Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

[milkyway]

New boats come with engine options. After all things are considered, all the pros and cons, at the end of the day - which manufacturer of motor will you have on your boat?

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Interested in answers as well.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

They both have their pros and cons, but when I purchased the boat I have now, one of the selling features for me was the fact that it had Volvo Penta packages in it. I can't really give you any single reason for picking the Volvo except the fact that I've owned Mercruiser in all my previous boats that were I/O's, and I know why they are referred to as Black Anchors, even if some of the problems were due to previous owner neglect.

So far I'm glad I made the change,,,,,Knock on wood! ! !

 

[lilmandavis]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

the cone clutch makes em nice and smooooth. no need to interupt the ignition. no dogs barking at each other!

 

[superpop]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

I have to agree with everyone else who has posted. The Volvo just seems to make more sense. I mean come on, ripping the drive apart to change the impeller. The volvo just looks beefier, it is what I have and will not switch.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Volvo hands down, but thats just my opinion, as to owning a 280, and the years here reading a LOT of post on Merc, VERY little Volvo questions

 

[milkyway]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Even on other forums, volvo i questions don't come each day.

 

[boatgrunt]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Maybe we see more questions on Mercs because there are more Mercs than Volvos out there? I vote for Merc since I just bought one and am just so happy it's not an OMC d

 

[tommays]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

1 million alpha drives 85 % sold to people who dont do the PM till they fail

You think there will be more problems here ?

The volvo is a nice drive also but dont think if you put 1 million of them in the hands of people not takeing care of them there would not be big problems

Tommays

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Cant comment on Merc's but Volvo sx drive & 4.3Gl really please with drive easy to remove and maintain as is engine. Impeller a doddle to change. I will stick to volvo.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Unless you do all the work yourself, another factor to consider before buying is - which one does your local marine mechanic specialize in?

 

[milkyway]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

I am considering upgrading to a boat with bravo 3, but I am wondering if it will be a better decision to go with volvo. Which one is easier to maintain, easier to do preventive maintenance, has lesser mechanical breakdowns? Overall, which one has higher quality out of the box?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

After doing maintainance and repairs on both, MHO is Volvo Penta.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Now that have the questions down to which dual prop drive is best, then hands down it's the Volvo.
Even the Merc tech reps that visit shops will admit that the BIII drive doesn't do much for effeciency or any thing else until you hit the magic 50mph mark.
Volvo on the other had is about15 to 25% more efficient (speed and mpg) in the 0 to 50 mph range.
Look at the props. The Volvo has 2 completely different props. The Merc has a LH and a RH with exactly the same pitch. Think about it. after the water goes past one prop, it's all mixed up and the second prop probably needs to be different. That is why Volvo is a leader in the DP technology. Merc just follows and hopes for the best with their two counter rotating props.
On a high note, the BIII drive is better at low speed than a BII or BI drive, and the Bravo drives are "Hell for stoute" as far as drives go.
Maintenance wise, they are about the same. (Depending on which Volvo drive you are talking about) There are several different DP Volvo drive out.

 

[MRS]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

I like the merc but I do all the maintance on my motor and it works great. But the next motor I get is going to be and outboard I think they are alot more reliable than they use to be.d

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

But the next motor I get is going to be and outboard I think they are alot more reliable than they use to be

Don't know much about the new outboards do you?

 

[MRS]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Not really but I have two friends that have been running them (merc`s) for a two years and have not had any problems so far. I do a lot of fishing and with the o/b I can lift out of water when in shallow water plus I will have more room in boat no bellows to change or u-joints to lube. I might be wrong but I will find out plus if motor did go bad a whole lot quicker to change. They are the 4 strokers and here in California a few places only allow 4 strokers my other friend has a newer i/o merc and you can hardley get to anything on the motor to work on it mine is a 1970 esay to work on but it is getting old time to upgrade to a bigger boat and motor.

 

[llerrad]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Merc. forever

 

[DaveM]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

I have a Volvo and am very happy so far with the performance. What chaps my hide is the difficulty in getting parts or service. A Volvo may be better, but Merc. owns the world. And unless you can find a local DonS clone, I would go with a Merc next time.

 

[milkyway]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Yes Volvo is #1 in innovations and it must be better overall than Merc. So the Bravo 3 is almost not worth the extra thousands of dollars.

From what I read, there are not as many retailers and aftermarket parts for Volvo than Merc.

Those who have long experience with Volvo, is it really difficult to get parts? Would this really cause a problem for people who want to do repairs on their own? Or is this situation exaggerated?