New R5 order. Which 380?

[Tuscany]

Opinions please.

I'm about to order a 17' R5.

I am speccing out my order with the VP 380.
Someone tell me why I should opt for the 270 lb. heavier big block when the 6.0l based 380 makes the same power, a flatter torque curve and is more fuel efficient without the weight?
From where I see it, the choice isn't that hard to make.
What facts am I not considering?
Thanks.

[Big Block Power]

I've heard nothing but good about the 380. There are some good comparisons out there on it. Torque will be better in a big block.I think soon that's all your going to see is a 6.2. I'm a poor example of what I would order. What sounds better at the dock or the bar stool SB or BB

[jhnmdahl]

Are you looking at the 6L vs the old 8.2L engine? If that's the debate, the 6.0L is the clear winner - weight, technology, torque curve, etc., are all better.

[proptwister]

The 6.0 liter is a clear winner over the 8.2 big block.

[Tuscany]

Another reason to not get the big block is that it will cost me another 5k..as in it begs for the Captains call exhaust..to which my wife will totally object and kill me over.

Seriously, if all being equal, dumping 270 lbs would be huge.

[jhnmdahl]

I remember when I was a kid, the rule of thumb was that you can pull the weight of the size of the engine in liters times a thousand. E.g., a 3L engine could only pull a 3,000 lb trailer, and a 7,000 boat was best towed with a 7L engine or bigger. Now, our Touareg's little 3L TDI engine pulls our 6,000 lb rig with no problems, and is rated for 7,700 lb.

Engines are getting smaller, lighter, and more fuel efficient. The miracle to me is that the can do this while also lasting longer than engines of similar output from two or three decades ago.

John

[Tuscany]

In the old days, there was no replacement for displacement.
Today, with VVT that can use more of the RPM range to create a wider peak torque curve, advanced fuel injection and pulse adjustments that can burn all of the fuel to its efficient potential, and less weight. There is a very real replacement for displacement.
In fact, there is no replacement for technology and efficiency, and CI overkill to make up the difference will be dead in a few short years.

What first drew my interest was the closed cooling system and the 300 lbs of excess weight loss made my eyes bug out.
I hope to come to agreement on price this week and order the boat.
It's going to be a long winter..

[Jsmithcds]

There is no need for the captains call on the 380 Merc IMHO. I am very happy with the merc so far in my '16 A28. Plenty of power and great performance. I live 10 minutes from where the motor is made so I am a bit biased. I had the same motors(twin) in my last boat which was a Formula 310 Sun Sport which had the silent choice option. Did I flip the switch? Yes. Would I pay $5-6k to flip the switch on my Cobalt? No thanks. I think a big factor in the decision is who services your motor and how far are they from you. In the end both motors will make you happy because they will be in a Cobalt.........

[Tuscany]

My tongue in cheek captains call response was to do with the big block sound.
Big blocks really sound like old school power, but engine sound doesn't have anything to do with evaluating power plants.
Like you, there is no way I should spend 5k on a switch that my wife would hate anyway.
Great point. Service availability is always a deciding point, but it isn't a problem for me because my dealer services both.

[liquid]

6L no doubt.

[Big Block Power]

T look what liquid and I found sitting in the corner behind the curtains. Somebody knew what they did.

[AsLan7]

.


That made my day. Nice one gents!

.

[Tuscany]

I was just thinking while on the plane.. dangerous I know.. when the Monday morning crew comes in, and options are changed on a ton of boats....somewhere we are going to see a group mug shot from floor cameras posted on the break room bulletin board at the factory.
I can see Matt’s smiling mug now.
So freakin funny...

[Big Block Power]

It was funny watching Matt going into each of the build sheets adding Captains Call and 430's and Dreamsicle seats!!! Again we had a great tour guide in Rick. if you call Cobalt Customer service you probably talked to him. He remembered Tuscany for some reason!! Lol yes and Liquid. You guys wire him down. He was also the one I talked to about my boat and he came back with extra really cool info on it.

[Ytmsn]

Rick was awesome. After the tour I'm standing in the gift shop and he comes up behind me, puts his hand around my shoulders and says "Hey, here are the instructions we used to send out to the dealers when they needed to remove the interior from a 262. I know you were asking questions about that, so here you go. I went back in the files and pulled this out for you." How cool is that? I'll be posting that soon!