engine choice

[brunooliviero]

Last question on the 280. What is the recomended engine set up. Is a single 375 HP engine a wiser choice over the other 2 options of 220HP twin or 260HP twin. Is there greater fuel economy with a single engine or does it have to work harder than if you had 2 engines instead.
Thanks
Bruno

 

[northern]

The maitenance on a two engine boat is twice that of a single engine boat. Two engine boat with one engine not working will get you home. We have had two boat with twins in both we had an engine fail and made it to a place to get the non working one fixed. With twin engines at 6 to 8 knots if you turn one off you loose 2 knots speed. A single engine boat has more room to work on the engine.

 

[EricW]

ALL of those engine choices work well on the 02-08 280. You will get different opinions about single versus twins on the 280.

The 375 hp 496 Mag is great engine, and very well suited to the 280. Top speed is well into the 40s, and it is slightly more economical than twin V6s.

Stay away from the single 320 hp 6.2 V8 that was offered in 2002. The only desirable single engine for the 280 is the 375 hp 496.

I personally feel that the single 496 V8 is the best engine choice for the 280. I think the benefits of more room, reduced maintenance, and better economy outweigh the benefits of twins on the 280.