Mercruiser Selection

[AndrewB]

Very shortly I will be making the transistion from an outboard boat to inboard and I'm just after a few opinions on engine selection. Im planning on getting a new skicraft (which is an Australain ski boat simmilar to the malibu) and there a few engine options. The base engine is the carby 270hp version, for an extra bout $2500 australain I can get the mpi 300hp or for another $4000ish aust I can get the 320-40hp mpi. I was just wondering if any of you guys have been in the same situation - is the more money worth it?, was the carby motor fine? is mpi the way to go etc. I am mainly wakeboarding but some skiing and the ocassional barefoot wont be out of the question. Any thoughts would be great.

 

[Trent]

Re: Mercruiser Selection

The MPI is the way to go. I personally would get the 300MPI.

 

[horndog]

Re: Mercruiser Selection

the biggest question is:<br /><br />Can you afford the upgrade?<br /><br />Put it this way, if you are going to ski/wakeboard you should have as much h.p. as possible offered on that boat.<br /><br />Second, if you go and sell it, the resale value will hold better. Just a thought, but the biggest question is can you afford the extra $2500AUS for it? Thats the question I would ask myself.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Mercruiser Selection

I wish I had the true MPI for a turn-the-key-and- go setup----but anything over 300 hp in your style boat is wasted, unless you are running with 10 people in the boat every time you ski.<br /><br />High horesepower makes a big difference in an I/O setup, but I am assuming your ski boat is a true inboard under 21 feet in length, and more than 300 hp is just going to plow more water and use more fuel.<br /><br />You won't get anywhere near $4000 extra out of your boat for that 320hp, even if you sell it the day after you buy it.