Mercruiser Questions

[diver]

111082

This boat has a 4.3 mercruiser. It is 20.5 feet. Do stern drive powered boats sit low in the stern like this. it seemed to go ok ?. What difference should one expect if any between a similar power 4 stroke outboard and a stern drive with regard to performance and handling ?

Apart from pulling the leg off as well as inspecting the bellows is there anyway to detect water has entered into the bellows before damage such as bearing noise becomes apparent ?

Thanks Peter

[seashawgal]

Home (http://www.whittleymarinegroup.com.au/home-1)>Sterndrive Benefits (http://www.whittleymarinegroup.com.au/sterndrive-benefits)
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Benefits of a Sterndrive

“I’m now convinced there’s no better choice of power for my boat than a Volvo Penta Sterndrive.
I’ve personally experienced the difference, and I’ve always been an outboard man.”
Jason Levinson CR 2180 Owner, Gold Coast Queensland


VALUE FOR HP – purchase a 200 hp V6 stern drive, for the price of most 70 hp four stroke outboards.
DOESN’T IMPEDE ON USEABLE SPACE – compact dimensions and Whittley design minimises intrusion into the
rear fishing or cruising platform.
QL NEUTRA-SALT FLUSH SYSTEM – standard on all stern drive engines
ECONOMY – large swept volume, giving high low-end torque and better fuel economy, with a further 10 per cent
improvement on Duoprop models
HIGH TORQUE – faster hole shot
HOT WATER – all Volvo Penta engines have the option of hot water service connections
TOP SPEED– Volvo Penta Duoprop offers higher top-end speed compared to single-prop options
STABILITY – a lower centre of gravity compared to outboard engines improves stability
FRESHWATER Cooling – standard on all diesel engines, and an option on gasoline
EVC SYSTEM – standard with a trip computer and power trim assist
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY– gasoline catalytic models comply with CARB four-star rating
FUEL INJECTED – all gasoline Volvo Pentas are fuel injected

[seashawgal]

i've posted some info some of which may help you from the whittley site. I've just returned from a boating trip with 2 other boats with stern drives & they go through the water beautifully. The large whittley stern drive boats use about 20 - 30 litres per hour depending on speed. I've got an outboard on my whittley, it came with one. I can go right up onto the beach backing in by raising the motor whereas the sterndrives had to use a little rubber ducky to reach the beach. Outboards can go into much shallower water about 0.5 of a metre. I've heard you have to be extremely cautious and onto maintenance with the "risers" with the exhaust. They can require replacement every 4 years if you're not careful & it's a big & expensive job. Insist on having a boat expert inspect those sorts of things. I've heard you can get stainless risers put in as well although very expensive.

[DaveR]

I believe the HP rating on most sterndrives is measured at the engine and not the prop like it is with outboards, correct me if wrong.

[Chris Tucker]

Correct, stern drive installations will be rated by the engine's output as that engine may not always be coupled to a stern drive, it may be a shaft drive, surface piecer etc.

Outboard output ratings on the other hand are primarily defined by the marketing department, then they go looking for an acceptable standard that they can apply. A bit like the tow rating on your 4x4.

[snatchy]

I believe the HP rating on most sterndrives is measured at the engine and not the prop like it is with outboards, correct me if wrong.


Correct, stern drive installations will be rated by the engine's output as that engine may not always be coupled to a stern drive, it may be a shaft drive, surface piecer etc.

Outboard output ratings on the other hand are primarily defined by the marketing department, then they go looking for an acceptable standard that they can apply. A bit like the tow rating on your 4x4.

No don't think so....

HP measured at the prop since the 90's. Both outboards and sterndrives were originally measured at the crank. Now at the prop. I would have thought that sterndrive legs, shaft drive gearboxes, V drives etc. would all have similar losses.

Hp rating is a rubbery figure anyway.

[Chris Tucker]

No don't think so....

Hp rating is a rubbery figure anyway.

My point exactly. Hp is a quantifiable and measurable thing there is no reason for it to be "rubbery" except people fudging the numbers