240 Sundeck - 5.0 MPI vs. 350 MAG

[Danny Arrigo]

Might have a chance at a good price at a 2008 - 240 Sundeck (brand new from last year) but it has a 5.0 MPI. I always thought that the 5.0 MPI was underpowered for that boat but I really don't know. Anyone know what the real different is and what to expect (or no to).

Again, any thoughts and/or adice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[comsnark]

You need to drive them to really know.

Those guys with Twin 4.3's in a 280DA will tell you that you will be fine. Those that put Twin 350mags in the 280SS (which is a few thousand pounds lighter than a 280DA) will tell you that the 5.0 will be underpowered.

 

[chuck1]

It depend???
How are you going to use the boat. Do you plan on pulling 200+ lbs skiers with the boat loaded?? Then the 5.0 may not work for you. On the other hand if it is just you and the small kids could be just right.
How much of a deal are you getting. Keep in mind resale value.

 

[Dave S]

My 2002 240SD with a 5.0 ran just fine with one person aboard or twelve aboard. I'd buy another one with a 5.0 in a heartbeat.:thumbsup:

 

[Tonka Boater]

Keep in mind resale value.

The 5.0 will probably be just fine but Chuck is correct, think resale. Though the 5.0 is not a big deal in reality, the perception at resale might be an issue. Keep that in mind when negotiating the price. I had an '08 240SD with the 350 Mag and LOVED IT!

.

 

[comsnark]

Ok. . .back to my earlier comment. When I was shopping bowriders in the 20-22' range, the 5.0L seemed to be the standard offering. Not just for Searay. . but also for Crownline, Regal, Maxxum, and everybody else.

The cost to upgrade the engine to the 350 seemed to be the full installed cost for the 350 without a deduct for not buying and installing the 5L engine. Hmmmm.

In a 240SD. . .dunno.. . .there is more to performance than raw horsepower. Maybe on a flat lake it's all about horsepower. . but in waves and chop hull form is a more important factor. Still. . . I never heard anyone complain about too much horsepower in their boat. . .

I hit one of my shopping low points when I was standing on a 27' cuddy (not searay) which was sporting a 350mag. Just like the 22' bowrider right next to it. . .I am sure the Cuddy would have been "fast enough". . .but I suspected it was going to be underpowered.

Ok. . I am rambling. I am just going to drink my whisky and oogle GPS units and my favorite porn websites for a while.

 

[JediJD]

Far be it from me to interrupt good entertainment...but the engine size is all about how you are going to use it. I probably haven't had any boat I have owned at WOT other than pulling a skier more than a few times. If you are a "live on the edge WOT guy", you probably want to wait for a honker engine. However, I suspect you will never know the difference. One reason it is available, and at a good price, is the perception of the engine. Yes, a smaller engine pushing a larger boat is less efficient, but be real...at the 240SD level, the relative efficiency loss is less than we are going to pay...over ten years...for tow tubes.

Enjoy! Spent the day on Lake Allatoona today. I LOVE our 240SD.

 

[highslice]

If you are going to be pulling skiers you really need the 350. If you're just cruising, the 5.0 would be fine. No such thing as too much HP. You really have to drive the boat though.

When we bought our 270 I had people who had one tell me that the 6.2 was great for the boat. I wanted the 496 but test drove a 6.2. It was a joke, it took the boat like 10 - 12 seconds to get on plane, and the response to throttle was sluggish at best. Pulling skiers with that setup would be misrable for the skier - it would be a race to see if you could get up before you drowned. With the 496 the boat is a rocket and pops skiers right out of the water.

Bottom line is you have to consider how you want to use the boat and test drive it. I think resale with 350 would be MUCH better.