Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

[CC245]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Hey Bear,
I think you will find that Cobalt will fit your needs perfectly. I have a 22' bowrider with the 5.7l 300hp VP Gi/DP. Out of the hole it's a monster! Top speed, who cares! (around 50). From your OP it sounds like we do the same type of boating, so that VP should work great for what you need. Good choice on the Cobalt. You can't do better than Cobalt for build quality. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

I think you are going to be dissapointed when you find out your boat doesn't hit between 50 and 55 mph. The Bravo I and III drives being discussed, were designed for high speed use. The Volvo DP drives are designed for up to 50 mph speed. Occasionally a light, overpowed boat will go above 50 with a Volvo DP drive, but they were not designed for it.

I agree that a Bravo 1 is designed for speed but a Bravo III is for speed but a Volvo DP isn't?

The B3 and the VDP is targeted at the same market both of which can run up to the 65 mph range. After that you definately need a B1.

My boat (4000lbs dry) with a VDP runs 55.5 mph on GPS at 5100 rpms with approx 60 gallons of fuel aboard. Exact same boat with a BIII runs about 2mph slower.

 

[DJ]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

We have a Crownline 266 BRR. A very heavy and well built boat. It's equipped with a 7.4L MPI and B3.

The holeshot, dock handling and tracking is incredible, with the B3. However, it still takes the engine a while to get into it's "curve".

Once underway, lightly loaded, trim/trim tabs-maximized, she will do 53-TOPS! That's via GPS.

Realize that the CR 266 is a very heavy boat. Underway, she is to be "reckoned with" on the lake. Big, fast and loud.

As stated, "exhaust" means; "Captains Choice" exhaust. When deployed, we get another 200 RPM. Good for the 53 MPH top speed. Otherwise, she'll do an honest 48-50. I suspect, the old girl, has gained a few pounds, over the years.

That 7.4L GM engine is pumping it's guts out, at that speed. That engine was NEVER designed to run that fast for that long. PLUS, the fuel consumption is embarrasing. We can run through 60 gallons in an afternoon. Since we don't trailer it-marina gas is $3.00+++/gal. OUCH!!!

Allow me to add: The 7.4L can be decent on fuel. IF, and a big if, you keep your hand off of the throttle. Our CR likes to run at about 3300 RPM and delivers decent Fuel Economy (2-MPG) at that speed. Acceptable, for what it is.

 

[642mx]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

I agree that a Bravo 1 is designed for speed but a Bravo III is for speed but a Volvo DP isn't?

I'm not sure about that, I've never seen a twin prop drive on any kind of real performance boat before. Maybe I'm wrong?...

 

[642mx]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Top speed, who cares! (around 50).

Hey- Some of us like to go fast...lol. I normally cruise around 48 mph

 

[642mx]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Allow me to add: The 7.4L can be decent on fuel. IF, and a big if, you keep your hand off of the throttle. Our CR likes to run at about 3300 RPM and delivers decent Fuel Economy (2-MPG) at that speed. Acceptable, for what it is.

Your right, the 7.4L is good on gas (compared to the rest of the black big blocks). As long as mine is below 3500-3700, she does well (2.5 mpg). Any more rpm than that, she drinks it fast!

On one of the last trips of the year, we went 170 miles (round trip), I filled up at the 85 mile mark and used 40 gallons. This trip was with a couple of other fast boats and we ran several miles at 65 mph and hardly any miles below 45. Not too bad, IMO.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Good Lord boys. The OP clearly states he wants a quality boat with the occaisional 50+ mph romp. What he's looking at is plenty. The wife/dogs/cooler flying out the aft isn't what he's about in the first place or he'd be looking at mabe a Baha. Yep it will probably do 50+ or so, close enough. It's a Cobalt, not an offshore racer. And he'll be damn glad he bought it a few years from now having invested in a good quality boat that deilvers great performance and lasting quality. Yep he might lose a boat race or two, but he'll look good doing it. Enjoy your new boat!

