290SS Experience?

M

mdsulli3

New Member
Apr 12, 2010
7
Jersey Shore
Boat Info
2009 280 Sundeck
Engines
377 MAG MPI DTS BR3
Our salesman says that a 290SS with twin 5.0 BR3 will be a difficult sell at Jersey Shore b/c the engines will not perform well in the ocean. Can anyone offer comments/opinion?
 
Not sure about the performance issue, but you would not want to leave BR3 drives sitting in salt water. What options does it have?
 
Thanks for reply. Can you pls elaborate about leaving BR3 drives in salt water? Would appreciate benefiting from your knowledge. Our current boat has BR3 drive and is in a [salt water] slip for the season. Is it mineral accumulation will cause increased drag? Wouldn't any drive be affected?
 
mdsulli3 said:
Our salesman says that a 290SS with twin 5.0 BR3 will be a difficult sell at Jersey Shore b/c the engines will not perform well in the ocean. Can anyone offer comments/opinion?
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What is his concern in performance....the 290 hull, the twin 5.0s, or the B3s?

I have a 280SS and the ocean performance (I think) is great.
 
I think it's the engines. He has an older SS for sale that has 350 MAG twin but it doesn't have some of the other features/amenities we want. He is trying to push us toward the older boat with the 300hp engines, as opposed to the newer boat with 260hp engines and the features we want (for sale by another dealer). He says we won't be happy with performance of the smaller engines. He may be right, but we need a second/third opinion, besides just the one of the salesman trying to sell the boat.
 
Keep a watchful eye on your drive. The corrosion is the issue with BR3 left in salt water.
 
mdsulli3 said:
I think it's the engines. He has an older SS for sale that has 350 MAG twin but it doesn't have some of the other features/amenities we want. He is trying to push us toward the older boat with the 300hp engines, as opposed to the newer boat with 260hp engines and the features we want (for sale by another dealer). He says we won't be happy with performance of the smaller engines. He may be right, but we need a second/third opinion, besides just the one of the salesman trying to sell the boat.
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Maybe a sea trial of each would be in order? Then you can decide if you like the performance for yourself.

I would be scared to death to have my B3 in saltwater without it being on a lift of dry stacked. But that's just me.
 
Actually the salt water retards the corrosion process on the BIIIs.
BIII corrison is a greater problem in fresh water.
 
Why just BR3? Why not BR1?

Agree, a test would be the obvious thing. Unfortunately, the boat with the 5.0 engines is not local.
 
Bravo 3 drives number in the thousands here in N.J and for the 6-7 month season do just fine in salt water. Perform your yearly maintenance and go have some fun. Salesman is full of it. Twin 5.0's on a 290SS is fine since I'm sure the twin 350 share the same drives. HP shouldn't be an issue.
 
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I'll add that most of the bad reputation for Bravo 3 drives are on the pre 2003 models and involve corrosion issues. Mercury changed the drives since and has dramatically reduced the problem. Most cases now are because of a faulty Mercathode system, stray currents at the dock, or the owner putting on the wrong anodes.
 
mdsulli3 said:
I think it's the engines. He has an older SS for sale that has 350 MAG twin but it doesn't have some of the other features/amenities we want. He is trying to push us toward the older boat with the 300hp engines, as opposed to the newer boat with 260hp engines and the features we want (for sale by another dealer). He says we won't be happy with performance of the smaller engines. He may be right, but we need a second/third opinion, besides just the one of the salesman trying to sell the boat.
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He's obviously trying to sell his used boat. The twin 5.0 260hp b3 combination preforms well in my 280DA. The 290SS is similar in weight, I think alittle lighter and should do even better. Your top end speed will be in the 49-53mph range. That's not bad.
 
A little late to the thread:

1) I agree the salesman is just trying to sell what he has, as opposed to what you want.

2) BUT. . .most 290SS's I have seen have the 350mags. The older 280SS's with twins tended towards 5.7's with Alpha-1 drives. I suspect that a 290ss with 5.0's will be a bit rarer. . .and considering the lower power, should therefore be discounted.

3) The Bravo-III's are only coming on the more recent boats. . .therefore I think it is the newer model, and probably will work in Salt just fine (relatively speaking). You still have to keep up on the maintenance.

4) In terms of performance. . .they sell 280DA's with T-4.3's, and those owners say it has plenty of power. BUT the 280DA is a SunDancer. This is a SunSport. You don't want "plenty of power". You want to run rings around boats with plenty of power.

I think you need to drive both boats to understand the real difference in power. I personally have not driven both models. . . . but I have to believe that the 350's will move quicker than the T-5.0's :)

5) What ammenities are you refering to? Are you talking genny and A/C? or other doo-dads?

The genny and A/C will add weight and would make me a bit more leery of the T-5.0 drive package. Fortunately, the boat has B-III drives, which will provide more lots of low end "umph" than the older boats that were paired to B-1 drives. I am pretty happy with my boat and the Alpha's, but my boat lacks the Arch, extended platform and Gennies and therefore needs less kick to get up on plane.

Bottom line in my mind: Get both boats in the water and DRIVE them. Don't go alone. Take several people. You want to see performance LOADED, not empty.
 
Thanks all, for your input. The T-5.0 was sold so made the decision a little easier. Did the sea trial with the 350s' and was VERY happy with performance. Now negotiating with dealer (ugh).
 
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