Re: Volvo vs Mercruiser
This is going to turn into an "oil" thread
I think that the Volvo outdrive is alot smoother shifting into gear than the clunk you get out of a Merc. The water pump impellar is easier to change also. I would say that Volvos are more expensive to work on but they are both good in my book.
Volvos Use cone clutchs for shifting. (like the Bravos) Alphas are still "dogs"
My Bravo impeller is as easy to change as any VP. (it takes a little longer with an Alpha.....day before yesterday it took me about 45 min to swap out an Alpha GEN II impeller)
are volvos more expensive to work on? are the replacement parts more expensive
Probably not....(maybe a little higher for some parts a little less for others... But here's an important point. Most of the people here like to do their own work. (Many people wouldn't be posting here if they just took it to the dealer with credit card in hand and didn't care what it cost)
So with this in mind, do a little search on ebay in the "Boat parts & Acc" section....... Do separate searches for Mercruiser and Volvo Penta......on any given day you'll probably find about 3 times more "parts" for Mercruisers than for Volvo. (just now it was 1468 to 519)
I would say that even if the Volvo drives are "better", being able to buy parts easily and quickly (used & new) is a plus. You can buy brand new Alpha, Bravo I,II,III drives on ebay all day for about $5000 and less. I counted 20 new (Merc) drives and a bunch more rebuilds/used on ebay today...I didn't see any new VP drives there at all. When they are there....it's in far less numbers.... (yes I know
......they never break!!)
Maybe Volvo's German engineers were better than Mercury's German engineers....
I donno.....was Charlie Strang (who later went on to OMC) , Jim Wynne (who sold the AVC drive to Volvo that became the "Aquamatic"), or Alex Alexander German? (a German name does not necessarily a German-make!!)
Volvo for me, family has had nothing else for over 30 years. Still using a 280 outdrive behind SBC, that is 27 years old with nothing more than changing oil. Also have an old 250 in a Double Eagle, that is 36 years old and still works perfectly.
There's testimonial "evidence" like this on both sides. The 66 Mark Twain (150 Mercruiser) that my dad bought new performed just as flawlessly for 39 years........
As I said before.... If i had found a VP engine/drive combo for my Liberator first....That's what I would have installed.....at this point , in view of the used/new parts availability, I am (a little) glad I found the Merc first.
Cheers Y'all!
