Engine Choice CS23

[tedconverse]

2-3 MPH faster? That's it? I guess the benefit would be if we were towing then. 6 people max on the boat (wife and 4 teens).

[tgrace98]

2-3 MPH faster? That's it? I guess the benefit would be if we were towing then. 6 people max on the boat (wife and 4 teens).

the dealer should be able to provide you with prop charts with all available engines.

[dustinm]

My dealer sent me this scan, which is why we chose 300hp

[Big Block Power]

So do you want volvo or merc? Volvo 350 wins per bobraes prop charts!
Is close. Are you a professional driver? Either one will do. I see the 350 advantage though. But the 300 will do. You will get money discounted plus you will get it back in trade in. So it really isn't 6k.that's how I look at it. I had 300hp in my 200 and hated it. But that was old Gen engines and yes me. If I had a choice
6.2 vs 5. 3 I'm going 6.2 though.

[dustinm]

^^You have obliviously never driven a direct injected 5.3 then. Not to mention the better weight ratio with all aluminum.

O.P. What really matters is time to plane and that is won by the VP300. Its what will give the pull back in the seat on every takeoff. I guess you will have to figure out what you use more top end or taking off.

This screen shot is of the CS23 chart. I do not know which boat BBP is using.

[dustinm]

Merc for comparison

[Big Block Power]

Merc for comparison

Your goofy!
I've never driven anything direct injected? Is there a difference? I prefer a holley 650 double pumper!

[tedconverse]

Why his the 300HP faster to plane than the 350?! I am so dumb about engines.

So if the 300 is faster to plane, what is the advantage to the 350? Torc? Towing power?

[Stagdad]

Why his the 300HP faster to plane than the 350?! I am so dumb about engines.

So if the 300 is faster to plane, what is the advantage to the 350? Torc? Towing power?

I don't know why time to plane is different, it is minimal though. Perhaps it was tested at a later ,hotter part of the day or had a larger fatter crew with more fuel in the tank. For all practicality it should be the same. The engines as I understand it are exactly , mechanically the same, only difference is the ECU programming. So if top speed is your thing get the 350, if 52-53 mph is fast enough the 300 will be fine. I would imagine the torque curves on both 300/350 will be very very close and the extra 50 horses will show up at the upper end of the RPM band giving you a little more speed.

[dustinm]

Why his the 300HP faster to plane than the 350?! I am so dumb about engines.

So if the 300 is faster to plane, what is the advantage to the 350? Torc? Towing power?

I would like to add to Stagdads comment which I agree fully.

They are using different props between the 300 and 350 engines, with the 300 being smaller and must be letting the engine rev faster hence the quicker plane time. The 350s larger prop is loading the engine more at take off. As torque or towing power the 300hp must be the sweet spot for this particular boat as on paper there isnt much gain for me to larger options, this is my theory. This might change if I had weekly travels of 30 miles or more on water, but even on the Mississippi if we go 10 miles that is a huge day.

Sometimes when I read these charts I also dont understand why there arent greater differences in plane times or speeds, esp when you look at boats with Merc 525 engines. I just have to think the engineers at Cobalt know more about their boats than I.

[dustinm]

Merc for comparison

Your goofy!
I've never driven anything direct injected? Is there a difference? I prefer a holley 650 double pumper!

VP is using using the new LS engines that are directly injected into the combustion chamber like a diesel. The advantage of this is higher injection pressure for a more complete burn which always relates in more HP, efficiency, and less fuel usage.

As far as I know Merc is still using throttle body or port injection, which in my opinion is just an electric carburetor on the original design small block Chevy. Which also happens to have an iron block.

My friend and a very small percentage of "I" have tested many electronic injection systems on the dyno, which are mounted on to of big block Chevys and never once had one perform as well as tuned Holley carb. We have yet to test any direct injected LS engines.

My experience between the port injection to direct injection was when I went from a 2013 5.3 Silverado to 5.3 2015 Silverado. There was a noticeable power difference and immediate fuel mileage increase with the 2015.

Will I change over my Chevelle to an LS or even fuel injection -- HECK NO

[Big Block Power]

Merc for comparison

Your goofy!
I've never driven anything direct injected? Is there a difference? I prefer a holley 650 double pumper!

VP is using using the new LS engines that are directly injected into the combustion chamber like a diesel. The advantage of this is higher injection pressure for a more complete burn which always relates in more HP, efficiency, and less fuel usage.

As far as I know Merc is still using throttle body or port injection, which in my opinion is just an electric carburetor on the original design small block Chevy. Which also happens to have an iron block.

My friend and a very small percentage of "I" have tested many electronic injection systems on the dyno, which are mounted on to of big block Chevys and never once had one perform as well as tuned Holley carb. We have yet to test any direct injected LS engines.

My experience between the port injection to direct injection was when I went from a 2013 5.3 Silverado to 5.3 2015 Silverado. There was a noticeable power difference and immediate fuel mileage increase with the 2015.

Will I change over my Chevelle to an LS or even fuel injection -- HECK NO

I think vw used this nice system called direct injection and the emissions got much better and passed them with flying colors. Still confused. This electric carburetor thing you talk of. I loved the thermo quad carb the best!

[Stagdad]

Why his the 300HP faster to plane than the 350?! I am so dumb about engines.

So if the 300 is faster to plane, what is the advantage to the 350? Torc? Towing power?

I would like to add to Stagdads comment which I agree fully.

They are using different props between the 300 and 350 engines, with the 300 being smaller and must be letting the engine rev faster hence the quicker plane time. The 350s larger prop is loading the engine more at take off. As torque or towing power the 300hp must be the sweet spot for this particular boat as on paper there isnt much gain for me to larger options, this is my theory. This might change if I had weekly travels of 30 miles or more on water, but even on the Mississippi if we go 10 miles that is a huge day.

Sometimes when I read these charts I also dont understand why there arent greater differences in plane times or speeds, esp when you look at boats with Merc 525 engines. I just have to think the engineers at Cobalt know more about their boats than I.

Thanks Dustin, I forgot to factor in prop choice. Big effect on holeshot /plane time. My 220 was delivered with the wrong props, FH5 instead of FH6. I could really feel the difference, it would literally snap your head back on accel but was lacking on the top end. With the FH6 still have good accel just not quite the neck straining kind, glad to trade a little accel for top end. The VP direct injection in conjunction with the DP drive is really impressive but I have not sampled the Merc.

[tedconverse]

Ok last 2 questions. And thanks for all the responses.

1. Which will have better resale value (300 vs 350)
2. And if money is not the issue ... which would you get.

[dustinm]

1. My dealer stocks 280hp V6s and thought I was an ________ for ordering anything more. So I highly doubt they will give any more trade-in for any higher HP. With this being the entry class of Cobalts I highly doubt the next buyer will even discern the difference between a 6 or 8 cyl engine. The people who do will be looking for an R series.

2. I would stay with what I have. We have a large no-wake zone and our old 220 with a 7.4 and F7 props would make wake at idle. I would always have to pop back and forth to neutral to keep from being yelled at. I would just as soon not have to deal with that any more and the engine old me would chosen over the VP300 would been a VP380 (6.2 direct injected - same as a Camaro) and that has F7 prop