New Engine / Drive

[AssistNewport]

Hello all.

I'm am repowing my workboat (22' CenterConsole Seaway, fiberglass over wood construction). The previous engine was a Volvo 260 w/ a 280 drive.

Would you recomend VolvoPenta 5.7MPI w/ SX drive or the Mercruiser w/ Bravo 1 or 2 drive? The costs are about the same (within $500).

Thanks.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: New Engine / Drive

Welcome to iboats.....
You will get positive feedback for both......
The Volvo is probably more durable......
The Merc's are cheaper parts wise, & also the availability of service people......
I say Volvo.......

 

[tie_one_on]

Re: New Engine / Drive

Boy, if all choices in life were this easy.
Volvo Penta hands down, never look back.
Good luck.

 

[tommays]

Re: New Engine / Drive

Now if you were compareing it to and Alpha Drive than that would be and apple to apple favoring the Volvo SX

I gotta think the Bravo 1 drive is MUCH MORE heavy duty than the SX drive for pushing around a work boat

The B2 drive would allow a much bigger prop with the right gear ratio that may be better at moveing a work boat and it has a much bigger rudder area for boat control

Tommays

 

[Don S]

Re: New Engine / Drive

Not only would I go with the Volvo, but upgrade to the DuoProp (DP) option instead of the SX (Single Prop). Especially for a work boat.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: New Engine / Drive

While I was recovering from the brain damage caused by the ownership of an OMC King Cobra 460, I priced a new re-power using a Volvo..... Then I got a bid from couple of Mercruiser dealers for a similar Bravo installation.


It appeared that that I could get a Bravo install for a couple thousand less. (although I'll bet any Volvo dealer will match a legitimate Merc deal) There didn't seem to be much difference in price with the Bravo I/II/III.

Since I like to do my own work using parts from many sources I also looked at new and used parts. New parts are of course available from the many dealers that service both manufacturers. (It did seem there were more Merc dealers available)

But the used parts availability sort of swayed me. Ebay has at any given time about 1100+ items for Mercruiser there where they only have about 400 or so Volvo items.


I bought a used eng/drive locally. I of course bought what was avaliable. If that had been a Volvo then so be it. But I'm glad I got a Merc for the apparent ease of finding used/new old stock/etc parts. And it matched the OMC cobra transom bolt pattern/cut out.

I don't how similar the Volvo 280 transom is to the Merc transom.


You probably won't go wrong with either though.



Cheers,


Rick

 

[AssistNewport]

Re: New Engine / Drive

Thank you all for your input!!

-Devin