Re: V6 vs. V8
Magster65<br />I agree you should buy the V8 with the Carb because that what you know and want. I on the other hand belive in EFI. I have always done my own auto work but in the old days was always working on my cars, 57 Chev, 74 Chev vega, 74 chev Blazer, 86 chev nova. Then I got a 92 EFI Geo Prizm and was worried I may not be able to fix myself. I always buy the factory manual also. I change the oil and filter and have had one check engine light. I checked the manual and found that with a jumper wire could read out code. I took a paper clip and jumpered two pin and it flashed the check engine light 9 times paused and flashed it 5 times then repeated. Looked in book for 95 code and it said oxgen sensor dirty or bad. I pulled it out cleaned and it connector and put back in and never failed again. With the book very easy fix. I do not know if marine engines do the same but I will bet the computer running the EFI will trap error codes to tell you what is wrong if it has problems. That 86 nova I worked a month trying to find a warm up problem. It had about 25 vaccum hoses and valves for all the smog gear finnaly found a bad hose. I now have two other EFI cars but only other problem I have had is my sons car had to adjust the throttle position sensor to increase idle speed as was dieing with the air condition on in traffic. Fuel mileage of all three EFI cars over 30. I should also say I have worked in computer field since 1967 and also have taken many electronics classes on my own. Also built my own CB, 2 Meter ham radio, 27 inch TV and lots of test equipment so I like electronics.<br /><br />As far as fuel mileage When I bought my 1980 Crestliner 21 foot alumimum boat I ask the dealer at the boat show if he had any fuel mileage spec for difference engines and he did not but since all the factory rep were there he said would have then check. When I returned to buy the second week of the boat show he had info the 4 cylinder was slowest and use the least fuel, the straight 6 was a little faster and used more fuel and the V8 was fastest and used the most fuel. The spec I was looking at was best fuel mileage at crusing speed. I bought the 4 Clyinder so my top speed is 38MPH. Where we camp at I made friends with two couples that seem to alway show up when we are there. My boat is a 21 foot aluminum runabout but these two couples both have 19 foot Starcraft Islanders, a cuddy cabin. Both have radars and kicker motors and fish locker so boats very much the same, but one has a v6 mercruser and the other a V8 with a merc outdrive . Many times we team up to run up the coast about 24.8 miles to a place we all like to fish. When we go that far offshore you always start with a full tank and when you get back always fill up for next day. While we may not go exact same distance but close to same distance. I mean when we reach fishing area and start drifting may find a hot spot and go back over it a couple of times or if it is dead move a little ways and try a different spot so each may travel and little different distance. When we get back my depth finder will usually say have traveled 60 to 65 miles. When we fill up I need 15 to 16 gallons, The V6 group will need about 18 gallons and the V8 guy about 22 gallons. This is traveling as a group up and back on the buddy system for saftey and fun at a speed around 25 to 28. Average Summer swells 4 to 6 feet and 8 to 12 second apart. There boats do catch more wind than mine and I know this because when drifting without kickers running they will pass me up slowly. Also both there boats have many more rivots than mine. When my 140 HP OMC stringer must be replaced, my next motor will be a EFI and most likely a V6 Vovo dual prop. Can not get EFI in 4 cylinder.
