Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

[45Auto]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Something was either wrong with your motor or your boat was larger than 18ft. I have a Sea Ray 185 Sport with a 3.0 and my top speed is a GPS proven 38MPH.

Saying that a 3.0 will only push a 18ft boat to a maximum top speed of the low 30's is just false information.

So because my boat was 4 MPH slower than yours you claim I'm giving false information?? You're quibbling over 4 MPH? If it means that much to you, then you really need a V6 ...

By your own logic your own info must also be false, since by the tests you quoted your boat is 1 MPH slower than the BoatTest Sea Ray, 4 MPH slower than the Boating Life Sea Ray, and 11 MPH slower than the Boating Life Stingray! My experience has been that the boating tests tend to be slightly optimistic, since they're typically run with 2 people, no gear, and a half tank or so of fuel. You'll find that as the motors get smaller, the load in the boat becomes more critical.

I might have been able to get 38 MPH out of my boat if I ran it as light as possible, but what's the point? The 4 MPH obviously doesn't mean as much to me as it does to you. I never went out in it with less than 3 people, full tanks, coolers, picnic baskets, etc.

I don't have a 4 cylinder any more, but several of my friends do. When we go out together, my experience hs been along the lines of 642MX's post:

I run with a couple 4 cylinder guys here locally.... none of them can top 40! Most are about 35-37 WOT with a 17/18 foot hull.

My experience has been that if I run faster than about 35 MPH (GPS) none of the 4 cylinder boats can keep up.

 

[642mx]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

My experience has been that if I run faster than about 35 MPH (GPS) none of the 4 cylinder boats can keep up.

hahahaha.... No way man.... these 4 bangers are running 50 mph. Just read all the above posts, these guys wouldn't BS us....lmao!

BTW, I saw 85 mph out of my 4.3L powered Baja last weekend when I went across the ocean from Florida to the Bahama's, I made the whole trip in 6 minutes... NASA approved GPS verified.... had a chopper flying over head that can verify too....

 

[642mx]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Well it's at a dealership in Wisconsin, all lakes have about 6" of ice, so no test run is available. If you would like to check out all the pics of it, you can find it at www.donsmarine.com go to "Used inventory" and click on the Rinker V180..let me know what you think

Looks like a clean boat. If its what you want, then buy it. Just keep in mind that 4 cylinder boats are not speed demons, they don't run 50 mph (regardless of what ANYBODY says) and they don't like carrying around a load of people. No boat gets any decent fuel mileage, so don't base your decision on fuel economy.

Good Luck either way.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Before I put Smart Tabs on my Sea Ray 176 (3.0L) I was getting 42mph GPS consistently with an average load. After Smart Tabs, I just barely hit 40mph. That's with 2 adults, 2 kids, mostly full tank of gas, bimini up, perhaps 75 lbs. of gear. Then, that is a slightly smaller boat than most that have chimmed in here. Even with 4 adults on board, it'll pull a tube quite well. I've never tried to pull a water skier though. The onboard speedo is odd on this boat. At slower speeds it reads significantly slower than my actual speed, but as I approach WOT, the speedo becomes faster, reading about 45mph at full throttle. So, it's about 5mph fast. All in all I've been very happy with the engine.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

My old Bayliner 19' with 3.0 did 39 mph GPS, with Stiletto 14.25 x 19"P @ 4800 rpm. Two adults and full fuel. Would I ever have a V hull 18-20' boat with 3.0 again? Nope. It was a great boat, but my next bowrider 19-22', will have minimum 4.3 220hp EFI V6, or more likely 5.7 Gxi or Mag.... My 20' Deck boat with my Yamaha F150txr is incredible from a power to weigh ratio. I'm getting 45.9 mph, two 200 lb adults, and 52 gal fuel, via GPS... But I didn't get this boat to go fast....

Where in Wisconsin are you from Lodi? You may want to look around more, I see plenty of similar boats with V6-8 for $6k....

Happy New Year!

 

[govols019]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Expect a MAXIMUM speed in the low 30's.

Those were your words claiming something as a fact when it isn't. The 3.0 is no speed demon but there is no need in exaggerating how slow it is. That's all I'm saying.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Okay, what exactly do you call it if 34 MPH is as fast as it will go?????

I call it a maximum speed of 34 MPH, which is low 30's. You posted that your boat had max speed of 38 MPH, don't be surprised if fully loaded for a day's cruising it drops below 35 MPH. The difference between a hot day versus a cool day or a fairly small altitude difference could easily cost you that much speed.

 

[govols019]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

hahahaha.... No way man.... these 4 bangers are running 50 mph. Just read all the above posts, these guys wouldn't BS us....lmao!

BTW, I saw 85 mph out of my 4.3L powered Baja last weekend when I went across the ocean from Florida to the Bahama's, I made the whole trip in 6 minutes... NASA approved GPS verified.... had a chopper flying over head that can verify too....

Pointless and unnecessary post.

 

[govols019]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Okay, what exactly do you call it if 34 MPH is as fast as it will go?????

I call it a maximum speed of 34 MPH, which is low 30's.

I'd say that was the maximum that YOUR boat would go and not the maximum that all 3.0's will go.


