5.0 vs 350

M

Maggieiscrazy

Well-Known Member
Oct 14, 2016
964
Northern Wisconsin
Boat Info
240 Sundancer
Engines
5.0. Bravo III
I’m looking to sell my 2002 240da and buy a newer 240da. Most of the boats I looked at have the 5.0 but I would really like a 350. Is there that much of a performance difference between the 2 engines? Most of my boating is cruising 28-30 mph.
 
There is a significant difference especially not just in horsepower but torque. If you did a poll of people that owned a 240da most would want a 350 (5.7). I have owned one under powered boat. It was difficult to get on plane. People would have to sit in the front until the boat struggled to get on plane. Once was enough. Never went through that again
 
I have driven both. My opinion, the 5.0 struggles with 4 people aboard, the 5.7 (350) jumps on plane, seems to maintain plane with no issues
 
of course the 5.7 has more power but the 5.0 gets the job done in a 240 very well , there are absolutely no issues to get on plane with 4 adults and no need to ask them sitting infront - at least when you are talking the 5.0 mpi .
 
A newer 240DA is going to have a 5.0mpi with 260hp and about the same torque #s as the 5.7 in your 02'. Depending on how new you go you may not be able to get the 5.7.
 
The boats I’m looking at are 06-09 and are available with the 300hp 5.7. My boat has the 5.0. I have never had a problem getting up on plane even with 6 adults. But I’m thinking I might be happier with the 5.7...?
 
i have a 2006 240 with the 5.0 mpi and the engine simply does not care if there are two or 6 people onboard . 30 mph cruise is also with an ease . spot more on the handling , the 2006 or newer 240da requests a pro in drivetrim and tabs with 6 people high up on the cockpit .
 
aerobat77 said:
i have a 2006 240 with the 5.0 mpi and the engine simply does not care if there are two or 6 people onboard . 30 mph cruise is also with an ease . spot more on the handling , the 2006 or newer 240da requests a pro in drivetrim and tabs with 6 people high up on the cockpit .
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What is the difference in the boats that requires more trim tab? I rarely need to adjust my trim tabs.
 
i think the 06 or newer 240 is a completely different hull design than the older ones and they increased the deadrise to better cut thru waves . as a downside its tippy and needs constant balancing . after some time you sort out how to handle it , so its not a bad boat at all.
 
Not apples to apples but I reciently sold my 2005 260 with 5.7. Jumped out of the hole pretty quick regardless of load. If memory serves, I pushed close to 3800 rpm at 30 mph. My new boat has twin 496 with Bravo three,s. 3100 rpm at 30 mph but that is a complete differant animal. I agree that the hull is a bit tippy but I found out that if you trim the motor as soon as you get on plane, there was never a issue. I only used tabs to level.
 
Maggie, no one....I repeat NO ONE, has ever come on this forum and stated they wished their boat had less power or a smaller engine. Get the biggest motor in the boat you can buy. And remember....The cheapest way to make your boat go faster is to buy a faster boat.
Shawn
 
NorCal Boater said:
Maggie, no one....I repeat NO ONE, has ever come on this forum and stated they wished their boat had less power or a smaller engine. Get the biggest motor in the boat you can buy. And remember....The cheapest way to make your boat go faster is to buy a faster boat.
Shawn
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I totally agree. The thing is in my area there are several nice low hour 240da’s available with 5.0’s. 5.7’s are harder to find. It would be interesting to know what the price difference between the two engines was when these boats were new. Looking at used boats there doesn’t seem to be much of a price difference between the two engines.
 
Maggieiscrazy said:
I totally agree. The thing is in my area there are several nice low hour 240da’s available with 5.0’s. 5.7’s are harder to find. It would be interesting to know what the price difference between the two engines was when these boats were new. Looking at used boats there doesn’t seem to be much of a price difference between the two engines.
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I would recommend getting test drive/sea trial, and see if you like the top end speed, and if the time to plane is acceptable, go for it. Very rarely do boat manufacturers pair a boat to an engine (or engines) to the point where it is unacceptable/awful performance for the majority of people. Sure, someone might think it is under powered. I’m not a big go fast guy, I just want to get there, I love cruising at 20-25mph, just a great speed to enjoy the ride, and you don’t feel like you have been in a wind tunnel for an hour.
 
I have a 2007 240 sundeck that we mainly use in and around the ft myers intercoastal. The only thing I wish I had is a nice 4 stroke outboard hanging on the back instead of a I/O.
 
