OMC 3.0 verses 4.3

[brummerh]

HI,

I do not know very much of engine performance, and as stated earlier I am new to the boating business, but it is fun !!!, and I like to restore things. Yesterday I bought another boat on E-Bay which is a 88 Bayliner with a broken engine. It has an OMC 3.0 in it. I have lots of documentation about the engine and to replace or repair it, is not a big deal for me. Questions I have, which are not so easy to find answers for are:

Would a 3.0 inline 4 be good enough to water ski?
Is there a big performance difference on the water between a boat with a 3.0 or a 4.3?
What is the real performance of this engine in hp for example ?
I know there are different outdrives supplied with these engines ( 3.0 and 4.3 ), but is it possible to exchange the 3.0 against a 4.3?
What would it take to do this?
Is there are thread to follow?

If some one would have some answers, that would be great.

I personally like the idea for a smaller engine, because all I would do is go and fish, run some ski and lay in the sun with it. In addition I think the fuel efficiency should be much better with the inline 4.

Thanks

HB

 

[Don S]

Re: OMC 3.0 verses 4.3

Impossible to say if the 3.0L engine will allow you to ski or not, would really need to know the size boat? Is it a 16' or 21' would make a big difference.
As far as changine over to a 4.3, lot's of work there.
Different motor mounts on the stringers (Fiberglass work) needed for a 4.3 with side mounts compared to the front mounted 3.0L
A different exhaust tube (Y) needed on the transom shield for a V6 instead of the 3.0.
The drives are completely different. The 3.0 has the small lower gear case and gears compared to the 4.3 and larger. Plus the gear ratio is different.
Then you may have clearance problems under the engine cover since the 4.3 is a lot wider.

 

[blouderback]

Re: OMC 3.0 verses 4.3

I had an 18' Celebrity witha Mercruiser 3.0L (135HP), and we skied off of it with no problems. It pulled my fat 250lbs out of the water with no problem. crusied nicely with a load of 5 or 6 people, and used very little gas compared to my current 5.0L 21 footer.

Like Don says, swapping out to a 4.3L will be a lot of work, and you'll need an outdirve too, since the old one is geared for that smaller engine.

Try to get the old 3.0 working, and you'll probably have a nice little ski boat.

 

[spartanpele]

Re: OMC 3.0 verses 4.3

brummer...check out this ad...I might be able to help you out.

http://madison.craigslist.org/boa/228578887.html

Thanks!