Get what you pay for?

[oldjeep]

Re: Get what you pay for?

Pay now or pay later. It is easier to finance the extra cost now than it will be to pay for more expensive repairs later.

It would take a great many years before you ever had to do $1200 of repairs to a brand new outdrive.

 

[jkust]

Re: Get what you pay for?

It would take a great many years before you ever had to do $1200 of repairs to a brand new outdrive.

I wonder how long an outdrive could go if nobody ever changed the gear lube presuming it stayed full. Sometimes I think the separate paradigm of old boats and that of new boats gets melded together.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Get what you pay for?

I wonder how long an outdrive could go if nobody ever changed the gear lube presuming it stayed full. Sometimes I think the separate paradigm of old boats and that of new boats gets melded together.

I'd bet you could go 10 years or better - assuming no water intrusion

 

[jkust]

Re: Get what you pay for?

I'd bet you could go 10 years or better - assuming no water intrusion

Every fall when I get the annual maintainance and winterization done, it does feel a little excessive getting all the fluids changed given the actual engine hours we put on. Boating is mostly finding a spot to float for the day for us. I suppose that skipping leads to the downward spiral and all the repair threads on iboats. Also then you'd expect the Mercuriser high performance gear lube to last a long time with its high price tag.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Get what you pay for?

Mason, it is strange that the VP is less expensive than the Mercruiser. Especially if the Mercruiser is an Alpha. But if the Mercruiser is a Bravo, especially a Bravo 3, that would be one reason for the price difference.

Volvo Penta SX drive is comparable to a Mercruiser Bravo 1. Same type of shifting mechanism (cone clutch in the top of the drive)

VP DuoProp is comparable to a Mercruiser Bravo 3 Cone shifting, dual, counter rotating propellers.

From what you describe of a deckboat and a crowd, you will not be sorry if you go for a VP DuoProp or a Merc Bravo 3.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Get what you pay for?

...ey both use the currently available GM engines, one for one. A Big Block Chevy is the same engine for both companies. .

The OP is talking about 5.7s, which are small blocks. But yes, they are exactly the same to start with from GM Powertrain. SO not sure how one could get a generation ahead of the other.

Now, if the OP starts looking at VPs with a 496 (8.1)versus a Merc with an 8.2, then yes they are big blocks, and the Merc would be sort of a generation ahead, considering GM doesn't make the 496 anymore.

 

[emoney]

Re: Get what you pay for?

I don't have an opinion either way as to which you should buy, but I noticed no one has mentioned resale value. There's always a reason why product A is cheaper than product B and it's safest to make sure what that reason is. Now, I'm by no means saying that there's a difference between the two when it comes time to resell/trade the boat, but I think it at least needs to be looked at. For example, is Volvo about to redo their entire system and they're currently paying dealers big incentives to move the "old stock"? If that's the case (and I have no idea if it is), that will affect resale as well. $1200 is a lot of difference, imho, but just make sure it's the best "value" because that isn't always defined by price.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Get what you pay for?

I wonder how long an outdrive could go if nobody ever changed the gear lube presuming it stayed full. Sometimes I think the separate paradigm of old boats and that of new boats gets melded together.

assuming no seal damage to allow water in the gear box, probably longer than you would own the boat.

here is a little known fact - over 80% of small engines in lawnmowers never get an oil change. they last about 7-10 years, then the engine dies from neglect. that same engine if oil is changed on a yearly basis will last over 50 years.

 

[jkust]

Re: Get what you pay for?

assuming no seal damage to allow water in the gear box, probably longer than you would own the boat.

here is a little known fact - over 80% of small engines in lawnmowers never get an oil change. they last about 7-10 years, then the engine dies from neglect. that same engine if oil is changed on a yearly basis will last over 50 years.

Interesting...I change all the small engines oil yearly but I feel the outdrive oil being in the winterization package is a little like the 3000 oil change myth for cars. It makes us feel like we're doing something good when were just spending money needlessley.

 

[Mason78]

Re: Get what you pay for?

Mason, it is strange that the VP is less expensive than the Mercruiser. Especially if the Mercruiser is an Alpha. But if the Mercruiser is a Bravo, especially a Bravo 3, that would be one reason for the price difference.

Volvo Penta SX drive is comparable to a Mercruiser Bravo 1. Same type of shifting mechanism (cone clutch in the top of the drive)

VP DuoProp is comparable to a Mercruiser Bravo 3 Cone shifting, dual, counter rotating propellers.

From what you describe of a deckboat and a crowd, you will not be sorry if you go for a VP DuoProp or a Merc Bravo 3.

The "build your boat" feature on Glastron's website does not specify bravo or alpha, just the engine. I'm assuming that both are available. I plan on visiting a Glastron dealor soon. Hopefully I get some clear answers then. I will post about my visit afterwords.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Get what you pay for?

The "build your boat" feature on Glastron's website does not specify bravo or alpha, just the engine. I'm assuming that both are available. I plan on visiting a Glastron dealor soon. Hopefully I get some clear answers then. I will post about my visit afterwords.

Well, it's VERY important to know the drives. A Bravo and an Alpha couldn't be more different. Good luck.