Todd320 said:
I would recommend getting test drive/sea trial, and see if you like the top end speed, and if the time to plane is acceptable, go for it. Very rarely do boat manufacturers pair a boat to an engine (or engines) to the point where it is unacceptable/awful performance for the majority of people. Sure, someone might think it is under powered. I’m not a big go fast guy, I just want to get there, I love cruising at 20-25mph, just a great speed to enjoy the ride, and you don’t feel like you have been in a wind tunnel for an hour.
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Todd you are absolutely correct about taking any potential boat for a sea trial but in this case, if you are testing a boat with a 5.0 I would make sure you have 5-6 friends along for the ride to load the boat to the maximum weight rating and then see if you are happy with the performance. The bigger motor is not about top speed....it's about getting the boat on plane with a load and keeping it there at an engine speed the is easy on the equipment and provides good fuel economy.

And boat manufactures have for years, built boats with engines that provided barely adequate performance. Why? Because they had a lower price point and they were trying to reach a market segment. If this were not the case the manufacturers would build a 2010 240da with a 5.7 300hp engine package as that is the best performing package. But some potential buyers may feel that boat/engine package is too pricey for their budget so they pass on the Sea Ray and settle for a boat from another manufacturer at a lower price point. Rather than have that happen the manufacturer says let's put a lower priced engine package in so that buyer still gets a Sea Ray but in his budget. It won't perform as well but it's about making the sale.

I have been on this forum and a couple of others for more than 10 years and there are countless threads where people have bought a boat only to find once loaded with fuel, gear and bodies that it barely gets on plane. One example is the older 268s that came with a 454 as well as a 260. The guys with the 260 are complaining that the boat will barely plane with a load and they have to run at high RPMs to maintain plane which is hard on the motor and uses lots of fuel.
I'll say it again. No one is ever sorry they bought a boat with the biggest engine package available. There are many reasons for having a larger engine but not too many for the smaller engine.
 
norcalboater :

i guess anybody should use what he prefers but from practical experience i can assure you the 5.0 mpi with a bravo 3 drive has zero problems to push a 240 on plane even with every seat occupied . the thrust of the duoprop is very nice , things might be different when there is an alpha behind the engine to get out if the hole with a heavy load .

no need to walk away from a nice boat because it has the 5.0 and not the 5.7 imo.
 
Maggieiscrazy said:
The boats I’m looking at are 06-09 and are available with the 300hp 5.7. My boat has the 5.0. I have never had a problem getting up on plane even with 6 adults. But I’m thinking I might be happier with the 5.7...?
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So let me ask you....if you've never had a problem with the 5.0 why do you think you'd be happier with the 5.7?
 
aerobat77 said:
norcalboater :

i guess anybody should use what he prefers but from practical experience i can assure you the 5.0 mpi with a bravo 3 drive has zero problems to push a 240 on plane even with every seat occupied . the thrust of the duoprop is very nice , things might be different when there is an alpha behind the engine to get out if the hole with a heavy load .

no need to walk away from a nice boat because it has the 5.0 and not the 5.7 imo.
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Aero I respect your opinion and your right to express it. I'm sorry but I just don't agree with it and I have 50 years of boating experience backing that up, and for a while I made my living working on boats. I personally would not buy a particular boat with a small motor if a larger motor was an option. The bigger motor was offered for a reason....because the manufacturer knows it performs better. That package may be OK for some....just not me.
 
NorCal Boater said:
So let me ask you....if you've never had a problem with the 5.0 why do you think you'd be happier with the 5.7?
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I’m not sure I would be happier that’s why I asked. And I appreciate everyone’s opinions. If two identical boats were sitting side by side at the same price. One with a 5.0 and one with a 5.7 I would definitely take the 5.7. Are there any drawbacks to the 5.7? More weight, less fuel efficient?
 
Weight difference is minimal. There is a misperception in boating that a smaller engine is more fuel efficient than a bigger engine....like in cars. Than is incorrect. An engine in a car has times of acceleration, maintaining speed, coasting, etc.

A boat engine never really coasts, there are no hills, no times when you back off the throttle to slow down for another boat, a hill to go down or a stoplight. A boat engine is almost always under load. So take your 240da with the 5.0 on plane maintaining 20 mph and lets assume its turning 3500 rpms to maintain that speed. That same 240da with an engine with more HP and torque is maybe only turning 2700-2900 rpms to maintain that same speed. The smaller motor must run harder at the same speed using more fuel and working harder and that is also harder on the engine. Take the same boat and drop in a 7.4 and it would do the 20 mph at maybe 2200 rpms. And before anyone kills me I'm guessing at the actual numbers here and only using these as an illustration.

Maggie you didn't say you were "wondering" if you'd be happier you stated, "....I'm thinking I might be happier with the 5.7". That indicates to me you have some doubts about the performance of the 5.0 vs the 5.7. Good luck on whatever you decide.
Shawn
 
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