One for speedboats techies

MapisM

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I've not seen many of these around, this side of the pond.
Wadduthink, is importing a boat with one of them from the US a recipe for troubles?
Yeah I know, if you can afford the fuel, and so forth.
Serious question though, are these beasts acceptably reliable?
And does it take someone from Wisconsin to fix them when anything goes wrong, or what?

525_EFIoctoberinset.jpg
 
The 525 is in a comparatively mild state of tune.

Compared to that 1200: which in the specs, says -
"Warranty - None"
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Yup, I also would expect the 525 not to be too stressed.
After all, they squeeze up to 700 hps from the same block, and it's the only one in their range which is not supercharged.
But have you heard of any actual experiences?
 
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I was trying to find which block they use for the 1200. Surely it can't be the old 7.4L or 8.2L??

[/ QUOTE ]

9.1L
 
[ QUOTE ]
Yup, I also would expect the 525 not to be too stressed.
After all, they squeeze up to 700 hps from the same block, and it's the only one in their range which is not supercharged.
But have you heard of any actual experiences?

[/ QUOTE ]

None whatsoever!
I'd check out some of the US forums.
 
Nope, but not much bigger either: 9.1 Liters/557 c.i., and possibly based on the same old 502 block of the 525, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

PS: whooops, beated to that! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
None whatsoever!
I'd check out some of the US forums.

[/ QUOTE ]That's actually my main concern.
Even assuming that the engine as such is not as bad as its more stressed brothers, I'm afraid that nobody would be able (or willing) to work with it, this side of the pond...
 
Hi Mapis, the 525 was an option for the Cobalt 263, it is offered on several other current models in both single and twin installations.

If I remember correctly it was a $25k premium over the 425hp 496 Mag HO that I ordered.

The Mercury warranty covers all the engine and drive options for 5 years including the 525, must be reasonably reliable??
 
Mapis, there's something weird with that picture. It is sideways, right? The image needs to be turned 90deg clockwise? In which case, why is the coolant fluid in the starboard side reservoir defying gravity?
 
Hello James,
actually it's not the 263 I was involved with that I'm talking about here.
That one had a plain vanilla 5.7 block, and frankly the 525 would be a bit of overshooting for a boat which - albeit very sporty - is clearly not aimed at 60+ kts fans. Your choice is imho the best for such boat.
But you've got a good point re.warranty, I guess neither Cobalt nor Mercury would have offered that if they didn't trust the engine.
 
You know, I took that pic while steering against 9g acceleration, and that's what happens... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Actually I picked it from the Mercury gallery, and I guess that Trev got it right: judging from the installation (straight thransom exhaust, no silent choice) the boat is most likely an air entrapment machine.

PS: everything fine with the delivery, I hope?
 
9g, with the toothed belt not even moving Mapis? Clever stuff! Or a very fast shutter speed! Yup, Trev's answer will be correct. Air entrapper, tilted sideways.

Yup delivery was fine, thanks. Boat is now on its home berth in Antibes. We unloaded off the ship 6pm on Friday, so did the Genoa-Antibes run in dusk/dark, arriving Antibes about 10.30pm, having done 20kts through quite big seas left by last week's winds. I was reminded how good a boat that old 58 is, to handle those seas comfortably at 20kts. With no creaks. Occasionally, we had to pull back to 18kts, but not much. And the digi radar was superb - I'm a convert to that, money well spent

I'll make a post with pictures, just a bit busy right now
 
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9g, with the toothed belt not even moving Mapis? Clever stuff!

[/ QUOTE ]Tut tut jfm... Do you mean the air filter, by chance? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
See below for another view, with the coolant properly positioned btw!

Glad to hear that the cruise was fine, I look forward to read the thread.
Did you have the opportunity to check how the radar works on long range setting for storms spotting, as we discussed at the time of your choice?

525.jpg
 
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Oops, that was careless! Well, it looked like a belt based on a 0.1second "examination", but you got me, I now believe your 9g claim :-)

No, I didn't get the chance to use the radar on long distance storm spotting. Also, I chickened out and got the 4kw not 10kw model. The 10kw was another £1000 and Raymarine told me the 4kw Super HD digi was as good as a 10kw analogue, so I had a 5minute parsimonious moment (not something we boaters do too often eh?) and ordered the 4kw only. As far as I could tell, it worked very well. It certianly seemed to filter out out the big swell, and show real targets, much better than my old analogue job
 
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