Mercury Diesel Sterndrive test ride

[jdm61]

Originally Posted by Fr. Frank

Each is about 115 lbs more than the 140/3.0L with the alpha one drive. As for size, it's a bit bigger, especially in height, 3" longer, 4" wider, and 9" taller than current the current 3.0, and just 4" taller than the pre-1992 carb'd 3.0L

32"L x 30"W x 30"H, compared to 29 x 26 x 21".

Oh, yeah, it's about 2.5x the price, not counting the changes necessary to your on-board fuel system. Complete package; motor, transmission, transom group and drive is over $20K USD installed.

But if you use the boat a lot, and plan on keeping it for 20+ years....

Interesting. That is less than I thought it would be if the price includes the outdrive. I thought that low $20K price was just for the "bobtail" engine. If the 230/260hp 3 liter V6 with the Bravo setup if priced proportionally to the 150/170 2 liter package, then maybe it becomes a bit more attractive option in situations where folks are converting slightly larger I/0 boats to bracketed 6 cylinder 4stroke outboards.

[FLexpat]

the 370hp V8 with a Bravo XR drive is about 45k. Same width as the v6 just a little longer.

[jdm61]

Originally Posted by FLexpat

the 370hp V8 with a Bravo XR drive is about 45k. Same width as the v6 just a little longer.

I had heard that low to mid 40's number for the 4.2 liter engine, but once again was not aware it included the beefed up Bravo drive which is a pretty big ticket item on its own. That is somewhat encouraging. The test numbers that I have seen for the 370hp have been in the 10-10.5 gph range at the economy cruise speed of 3000 rpm and around 20-21 at WOT of 4200. That's about 2/3 the fuel burn of a 300 Verado. If the 265 hp 3 liter in in the low $30K range, how much more is that than the MSRP for a new 4.2 liter Yamaha Outboard with the fly by wire setup?

[kmoose]

Originally Posted by jdm61

I had heard that low to mid 40's number for the 4.2 liter engine, but once again was not aware it included the beefed up Bravo drive which is a pretty big ticket item on its own. That is somewhat encouraging. The test numbers that I have seen for the 370hp have been in the 10-10.5 gph range at the economy cruise speed of 3000 rpm and around 20-21 at WOT of 4200. That's about 2/3 the fuel burn of a 300 Verado. If the 265 hp 3 liter in in the low $30K range, how much more is that than the MSRP for a new 4.2 liter Yamaha Outboard with the fly by wire setup?

Even if the cost was a wash, which I am doubtful, the extra weight and reduced performance at cruise and top end would be a deal breaker for me. The slowest I cruise is 24 knots and on a good day 28-30.

Personally I love diesel power but not on small boats. I've seen them on 23' boats and other than fuel economy they just are not very impressive.

[pelican]

Originally Posted by kmoose

Even if the cost was a wash, which I am doubtful, the extra weight and reduced performance at cruise and top end would be a deal breaker for me. The slowest I cruise is 24 knots and on a good day 28-30.

Personally I love diesel power but not on small boats. I've seen them on 23' boats and other than fuel economy they just are not very impressive.

"cruise is 24kts and on a good day 28-30" ?

people often make a few mistakes - first one: over estimate their abilities

second: over estimate the speed of their ship


I believe you've made claims concerning speed before - I would have to see this cruise speed claim

[FLexpat]

ok - this piqued my curiosity and I ran some numbers...
Merc says at 4200 it puts out 370HP and at 3000 it puts out 330HP/572ft-lbs and uses 7.8gph.

If my prop slip numbers are ok and the performance numbers posted here for various Sceptres are somewhat close then WOT would be low 50's, cruise in the low 40s (mph) and fuel economy should be near 6mpg at cruise. One challenge might be that, having so much power even at the low end, idle & trolling speeds might be faster than most want. A 40mph (or even 35mph) cruise would be pretty tough for me on a lot of days - I dont bounce back from that kind of beating as well as I used to.

I have a Bravo 1X Diesel drive going in my Sceptre so all I would need is the motor - I would love to be a guinea pig if someone else would fund it! All that said, the parts would scare me. That motor is built by VW for only Marine apps, Touareg, Audi A8&Q7 and the Porsche Cayenne. I'm thinking an ECM or a turbo would pretty be hard to get (and harder to get properly installed) in most places even with a healthy checkbook.

[kmoose]

Originally Posted by pelican

"cruise is 24kts and on a good day 28-30" ?

people often make a few mistakes - first one: over estimate their abilities

second: over estimate the speed of their ship


I believe you've made claims concerning speed before - I would have to see this cruise speed claim

Seeing is believing but feeling is real....

[kmoose]

Originally Posted by pelican

"cruise is 24kts and on a good day 28-30" ?

people often make a few mistakes - first one: over estimate their abilities

second: over estimate the speed of their ship


I believe you've made claims concerning speed before - I would have to see this cruise speed claim

You're questioning my cruise speeds and now you are backpedaling and splitting hairs with sea conditions..... Note to Pelican..... Moose doesn't go out on shitty days.

Again, I stated my cruise speeds and you are calling me out. No problem, I have every trip I ever made with this engine logged with all gps tracking points including speed, time and location. If you would like to examine them all then you better bring a box lunch cause you will be a while as I have logged over 1800 hours.

You come off as quite a "know it all" and that is fine if you can back it up. I can and here is what I know for fact. My Tsunami as it sits has a WOT speed of 42 knots. On flat days I cruise at 28-30 knots. On 1-2' days I cruise at 24 knots avg offshore. On shittier days it's down to 18 with the tabs down. (Those days are rare as if it is crappy offshore I play golf) I don't know or care how the seas work up Nawth but I know the Gulf as well as anybody and what my sled will do in it on any given day. If you want to continue to run your yammer why don't you put your money where your mouth is and come take a ride at the next gathering instead of running your gums behind a keyboard. Don't forget your wallet.