Engine Choices on '05 vs '06 200 SD

Weave

Weave

New Member
Jun 1, 2007
1,410
Western, MA
Boat Info
200 Sundeck 2005
Engines
4.3 MPI Alpha I Gen II
Hey guys,
Went to look at a 200 SD today which was an '06 with about 17 hours on it. Boat was great. I have looked at other SD's in the same size and noticed that the "standard" engine in '05 was a 4.3MPI and it seems that in '06 it is a 5.0MPI. ANyone explain that since the hulls seem identical and the dry wieghts for the two years are the same.

Is the 4.3MPI too small for the 200SD? Anyone out there with these boats?
 
Weave said:
Hey guys,
Went to look at a 200 SD today which was an '06 with about 17 hours on it. Boat was great. I have looked at other SD's in the same size and noticed that the "standard" engine in '05 was a 4.3MPI and it seems that in '06 it is a 5.0MPI. ANyone explain that since the hulls seem identical and the dry wieghts for the two years are the same.

Is the 4.3MPI too small for the 200SD? Anyone out there with these boats?
Click to expand...

I have a 5.0MPI in my 240SD and for me it's plenty of speed. WOT with 7 people gear full fuel,water was able to do 40mph easy.
 
Interesting......Looking at an '05 right now with less 30hrs fresh water use. galv tandem trailer. Asking 27K
Help me out guys

Also saw a 06 for 34K with 5.0MPI
 
Speed is relative.

As time goes by, MARKETING demands bigger engines in smaller boats. Why? Because BIGGER must BE BETTER.

That said.. . some boats are DELIBERATELY underpowered because larger engines boost the sticker price to the point where sales fall.

Bottom line: You need to drive some boats! If you can't: bigger is better!
 
So I assume a 4.3 MPI is adequate for a 200??? I will be able to test this one.
 
I have the carburated 4.3 190 HP on my 185 and I think it is just right. Plenty of guts, yet nice top speed. I think you would want to go with the 5.0 on a 20'.

IMHO!
 
gr8....The 5.0 is the same Hp unless you go to the MPI whic only seems like 40 hp more. Does 40 hp make taht big of a difference?
 
You'll absolutely want the MPI version and yes, the 40 horses will make a significant difference. All of these boats will have similiar top end speeds, but out of the hole will be where you'll feel that extra 40. You will not add much weight either. Good luck.
 
You won't feel any of that 40 HP coming out of the hole. You'll feel the extra torque.

The extra 40 HP you'll feel in that 1-2 MPH more you might get on top end. (where did the %#^$ smileys go??)
 
you will feel the extra 40, however you wanna label it, but opinions are opinions aren't they and you will get plenty on this board.
 
Last edited:
gr8daneh said:
you will feel the extra 40, however you wanna label it, but opinions are opinions aren't they and you will get plenty on this board.
Click to expand...

I hope you didn't take my reply the wrong way. I needed smiley's to get the light-hearted tenor across, but this board has for some reason dumped them.

However, HP is HP and torque Torque and they are not the same thus can't be correctly labeled as the other.

I know I was bing a little "technical", or picky, but in reality it's true. People place too much value on HP because the marketing people emphasize it. In a boat especially, torque rules. HP is just a mathematical calculation from torque and in this example, that 40 HP is at peak which is max RPM. No one comes out of the hole at max RPM. Many people's boats never even see max RPM thus never utilize peak HP. Talking HP is for the most part relating to maximum speed at maximum RPM where it should be propped so it's making peak HP whether that be 4600, 4800, 5200 or 5600 RPM depending on engine.

At the 2000-3000 RPM you're generally at coming out of the hole, depending on the motor and the torque it's making, you may not be seeing any more HP and if peak is 40 HP more, you're likely not seeing enough additional HP to make a difference.

Torque is what twists the prop and gets the boat moving. Sure you can measure HP at that level, but it does not correlate to the advertised peak HP.

Ok, back to a light and general chat. (dang it, where are those freakin smiley's? )
 
Sorry Jim, didn't mean to be snappy. Great explanation. You are absolutely correct. I would also emphasize getting that extra torque to the water which could get us into discussions about prop pitch etc... but I think Weave has already made his decision. I wish him the best of luck with the motor he selected and I think the ones that have been discussed should do the trick no matter what.
 
It's all good. (insert smiley guy here when the site decides to bring them back) :eek:)

People tend to get caught up in the HP rating because cars or boats, that's what pushed by the marketing, and in most cases, it's the least important. But then again, to market what's important, people would have to be educated to a point of understanding a not so simple formula. One number, peak HP, is too easy.

BTW, about 4 years ago we rented a new '82 houseboat which was powered with t-4.3's and BII drives. That week I gained a whole new respect for good motors and proper gear and propping. I was amazed at how those things moved that boat.

I have a friend with an 18' Crownline with a 4.3 that pulls 200+ lb guys on ski's, wakeboards, air chairs etc. and I've been on the boat with 4 others in the boat and it had no problem. Some other friends have a 17' Bayliner because it fits in their slip, but even with a 3.0, it hauls their family around without any problem, including water sports as well. I was amazed running along side them at how it got up on plane and accelerated with them on board.

Car or boat, 99% of people do not operate them at the level that the marketing folks advertise them at. The other 1% are the ones waiting for them to get out of the shop. LOL
 
Jim, You have a PM
 
I did in fact make a decision but love to hear and learn about all this stuff.....Carry on gents!
Thanks for the feedback none the less
 
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