These engines are based on at least two chevy engine blocks with various heads to develop their reliable marine horse power at these levels. The 380 Hp is the one that is popular in a cabin cruiser and bigger family bow riders. Its full throttle rpm range is 4,400 – 4,800 rpm and has a cam and valve train that works best for those kind of rpms. The peak power has been dyno’d at 4,200 rpm before it starts to fall off and the 430 Hp H O verison exchanges some low end power compared to the 380 Hp for more clearly power over 4,000 rpm that then peaks at 4,700 – 4,800 rpm. The full throttle rpm range for the 430 Hp H O is put at 4,600 – 5,200 rpm. A 380 Hp engine will best a 430 Hp power boat up to about 4,000 rpm, where the 430 Hp then really pulls ahead.

Seabuddy has done a sea trial with each of these engines, and in a 7,000 lb type boat it proved hard to tell the difference between them in a pleasure boat application.

2012 Mercruiser 380 Hp 8.2 powerboat engine

Mercury Marine uses its Merc Racing division to sell the 525 Hp EFI bumps up the power and the full throttle rpm to 4,800 – 5,200 rpm. They add even more changes to the engine parts like a different fuel injection system AND a 3.3 liter supercharger to get a rating of 700 Hp at the same full throttle rpm range of 4,800 – 5,200 rpms.

All of these 502 cu. in. (8.2 litre) engines have a bore of 4.47 inches with a 4 inch stroke.

2012 Mercruiser 430 HO 8.2 engine

2012 Mercury Racing 525 Hp EFI engine

2012 Mercury Racing SCi 700 Hp engine

A great starter boat for a small family to get out on the local lakes. The Mercury Marine inboard outboard uses the old reliable standard, Alpha drive. She has 135 Hp and in the USA you must now get the MPI inboard outboard version of the Chevy 4 cylinder engine.

More photos and words on the second page.

Sea Ray cautions boaters to not load this one too heavy. Limit all added weights from ; battery, fuel, anchor, ice chest, boat gear, with the weight of all the people on board to under 980 lbs. There are no problems if this rule is strictly followed as a maximum.

For water sports keep everyone except the driver up front in the bow rider area for best results. The narrow 7’ beam matches up well with the LOA of 17’ 6” and 21 gallon gas tank. These photos may show optional, extra cost equipment.

A Formula bow rider boat, boat trailer, and a Mercury Mercruiser V-8 for under $100,000 is available today. Some are way under. The boat options and the Merc engine and inboard outboard drive choices do much to drive your price.

Adding the biggest small block Mercury Mercruiser engine adds about $7,000 to a base, but nicely equipped and rather hi-tech, built boat. A Bimini is $1,385 and a cockpit and bow cover is $1,275. Now finish off the cockpit with some carpet at $555 and a head with dockside pumpout at $625. Pick a trailer and you are ready for getting on the water in a nice wakeboarding and other water sports bow rider boat. She makes an excellent ski boat.

2010 model of Chaparral’s 186 model bow rider. She is 19′ 6″ LOA, has a 8′ beam, and has a 25 gallon gas tank.

Expect a mid 40s top speed with three aboard and energize under the summer sun. The new 186 SSi delivers space-efficient Wide Tech technology and Chaparral style at a price that deserves a double-take. Ranked the biggest boat in its class, four adults can enjoy side-by-side comfort across the aft couch. The adult-sized bowarea features reassuring freeboard and legroom usually found on boats up to three feet longer. You’ll find storage space everywhere: under the seats, along the gunwales, in the floor and under the engine hatch. Underway, the 186 delivers strong low-end pulling power, controlled midrange and responsive top-end. Built with premium materials, the 186 is Kevlar reinforced for a solid ride.

Short version; massive power and a unique torque curve that does not “curve” and thus it is re-named: Torque Mesa (or Mesa, for a one word title). It’s the biggest thing about this new Mercury Racing engine, transmission, and outdrive and that drove the internal secret code name for Merc Racing…Project Mesa.

Spec version; a 6,500 rpm red-line, 4.57 bore and a 4.21 stroke gives boaters a 9.0 liter V-8 with 4 cams, four-valves per cylinder, and turbo-charged engine that computer controls boost and torque at high rpms.

Click to the second page for more photos and more words from seabuddy.

