What's better, 50# lighter or 40hp more?

[Hog Guts]

540 options.... Want wide deck from what I've been told a bit less expensive for parts. Angle valve or straight? Not sure if having the lighter motor on 13 ft boat better than go gain of av or not. Your thoughts?


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[ptr34]

Go 350 hp ecotec be a little lighter and 50 to 90 more hp.

[lariat]

I don't know that you would be able to see the difference either way. I have a SV and my two buddies that I usually run with have very similar boats, but one has an AV, and the other has an upstack. There is very little difference between the three. There is no where one would be able to go and not the other. Mine is actually the quickest out of the hole of the three.

[Hog Guts]

I've considered the Eco but at 5k more it's hard to justify even with fuel savings. Are my dollars off?


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[sidejobs]

It's hard to beat a good sv 0540 for power and reliability. I think you would be pleased with one on the boat you have.

[ptr34]

13375 for engine/gearbix/prop. Depends where u are getting 540 from . Around 9500 for one from a reputable engine builder. Sell ur prop off ur boat for 1500. And ur only 3000 off. And u can run regular fuel and get parts from parts store. And it has a 1 year warranty

[fl cracker]

S/V 540 with 10-1.

[John Fenner]

S/V 540 with 10-1.

X2!

[Outlawaircraftengines]

straight valve 540. You cant go wrong.

[getchasumairboats]

Straight valve is hard to beat they are tough engines.

[FLA BOY]

Don't forget to figure in Av gas vs. pump gas w/ Av being almost twice as expensive. W/ 10:1 it will run great, but you will HAVE to run the good stuff. I personally am a A/C guy. My dad runs a A/V 540 w/ low compression pistons and has never ran Av gas and has been running the same engine for 20+ years and has never opened it up or had any cylinder problems. The Eco's certainly are intriguing, but it's hard to beat the look and sound of an AV 540.

[fl cracker]

You figure a dollar more per gallon. I payed 4.35 per gallon for 100ll. That would be about 20 bucks more every time I bought fuel. A lot of C/M's have 40 or more gallon tanks. That's not really a selling point in my eyes. Convenience of buying A/V gas and Oil would be at the top of concerns. My current boat runs great but next time I'll have another C/M!

[ptr34]

But a ecotec doesnt need a 40 gallon tank like a regular cm does. And then they dont burn that much fuel . So I would say its more than 20 bucks. Because thats cheap for avgas. It over 5 where I get mine

[FLA BOY]

You figure a dollar more per gallon. I payed 4.35 per gallon for 100ll. That would be about 20 bucks more every time I bought fuel. A lot of C/M's have 40 or more gallon tanks. That's not really a selling point in my eyes. Convenience of buying A/V gas and Oil would be at the top of concerns. My current boat runs great but next time I'll have another C/M!

Where is Av Gas $4.35/ gallon?? I would stock up! It is $5.99/ gallon here.

[ptr34]

And looking in classified the schimdt 540 is 12900. Jamie wants 12000 for his and another one for 11500. So thats closer to my 13375 for 350 hp pump gas special lol

[Seven3]

Each type of engine has it's pros and cons. There are boat types that are better off running CMs, then there are boats that are better suited for an AC.

But an undeniable fact is there is a certain 'cool factor' that comes from having an aircraft engine. When I filled my boat up yesterday, a guy who knew nothing about airboats at the pump asked me what kind of engine was on it. When I told him it was out of an airplane he thought it was the coolest thing. I'm sure if I had said "It's a 4 cylinder out of a Chevy Malibu" he would've been a lot less interested lol.

[getchasumairboats]

But a ecotec doesnt need a 40 gallon tank like a regular cm does. And then they dont burn that much fuel . So I would say its more than 20 bucks. Because thats cheap for avgas. It over 5 where I get mine

So why haven't you sold your A/C engine yet ?

[getchasumairboats]

But a ecotec doesnt need a 40 gallon tank like a regular cm does. And then they dont burn that much fuel . So I would say its more than 20 bucks. Because thats cheap for avgas. It over 5 where I get mine

So why haven't you sold your A/C engine yet ?

[ptr34]

Because its my baby. Ill have ecotec to ride soon. And the star will get new revo hull

[HAMMERHEAD]

to answer your initial question 50 pounds lighter AND 40 more horsepower!

[signcoc43]

Id love to find a geared 480 like terrys motor than a 540

[Tony480]

You figure a dollar more per gallon. I payed 4.35 per gallon for 100ll. That would be about 20 bucks more every time I bought fuel. A lot of C/M's have 40 or more gallon tanks. That's not really a selling point in my eyes. Convenience of buying A/V gas and Oil would be at the top of concerns. My current boat runs great but next time I'll have another C/M!

Where is Av Gas $4.35/ gallon?? I would stock up! It is $5.99/ gallon here.

At the airport in Apopka

[Bruce]

go av 540 why not have the extra ponies and better cylinders not to mention an av just looks cooler if you can swing it dont buy somethin off the back of someones boat that has had the snot run out of it then got a degreasing and krylon overhaul lots of snakes out there

[Hog Guts]

Thanks for all the feedback. I know all this has probably been discussed a thousand times, but when I'm about to spend the money I like direct answers

So I've spoken with lots of folks and the general consensus is O-540 Straight Valve Wide Deck. I think thats my current direction. Next item of interest is the pistons. There are basically standard ones then 10:1 higher performance. I'm on the fence with the AV gas. If thats what it takes then I'll deal with it, but I have to tell you being able to stop at any gas station between here and there is nice without having to go out of the way tot he airport - forget the price difference, its the convenience more than anything. Is it good for the engine? Seen those threads don't need to go there again. I used 93 in the 520 but I Its sorta weird saying it worked fine after my motor unraveled the other day - even though that had nothing to do with it.

Is it worth the difference going 10:1 pistons? Does it make the motor any less dependable? Whats it do for me performance-wise? If I really can drop 93 in the lower compression engine if I happened to be in BFE etc it would be nice to know I could...

[ptr34]

10:1 will need avgas for sure. Plus you add cost of 1500 for pistons. If u get new ones