10-4 ^^^^ boss...

I think it's gonna be a fine boat... If I doesn't hit 50 I guess I really don't care... Like I said hole-shot and midrange are more my taste... I can always tweak things down the road. If I ever need to re-power or freshin the 7.4, I would imagine I can change heads, cam, and fuel mapping to spin like the 7.4 Gsi does. 5200 instead of 4600 rpm. Or plop an 8.1 Volvo in... Does anyone know if the hole in the transom is the same dimension for Bravo III? If I ever re-powered with Mercruiser, is is plug and play or do I need to stick with Volvo?

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Don would know, he has been around more Volvo powered stuff than the rest of us combined . . .

I agree,

I never doubted anything he said, I just wanted other folks experiences with big block power in similar boats..

I really appreciate everyone's input!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

The other question to ask is how often do you need to go 50+ MPH. That is really fast on a boat and the water needs to be fairly flat even with a big ol heavy Cobalt. I could prop my boat to get 50+ out of it but hole shot would suck and I could not use it very often because I rarely come across flat water. I have it propped to leap out of the water but max out at around 40 MPH. Any faster than that and the wife starts giving me the look, especially if it is not glass smooth. Just some more food for thought, hate to see you walk away from a nice boat because it is not fast enough 5% of the time.

Thanks Pops!

This is the type of feedback I like to hear... Are you running a Bravo I drive?

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Hey Bear,
I think you will find that Cobalt will fit your needs perfectly. I have a 22' bowrider with the 5.7l 300hp VP Gi/DP. Out of the hole it's a monster! Top speed, who cares! (around 50). From your OP it sounds like we do the same type of boating, so that VP should work great for what you need. Good choice on the Cobalt. You can't do better than Cobalt for build quality. Good luck and enjoy!

Thanks dude!

Looking forward to the hole-shot!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Hey- Some of us like to go fast...lol. I normally cruise around 48 mph

mx,

Thanks for the feedback... My neighbor sold his 2008 25' Baja last year. I was lucky enough to get out one time. The thing was crazy insane! his boat had the 502 mag with Bravo I drive. In 3-4' chop we were literally flying out of the water (prop alarms going off) at 73 mph GPS.... It blew my mind! And scared the **** outta me!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

I agree that a Bravo 1 is designed for speed but a Bravo III is for speed but a Volvo DP isn't?

.

Don said the Volvo DP drive was only designed for a top speed of ~ 50 mph. I also assumed it would directly compared to the Bravo III drives spec's and performance... But I'm not educated like Don with either drives specifications and or limitations...

 

[superpop]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Thanks Pops!

This is the type of feedback I like to hear... Are you running a Bravo I drive?

No, I am running a Volvo SX drive, second one and they are awesome in my opinion. I am biased towards the Volvo products though as I have had two of them that never let me down.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

We have a Crownline 266 BRR. A very heavy and well built boat. It's equipped with a 7.4L MPI and B3.

The holeshot, dock handling and tracking is incredible, with the B3. However, it still takes the engine a while to get into it's "curve".

Once underway, lightly loaded, trim/trim tabs-maximized, she will do 53-TOPS! That's via GPS.

Realize that the CR 266 is a very heavy boat. Underway, she is to be "reckoned with" on the lake. Big, fast and loud.

As stated, "exhaust" means; "Captains Choice" exhaust. When deployed, we get another 200 RPM. Good for the 53 MPH top speed. Otherwise, she'll do an honest 48-50. I suspect, the old girl, has gained a few pounds, over the years.

That 7.4L GM engine is pumping it's guts out, at that speed. That engine was NEVER designed to run that fast for that long. PLUS, the fuel consumption is embarrasing. We can run through 60 gallons in an afternoon. Since we don't trailer it-marina gas is $3.00+++/gal. OUCH!!!