For the record, my next boat will be a V-8. It's not the top speed that bothers me because I seldom run that hard but it's the low cruising speed that is annoying. It takes awhile to get anywhere when you're cruising in the mid-20's are so.

I made a 130 mile trip upriver during the summer and I didn't think I was ever gonna get there.

 

[642mx]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Pointless and unnecessary post.

It was added to lighten the mood a little.... I guess you don't like to laugh, huh? I bet 45Auto laughed!

But your right, its unnecessary.... just like the guys lying about how fast there boats go.

 

[govols019]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Calling a person a liar is pretty serious thing where I come from. Who, exactly, are you calling a liar?

 

[642mx]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Calling a person a liar is pretty serious thing where I come from. Who, exactly, are you calling a liar?

hahahaha.... Have you read the posts about how fast some of these guys claim there 3.0 powered boats go?....

 

[45Auto]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Lighten up govols019, the first one I've seen calling people a liar about their boat is you claiming mine would go faster than 34 MPH! But I did think 642MX's post about the high speed Bahama run was pretty funny, it actually made me laugh out loud! And I would really enjoy going out with some of the high speed 3.0's claimed in some of the above posts just to see how fast they are. None of the 3.0's around here (southern Louisiana) are quite as fast in my experience. I also agree with your statement about the slow cruising speed, that's why my current boat is significantly faster.

I never said ALL 3.0's had the same maximum speed.

The original poster asked about 3.0's IN GENERAL, no distinct boat was specified. If I'm giving someone general advice on a boat I prefer not to give them unrealistic expectations of what they are buying. If the original poster buys the boat expecting speeds in the low 30's and that's what he gets, he is happy. If he gets more speed, he figures he has a great boat and is even happier.

On the other hand, if he buys the boat expecting speeds in the high 30's and doesn't get it, then he's disappointed and not happy with his boat. Look how many posts you've made over the 4 MPH difference between my boat and yours.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Geeesh..
I love these threads when somebody is looking for advice and it turns into a lot of "OH YA, Well MY BOAT......blah blah blah...."

I have a 120 hp (2.5 actually) and my only experience is 31 mph NOT properly trimmed and tuned, in my 18 foot Starcraft, bearing in mind she's a tin can and much lighter than glass...

3.0's have their place, you just need to decide if thats where you want to be for your personal use.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Is there a trend developing here? Maybe the further south you go, the slower the 4 cylinders get .....

 

[mrcool]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Looks like a clean boat. If its what you want, then buy it. Just keep in mind that 4 cylinder boats are not speed demons, they don't run 50 mph (regardless of what ANYBODY says) and they don't like carrying around a load of people. No boat gets any decent fuel mileage, so don't base your decision on fuel economy.

Good Luck either way.

oh my, look what I started, sorry...No really I love it Haa haa
The boat I have now (and will maybe keep) Is a 1983 Glastron SSV-151 (15.5 footer)with a 90 horse Evinrude. It go's 44mph with just my wife and I with a Raker ss prop.

I'm just kind of looking for bigger boat to handle rougher water a little better, the Glastron is small and will shake your teeth out plus it's really close to the water, a good sized wake or wave has no trouble crashing over the bow.

My wife and I are in our eary 50's and the kid has moved to New York City, so it's just the two of us, and my really wanting to go fast and ski days are behind us. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[mrcool]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

My old Bayliner 19' with 3.0 did 39 mph GPS, with Stiletto 14.25 x 19"P @ 4800 rpm. Two adults and full fuel. Would I ever have a V hull 18-20' boat with 3.0 again? Nope. It was a great boat, but my next bowrider 19-22', will have minimum 4.3 220hp EFI V6, or more likely 5.7 Gxi or Mag.... My 20' Deck boat with my Yamaha F150txr is incredible from a power to weigh ratio. I'm getting 45.9 mph, two 200 lb adults, and 52 gal fuel, via GPS... But I didn't get this boat to go fast....

Where in Wisconsin are you from Lodi? You may want to look around more, I see plenty of similar boats with V6-8 for $6k....

Happy New Year!

No I'm from Deerfield, just east of Madison...I'd really like a deck boat but can't find a good one without being too big or it's junk or too much $$$ and most are IO's I'd perfer an outboard.

What kind of deck boat do you have??? are you from Wisconsin??

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

I live in Middleton, I've been here most of my life, but was born in upstate NY.

We just purchased a Hurricane 202 Fundeck GS, just in time for winter!

We did manage to get it out 3 times, and really love it!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

Great shape for $6000...does that sound right?

No, way overpriced.


In the last year, I have seen 3, 18' sea rays with the 4.3, all in great shape, one with only 97 hours on it, all went for under $5000

In todays market, that boat should sell for $3500 max.

Be patient, the right boat will come along.

 

[mrcool]

Re: Boat with a 3.0 Mercruser?

I live in Middleton, I've been here most of my life, but was born in upstate NY.

We just purchased a Hurricane 202 Fundeck GS, just in time for winter!

We did manage to get it out 3 times, and really love it!

Ah a fellow sconnie... I read your thread on re-doing your Bayliner, WOW impressive Wish I'd have seen it sooner, I would have boated along side and videoed it for you...been to Gov. Dodge boat ramp many times..I'll keep an Eye out for you this summer on the Madison lakes.

BTW where did you get your deck boat?