Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

[Mscanon99]

Hi All,

I have owned several boats with outboards, Mercury and Evinrude. Based on these I prefer the Evinrude, however the Merc was fine.

I am now thinking about going with an I/O in a 19-20 footer. I am looking used, so I am wondering if anyone has some recommended setups for I/O's.

I know OMC is no longer making I/O's and have heard good things about Volvo but that they are expensive to get repaired (Or should I say more expensive).

Are there any that are known to be dogs? I would think Merc would be the one to get becuase of service locations. What is the difference between drives, Alpha and Bravo. Also, any motors that are known to be more problematic than others?

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Mike

 

[sebago_kid]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

can't say with much certainty, but the 3.7L Mercruiser doesn't seem to get rave reviews around here. Other than that, I would assume you could get merc parts anywhere, including alot of auto parts stores.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

This thread should get pretty long....

ANY properly serviced Merc or Volvo shuld provide many, many years of reliable service.

The difference between alpha and bravo is basically strength. Alphas are rated to 300hp while bravos are available from 400hp and up and in single and dual prop configurations.

Volvo doesn't have a heavy duty single prop drive so all higher power engines get dual props, not necessarily a bad thing just something to consider.

Avoid OMC drives because of the reason you stated above - gone out of business.

Engines to avoid - Mercruiser 3.7L 4 cylinders

 

[Don S]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

Knowing something about a year range for anything you are looking for makes a big difference. Some drives not even availble.
Lots of choice diffeences in 2009 that didn't exist in 1969.

Alpha and Bravo drives for instance, have completely different shifting methods that are not even close to each other.
The Bravo used the Volvo cone shift method, the Alpha and OMC Cobra and stringer drives used the dog clutch style with a shift interrupt system to get them out of gear.

So what range are you looking in.

 

[Mscanon99]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

Thanks for the feedback....here is what I am thinking:

a. 1999 Sea Ray 185 with a Merc 4.3 / 190hp. Seller estimates 200 hrs. Fresh water use. One owner. Never changed the bellows/pump/gimbal...just oil. - Asking 6K

b. 1998 Citation 1900 cuddy with a Merc 4 cylnder (guess 3.0), again, seller is saying 200 hours...looks good...no bottom paint, should be fresh water but cant be sure. Second owner, unknown service history. - Asking 4K

c. 1988 Sea Ray Seville cuddy - 21ft, Merc 4.3 - Dealer selling it. Different looking outdrive on this one, its white where all the other mercs are black.

What do you think? Any of these stand out in a good or bad way. I know that maintenance is the key. - Asking 6K

Thanks....Mike

 

[Don S]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

Moving this to Boat topics and questions (not engine)
You are looking at boats. Not really engine questions.
Will say one thing, SeaRay dealt with Merc directly in the past and Merc sent the same drive packages to SeaRay as everyone else EXCEPT for the color. Searay used oyster white and Merc supplied them that way. Just a paint job, drives, engines, and everything else is the same.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

Couple other comments - approx 200 hours, estimates 200 hours.....Both are meaningless BS without an hour meter. Have compression/leakdown testing done on engines and don't worry about how many hours run time they have.

'99 with original bellows is WAY overdue. Although if they have not leaked yet, then no harm, no foul. BUT it may indicate the overall level of care this boat has received.

Cuddy cabin with a 4cyl is underpowered. It will be OK lightly loaded, but with gear onboard for overnighting or when doing any watersports, it will struggle.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

all the boats you mention are minimum powered by a 4.3 L for good performance. the 4.3 is a great engine, but a 5.0 or 5.7, will not work as hard as the 4.3, and give about the same fuel economy, at the same speeds. my vote is Volvo, all the way.

 

[nlain]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

The 185 with 4.3L is not bad, I have a 2004 185 4.3L 190 hp, it will push my boat close to 50 loaded, I have run 50 with just me, 49 with me, wife and gear for the day with bimini open catching wind, all speeds are gps, the others I agree would have minimum power with the engines in them.

 

[CAVU V]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

All my boats have been Volvo and they are very reliable.
Easy to change the impeller, 30 min job.
The mechanics I have talked to always say to get Volvos, if it wasn't for the Mercs they would be out of business.

Dale

 

[nlain]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

I have only had 2 Mercs, the first was a 1987, ran it until I got the 2004, the only thing I ever did to either of them was normal maintenance, oil, filter, plugs, wires, dist cap, rotor, points, impellar in the drive, and after about 15 years I had to change the manifold and riser, bellows was original, so in my case I would probably stick with Merc.

 

[Mscanon99]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

Bellows for 15 years?

How can you check the bellows on a used boat? I have heard it suggested to changed them in 8-10 years.

Any other thoughts on this, I am very close to buying a Stingray with Thru Hull Exhast, does this eliminate a bellow?

I think the 2000 may have not had any bellows changed, are they due?

Thanks

Mike

 

[nlain]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

If you have a sterndrive you have a bellows, it seals the flex area when you tilt the outdrive, in fact there are actually two bellows, one for the drive and one for the shift cable, I have never had thru hull exhaust so I am not sure about the exhaust on the boat you are looking at. I always performed my own maint and on the original boat I had to pull the drive every year to grease the ujoints on the shaft so I would inspect the inside of the main bellows then and I would tilt the drive up and look at the others and check for any sign of cracks, there were none when I traded the boat on the one I have now. I would spray them all down with silicone at least twice a year.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Best I/O's Merc / OMC / Volvo

I owned boats with Merc outdrives for 15 years. It seemed I was always having to do required maintenance. I then got a boat with VP outdrive. I did change the universals and bellows. I have owned this boat now for 8 years. This spring I changed the bellows for the third time. Changing the bellows on a VP vs Merc is completely different as you don't need to pull the whole outdrive off to do so. It is a late model 70's so I don't know about the newer models.

BTW, There are 3 important bellows on a Mercruiser. Universal bellows, exhaust bellows and the one for the shifter. I almost had a boat sink due to the shifter boot/bellows leaking.

Now that I'm a Volvo guy, don't think I'll ever go back to Merc.