More added details version; dry-sump engine and drive, special aluminum cylinder bores that leads among all the differences that perhaps doubles engine lifespan. Merc Racing gives a one year pleasure boater warranty. 7.8:1 compression ratio, requires 91 grade fuel, mated to the new M8 surface-piercing drive via a Merc racing dry-sump hydraulic transmission. The M8 is 35% stronger than a number six drive and uses new stronger single CNC props choices with a choice of gear ratios.

BTW, gain 50 Hp for a 1,350 Hp rating if your boat builder teams up with Merc Racing to get together in the design of how the engine gets its intake air within your boat’s air intake design.

Package weight (engine, tranny, and drive) is 1606 lbs. The engine dimensions out at a length at 26.69”, width at 34”, and a height above the crankshaft centerline of 29”.

Mercury Racing has caused a stir with this new sterndrive marine engine - outdrive package.

Boston Whaler now uses a new hull with 50% more weight , a smoother riding bottom shape, and higher hull sides to reinvent their most popular boat model. The first hull design and weight lasted more than 50 plus years. Now the hard ride is softened and the general family fun factor has increased for all the family boating activities. Look at the new bottom shape at the transom and the bucket seat option over the standard boat bench seat in the deeper cockpit. See five photos here.

Note the MPG at these specific rpms…

3,000 and then 3,500 and then 4,500 and then at 5,000 rpms.

Advantage Boats are doing OK through the current hard times for the boating industry as witness that Advantage Boats gave up prime boat show booth space to the Women’s Cancer issue.
Why are they making it? Simple. They invent, build, and sell boat designs that set a standard for the boating industry.
Gary Ferguson, the in-house designer of Advantage Boats, has very original designs for pleasure boaters that tie their love of boating with a sense of speed on the water. Ferguson started racing boats in the 1950s, honed his skills to set many records in the 1960-1970 time window. He raced in water drag racing and long distance endro racing.

Gary then moved on to boat design. He went to work for Art Carlson, the famous designer for Glastron boats and some James Bond movie boats. Ferguson then went into designing work at Advantage boats in 1989. His experience working with boat designs matches up against anyone in the boat building industry.
hot link to the boat builder…

http://www.advantageboats.com/

here is high speed link to how they run…

http://www.advantageboats.com/clips/x-flight_web.mov

Eight photos in this set

Setting still in the water, the X-Flight 34 may appear to have a type of air-entrapment hull design, it does not.  The pickle-fork bow blends into an advanced stepped-vee bottom aft designed to more efficiently utilize today’s stern drive packages and latest propeller technologies.  The forward portion of the hull is aerodynamically configured to create lift.  That lift makes the hull react and perform like it weighs less thus improving efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and delivering higher top speed.  Yet, because it is still a vee-bottom, the boat rides soft, turns well and handles rough water like a vee hull does.The goal with the X-Flight 34 was to attain a new level of performance while offering a more passenger-friendly experience to enhance family boating.
Debbie Christensen owns and runs the Advantage Boats family company since the death of her Husband, Harry.
Harry was killed by a man trying to steal an airplane that Harry had for sale. His body was found months later with two gunshots in it. They did catch the guy and the man was given a life sentence for his murder of Harry Christensen.
Bob is their leader in the marketing of Advantage Boats. Seabuddy has known Bob Spulveda (Advantage Boats Key Man) for around 32 years now.

While this boat has a 525 Hp Merc, a Hallett 290 breaks 90 mph with 750 Hp. A roomy boat with a bow seating area as well as a boat with a nicely appointed mid-cabin she is a top shelf runabout with a performance accent. I post eight photos here and link to the boatbuilder …

http://www.hallettboats.com/

A Mercruiser 320 Hp V-8 inboard outboard gives between 65 to 68 mph at the top end in this hull. She is a hit with boat buyers. The first run is sold out and Chris Craft is cranking up their boat building to make more to meet the demand for late spring delivery. If you want a new bow rider boat for this year, seabuddy suggests that you take a look at what Chris Craft boats is offering. The local dealer is linked below (or they will find your local dealer for you, if they do not deliver boats to where you boat)…

www.bayportyachts.com/

Specs for this new 2010 – 2011 model are LOA of 20’ 2” with a performance beam of 7’ 11” and a weight of just over 2,900 lbs. In other words, a rocket boat on the water with 320 Hp, so most boat buyers will talk with Chris Craft about other power options at lower prices.

Many long time boat fans and seabuddy are rejoicing that the signature brand of Chris Craft is a moving and shaking up the waters of boating again.

www.chriscraft.com