What makes a Mag and Mag?

JV II

JV II

Active Member
Nov 17, 2007
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Flybridge
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Volvo V-Drive
Stupid question? 350 Mag, 496 Mag. What makes them a Mag? What does Mag stand for anyway? Magnum? Then what is a Magnum? I know the 496 in an I/O is a Mag, but the same 496 in a V-D boat is an 8.1L Horizon.

I know what a HEMI is. What the heck is a Mag?:smt017
 
The Magnum is traditionally a higher output motor than the rest. The Horizon motors are Inboard motors .(WorkHorses).
 
Someone else will post up the truth. I believe the "mag" refers to high output and typically has forged internals.
 
When referring to the old 454's and 350's, it was a higher horsepower. It meant forged internals with the 454 and 502. With the 496, it means nothing. The 496 Mag HO means high output (50 more horses), but still no forged components.
 
Don't know about little block engines. The old 454 was produced in two different versions by GM. The higher output version (Mag / Horizon) had different pistons, probably a different cam, different heads and intake. The new big block 496 Mag also is a higher output version. Don't know the internal differences but again I would assume different heads and intake. GM refers to these as the Vortec 8.1L and Vortec HP 8.1L. You can read more about these engines here.

Best regards,
Frank
 
So, nobody really knows. If a 496 Magnum is high output at 375 HP, then there is the 496 Magnum HO with 425 HP. Would that be a 496 Mag Mag? Then shouldn't there be a plane old 496 with 325 HP?

I know this:
My boat is scary fast
Don't accidentally bump the throttle levers on this boat
The Mag designation on a Sea Ray is used only on the I/O
The Horizon Designation on a Sea Ray is used only on the V-D
The Mag has 5 HP more than the Horizon
There is a 4 KW difference in torque between the Mag and Horizon, but that varies depending on whether you have the BIII, BIII Sea Core, and the Axius

So, when someone askes me what a 496 Mag is when they see the cool black covers on my engines and hears that start-up baritone music, I'm going to say it is a high output version with 50 extra HP per engine.
 
The Horizon series were introduced as hi-tech versions of the 454 cid (7.4L) motors. The advantages they offered were not only higher horsepower output, but longer intervals between tune-ups. 3 years was advertised, I believe. They had not only the FWC, but different ignition systems. The first ones were 380 HP. They were/are a much better alternative to the 7.4L engines that were rated anywhere between 310 to 340 HP. Of course, they were more expensive, and offered as an option back as far as 1998, I think. Good technology, but better marketing.

The "Mag" thing is marketing as well. Simply meaning higher output.
 
I have never been on, and have no desire to be on a 60 - 80 MPH boat.

All I can tell you is that like Mike said, an accidental bump on the throttle can be quite suprising. I almost dumped the admiral and a passenger once when I reached down to grab my Coke in the helm cup holder and a wave hit us at the wrong time. Now, I use the cup holder behind the helm seat while driving. The one by the helm (forward and below the throttle) only gets used while we are sitting still.
 
skibum said:
I have never been on, and have no desire to be on a 60 - 80 MPH boat.

All I can tell you is that like Mike said, an accidental bump on the throttle can be quite suprising. I almost dumped the admiral and a passenger once when I reached down to grab my Coke in the helm cup holder and a wave hit us at the wrong time. Now, I use the cup holder behind the helm seat while driving. The one by the helm (forward and below the throttle) only gets used while we are sitting still.
Click to expand...

The exact same thing happened to me and the wife last Saturday, reaching for my water bottle and bumped the throttle at the same time she decided to change seats.
 
Tonka Boater said:
I think that 10k-15k lbs moving across the water at 45 mph is pretty scary.

.
Click to expand...

perhaps, but not "scary fast". I have a friend with a 38 Top Gun, does 90 MPH, not that scary, but ya gotta hold on tight! been on it quite a few times. I had a Jetski that did 70 (GPS Measured), that wasn't scary as long as the water wasn't too choppy:smt089, and a Baja H2X that did 60.
 
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