Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

[superpop]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

If you take care of your stuff and plan the maintenance in advance the parts are no problem to get ahold of. If you beat on your drive, don't service it and then something breaks, yes it would take longer to hunt down the volvo parts locally but that is not my case. After my experience with Volvo I would never buy a merc drive which is a bummer because I really like the searays but refuse to buy one because of the merc only option. Props and impellers are pretty easy to source locally though and that is all I can see myself needing in a pinch.

 

[Bob Fort]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

When I bought my current boat I asked the dealer for his recommendation regarding power plant. He said he couldn't comment on the "repairability" of the Volvo because he never had to tear one down.... That made my decision for me!

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

I have never had a problem getting Volvo parts in the UK. However I have only wanted normal maintenance patrts etc but www.volspec.co.uk get me everything I want straight away.

 

[Ski19570]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

I say Volvo hands down as well. Actually in reading this thread I agree that Merc has the market share thats for sure. But it's price break that makes it that way. I owned a Volvo I/O for 18 years and NEVER had problems. I looked for a boat that had a Volvo power train when I was purchasing my new boat in 2001. Couldn't find the type of boat I wanted with a Volvo I/O and purchased a merc. I'm so sorry I made that decision now as my 2001 merc is basically a "Black anchor" as somebody mentioned earlier. The other thing I remember with my Volvo is ease of maintaining my power train. I remember once when running the river I hit a rock with the outdrive while skiing. I took it to an outdrive shop that advertised "75 years of experiance" down in Long Beach California at the Marina. When I asked the guy when I would get the boat back I was told he didn't know. When I asked why I was told he didn't know because he never had to work on a Volvo outdrive and was unsure how long it would take to get the parts. Good statment there as it's on the coast and has a lot boats. The engineering on the Volvo was incrediable. I wanted to inspect my fresh water cooling system once and was amazed that it came out with four bolts. Buy the way nothing was wrong with cooling I'm just a maintance freak. Miss that boat. Hope this helps.

 

[milkyway]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

Your long experience with Volvo surely helped you give this input. Thanks.

 

[milkyway]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

This Volvo IPS is something very different. How is merc going to match this one?

Is volvo gonna make this IPS available to small pocket cruisers- say 26 to 29? Imagine also docking using a joystick.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

NO, the IPS is not even in the realm of boats under 36 feet. Plus, it MUST be twins, and Very large diesel engines. Way above Mercs abilities.
The IPS was never designed to be a replacement for a sterndrive, only as an inboard substitute for big, fast, very expensive, boats.

Prop set for one engine is $1700. The drive alone, if you should happen to hit something and break it off (like it is supposed to do) is $28,000. Yes, that's twenty eight thousand and not a typo.

 

[milkyway]

Re: Mercruiser or Volvo - Which Setup is Better?

If that $28k was not a typo, then I leave the IPS to the big guys.