo, even if I have to spend more $$$. Now I need to determine if I'll really benefit from a DP vs. a more economical SX. After describing the boat to many people, the opinions (DP or SX) are about split. I'm dead-set on an injected 4.3, so at least that's out of the way.

Maybe some of you guy's could help me out with the one-prop or two-prop? thing...

I'm going to try to upload some pics of her and (if I'm successful) I think most of you would agree by the looks of her that she is indeed a good general-purpose runabout. She'll be trailered and used primarily for day-trips out salmon fishing, cruising the Gulf Islands, and dragged up Island to some big lakes for cruising, tubing, waterskiing and wakeboarding.

With the OEM small-block Chevy/pre-Alpha drive set-up I was told by the original builder of the boat that she weighs in at 3000/lbs. empty. The day I picked her up, I dragged it over the scales and she tipped them at about 3200/lbs (with an as yet undetermined amount of fuel on board). The builder's Son told me that most of the Zeta's had no foam under the floors unless it was requested by the customer. At this point I haven't confirmed if there's any in mine.

So... one-screw... two screw's?

Cheers!

Terry

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

Howdy...

Dunno what happened; thought I followed the directions for adding pics.

I'll try it again.

Also, forgot to mention I intend to get hold of the boat-builder's Son over in Vancouver and see if he'll come clean on his offer to install a Volvo in her for the same coin as the Merc. So what if I have to drag her over on the ferry to get it done; I can visit my family while I'm over there. That's the problem with living on Vancouver Island, everyone feels justified in charging a premium for everything.

Here goes the pic thing... again.

Terry

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

Howdy!

I give up... guess it wasn't meant to happen.

Terry

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

No problem, It definitely is a "Wreck Room" the last few weeks. No garage and building a 454 to replace the Mopar 360 thats in the boat now over this winter the room is loaded full of parts. As soon as I can get rid of all this stuff it will be my Rec Room again. 8)

Like I said though, (I have a MerCruiser in stock if I wanted to use it ) I am going to stick with the tried and true even though it cost a lot of extra money to do so. In a heads up deal its a no brainer.
Here, let me show you my............. Well its a MerCruiser 454 to a Volvo 280T transom shield to a Volvo 270 outdrive. Or what I like to call it, "The Vol-Cruiser".

BY the way this is not my rec room its under my back deck or what i like to call "Shanty Town".

 

[tommays]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

898/Merc system from an over 25 year old boat i guess it held up for a while ?


IMHP the merc manifolds with dry-joint exhaust are VASTLY better than anything Volvo has right now

There are a LOT more alpha drives because merc owns most of the boat companies and we don’t get to pick Volvo unless we really limit hulls


This means there are a Lot more merc drives Owned buy people who do not do anything till there broke 

I can assure you that both brands will have leaking bellows and oil seals at some point in there life which will destroy them if there not changed before this happens

I think if you get and apple to apple quote on the Volvo VS Merc it is going to be closer than the 6K

I have to leave it up to the experts but I have never seen a Duo-Prop on any 19’ boat ?

I Think Duo props are the only way to go on bigger boats



Tommays

 

[QC]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

Well I for one simply like the cone clutch better . . . I have never owned a Volvo, but my Bravo with a cone feels to me more like a transmission should. Non of that clackety carp. However, Merc says they have that figured out now with the latest Alpha's . . It's still a dog though (the clutch).

The interesting contradiction about Duoprops that I struggle with is that although I agree with tommays about bigger boats, it is in smaller boats where the prop torque thing is most noticeable. I don't like asymmetrical stuff. Call me a weeny, but single drives boats with one direction of prop just seems wrong . . .

I think you need to decide how much you're willing to spend for two, as the SX will be cheaper. Also, if you ever ding props, that is still the first question for me. Big difference there . . .

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

Howdy!

Yeah, I'm a dinger!

I'm concerned about the prop costs on a dually. Here on the Island I'm sure we'd be beaching the boat often while cruising the Gulf Islands or while up at one of the big lakes.

Coupla' brewski's and ... wham-O ...$1800/smackers!

That said, would I truly benefit from a DP in a boat that'll weigh-in at about 4000/lbs loaded?

Thanks again to all for your time and trouble!

Cheers,
Terry

 

[QC]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

You don't need a Duoprop. It will go straighter at displacement speeds and the boat will not heel to port at planing speeds (prop torque) and you will have better hole shot. Other than those three, there is no real benefit to a Duoprop other than resale . . .

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

If you plan on letting my wife drive the boat, you'd better go for the cheaper props. Two props a summer is typical.

I think the duoprops are over rated. I don't think torque steering is a huge issue. As far as hole shot, save the money for a bigger motor.

If money is not an issue, then go for the best. But if you're like most of us, that's not the case.

My opinion, worth the price charged.

 

[tommays]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

I will bet with the right Merc ENERTIA prop that Alpha would move right out


Tommays

 

[andy1canada]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

Howdy!

This is great!

I'm gonna' post a new topic on the Volvo composite drive's...

Terry

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

RubberFrog,

Have you ever owned a duoprop?

 

[tommays]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

Bruce

Whats the smallest boat you seen one ON ? i usally see them around 22 to 24' and up


Tommays

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

Definitely seen one on a 20' Cobalt.

Here is another:

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/8/1/83381981.htm

Do a serach on boattrader.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

RubberFrog,

Have you ever owned a duoprop?

No.
Do I have to own one of everything before I am allowed to express my opinion?
I have driven several boats with duoprops. They're real nice. They're also over rated. As I said.

In my opinion, they are completely unnecessary on smaller boats. I suppose if you have no idea how to handle a boat, or use trim, then perhaps they are even nicer.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Merc vs. Volvo - best punch for the buck...

I have no idea how to handle a boat so I guess it is good that I have one.

And now that I know that you have never owned one, I can weigh your opinion accordingly.