Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

[sammyjacob]

I'm buying a Four Winns Horizon tomorrow 170 and need to urgently know what Engine/Drive I should choose. I have the option of the Mercruiser 4.3L Alpha Drive (1 year Guarantee) or the Volvo Penta 4.3GL SX Drive. (2 year Guarantee). They also offered the 3litre version of the above. Which one should I choose. Everywhere I read the HP is the main thing and that I'll get better Performance/MPG out of a bigger motor! <br />I cant find the specs for the above (4.3L) engines on the 170 Horizon any where (including Boattest). I've also posted the above in the Engine Forum. I'm desperate!

 

[Solittle]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

Slow down and do enough research so that you are satisfied with the choice you make. What is magical about tomarrow?

 

[Lou C]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

I agree you need to slow down, you are spending a lot of money, and they always have boats to sell.<br />The most important thing is to find out if there is good service for whatever drive you have in your area. Good service is more important than brand names, just like with cars. I have an OMC Cobra, many people will not touch an OMC, but because I have a great shop, it has worked out great for me.<br />Having said that, I'd drive both extensively and see if you like how the cone clutch Volvo shifts versus the dog clutch Merc. There is a definte difference, and some prefer one to the other. I'd also upgrade to the 4.3 if you can, that will really move that boat well, and it will be easier to sell when the time comes.

 

[RatFish]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

Ditto on what Lou C said. <br /><br />The number one factor should be "good" service availability. A good dealer is a huge plus. Mercruiser and Volvo have been around for a long time and both products have been proven reliable. If you have good service availability for both Mercruiser and Volvo and they are close in price, go with the Volvo because it has a better warranty.

 

[hammlfam]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

I agree, drive both of them. The one thing about the Volvo I like better than the merc(other than the 2 year warranty) is the clutch system. When you put the merc into drive, it is very clunky. The Volvo is MUCH smoother.

 

[ronskal]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

SJ, recheck the one year warranty on the Merc.<br />When I bought my 5.0 MPI merc equipped boat on Aug. 5, the dealer said they just went to a 2 year warranty starting July 1.<br /><br />Either way go with the 4.3 VP or Merc.

 

[KCook]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

You can also get the 4.3L in the FW 180 Freedom . Since the Freedom line is not as fancy as the Horizons, the $ difference between the 170 Horizon and 180 Freedom may not be much. The 180 Freedom is slightly larger than the 170 Horizon, which would give the 180 Freedom slightly better handling in big waves.<br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[Lou C]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

And as I said in the other post, if you are mostly using it in salt water, consider the Freedom 180 outboard (esp if you can still get the old style Johnson carbed 2 stroke) you will have less maintenance to do. Sterndrives are nice and quiet, and run smoothly at low speeds, but they are labor intensive in salt water.<br />You really have to check on the shift quality of each drive if you go I/O. When shifting a dog clutch drive (Alpha, OMC Cobra pre 94) you have to shift it quickly, not slowly like a car trans with synchormesh. It will grind if you do that. They normally clunk into gear, although my Cobra goes into gear with a nice solid "thunk". Volvo is a very different feel. If you are used to outboards, you will be fine with the dog clutch since you are then used to it. If you are used to cars and have not boated much before, you might like the feel of the Volvo better.

 

[sammyjacob]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

I've got to say a thousand thanks to you guys. It's really great when you get such informed advice. The dealer has now said if I wait another week he can get me a 180 Horizon 3.0L for $21,000(US) (new) 2004 model inclusive/on the water. I mentioned that I was told to go with the 4.3L but he assured me (especially being a new boat owner) that the 3.0L would be fine for me. Is that a good price (which it appears to be) and is he telling the truth with regards to the engine size. What I can't understand is why the 180 (18ft) is 200lbs lighter than the 170 (17.6ft) Does that mean it's (the 180)performance is better in terms of MPG and Top Speed? Once again, thanks for the much needed help.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

The main reason the 180 is lighter is b/c of the smaller engine.<br /><br />Are the weights actual weights or are they just from a standard chart?<br /><br />In my opinion the 170 with the 4.3 is the way to go.<br /><br />It will be a lot more fun and easy to use boat.<br /><br />only 135 HP in an 18' boat seems really low.<br /><br />We have a 1990 170 Freedom with the old 2.3L ford 4 cyl (130 prop HP). It is way underpowered and it is lighter than the newer boats. It is a good boat though.<br /><br />Edit:<br /><br />I just found the specs for the two motors<br /><br />4.3 w/Alpha = 848 lbs<br /><br />3.0 w/Alpha = 635 lbs<br /><br />So I stand by my first statement.

 

[sammyjacob]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

Ignore the bit about the 180 being lighter. I'm an idiot. The 180 is 120lbs heavier than the 170. I swear I saw different info some where! Honestly. Anyway, that would suggest that the 3.0L 130hp would be even less attractive on the 180!

 

[Lou C]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

go to the Four Winns website, they have all the weights and measurements for all of their boats.<br />And having had a 200 Horizon (older, so it is lighter, 2650 lbs) with the 4.3 (4 bbl 205 hp) I would say you really need to try the boat out to see if if feels fast enough for you. I would suggest at least an 18 footer, with the 4.3 if going with an I/O power package. The other option is a 180 Freedom with the Johnson 150, that would have plenty of power and less maintenance as well. Don't put a 3.0 in an 18 ft boat, it will feel underpowered when you load it up. My 4.3 is plenty peppy but my Horizon is light for its length, and the motor does have the 4bbl carb which adds top end power.

 

[KCook]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

Sammy Jay - are you located in the US? In this country a 3.0L boat for $21k is hardly a bargain! As you can see on the thread below, there are lots of 4.3L boats here for less than that -<br /><br /> Boat Show Evaluation/Prices on Entry Level Boats <br /><br />Kelly

 

[jmc830]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

I had a wellcraft excalibur 18 ft 2002 with a volvo 4.3 this was my first boat so i did not know anything fried the impellar what a easy thing to change 10 min. ran it hard for 2 years never had a problem. wanted a bigger boat gao a brand new four winns 214 funship with a 5.0 mpi 260 horse mercruiser (OK NOW LISTEN CAREFULLY) get the volvo mercruiser is a piece of SH**T have had nothing but problems 15hrs on the boat going on a 1hr trip with another couple boat just shuts off like you turned the key off after many weeks the dealer replaced the neutral shut off ,gear shift engine harness and finally the computer dealer would not drive it long enough to see if it would shutdown boat had to be good and hot so every other weekend i would have to be towed so far after computer it been okay but scared to go far still. the outdrive is very clunky the neutral shutoff has to be adjusted perfectly or elsboat shuts off when you throw it in neutral to go into reverse, not good when trying to dock been back to the dealer twice for that impellar on merc is in the drive like i sed before easy maintance oh forgot had the boat at wide open throttle 5400 rpms just a little to high for me dealer ses its the right prop for that motor ya right ok off my box now go get a volvo with i did

 

[WadeSc]

Re: Urgent. Volvo 4.3 or Merc 4.3

I had a choice between the 3.0L and 4.3L when I bought my 22ft Aluminum Starcraft in 1995. I waited for the dealer to order me one with a 4.3L Mercruiser and have never regretted it. For one thing, the 3Liter wasn't even available with power steering. If you get the smaller one, you'll be running at full throttle all the time (which is hard on the engine and sucks gas) while you can get the same speed with a nice economical cruise with the 4.3. Get the 4.3L-you will be glad you did. As for which brand of outdrive, the Volvo will shift smoother but the Mercruiser Alpha drive has been around for a long time and I would not call it a POS. Mine has worked flawlessly for 9 years.<br />Wade