Allow me to add: The 7.4L can be decent on fuel. IF, and a big if, you keep your hand off of the throttle. Our CR likes to run at about 3300 RPM and delivers decent Fuel Economy (2-MPG) at that speed. Acceptable, for what it is.

My Regal 2550 LSC (25', 6000 lb cuddy) is also powered with a 7.4MPI and a B3 (2:0 swinging 26" props). My typical load top speed is 48 to 50 and I have hit 53 on the GPS with a very light load. Funny how that is. Mine burns 25-26 GPH at WOT and I get 2.4 to 2.6 MPG at a 3200 RPM cruising speed.

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Don said the Volvo DP drive was only designed for a top speed of ~ 50 mph. I also assumed it would directly compared to the Bravo III drives spec's and performance... But I'm not educated like Don with either drives specifications and or limitations...

To which I vehemontly disagree. Both the BIII and VDP target the same market which is in the under 65 mph world not the under 50 mph world. If the VDP was only designed for a top speed of 50mph then how come they get bolted to big blocks or get propped to go well beyond that?

As mentioned, my boat goes 55+mph so either I'm over stressing my VDP, or it's designed to go at least that fast.

I would agree that Volvo doesn't serve the true go-fast market (ie 65mph+) like Merc can as they really don't have a B1 competitive product.

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

I'm not sure about that, I've never seen a twin prop drive on any kind of real performance boat before. Maybe I'm wrong?...

No, you are correct. Neither the B3 nor the VDP is designed for true go fast, but my point was that the VDP is designed to go well beyond 50 mph as is the B3 - they serve the same target market.

For the true go fast market which to Merc is 65 mph+ you definately need a B1 and Volvo doesn't have a competitive product in that space.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

I need to see some pictures! I looked and looked for a good cobalt, but the Sea Ray took the cake.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

I plan on keeping her forever

Says the guy who's gotten 2-foot-itis twice in under 24 months

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

Says the guy who's gotten 2-foot-itis twice in under 24 months

I know dude,

I have issues big time!

But this is gonna be it at least until we move, because it's the biggest boat I can place in my summer storage spot (next to driveway) The boat is 27' from tip of the trailer to end of extended swim platform/outdrive. I have ~2 feet before the trailer tongue is into the sidewalk!

I'll post some pics when it's a done deal.... I'll know for sure by New Years day...

 

[thesledhead]

Re: Opinions on 7.4 DP power/drive combo in 22' V-hull

We have a Crownline 266 BRR. A very heavy and well Once underway, lightly loaded, trim/trim tabs-maximized, she will do 53-TOPS! That's via GPS.

Realize that the CR 266 is a very heavy boat. Underway, she is to be "reckoned with" on the lake. Big, fast and loud.
.

thats a lot of boat to hit 53 IMO.

Hey- Some of us like to go fast...lol. I normally cruise around 48 mph

Got that right bro

10-4 ^^^^ boss...

I think it's gonna be a fine boat... If I doesn't hit 50 I guess I really don't care... Like I said hole-shot and midrange are more my taste... I can always tweak things down the road. If I ever need to re-power or freshin the 7.4, I would imagine I can change heads, cam, and fuel mapping to spin like the 7.4 Gsi does. 5200 instead of 4600 rpm. Or plop an 8.1 Volvo in... Does anyone know if the hole in the transom is the same dimension for Bravo III? If I ever re-powered with Mercruiser, is is plug and play or do I need to stick with Volvo?

they make a adapter kit to use the volvo housing and the merc drive but I think it would be a waste of time and money

I know dude,

I have issues big time!

But this is gonna be it at least until we move, because it's the biggest boat I can place in my summer storage spot (next to driveway) The boat is 27' from tip of the trailer to end of extended swim platform/outdrive. I have ~2 feet before the trailer tongue is into the sidewalk!

I'll post some pics when it's a done deal.... I'll know for sure by New Years day...

we are getting way to deep into this thread to not be seeing some pics