Cobaltchat.com

Looking at a 2016 R3 - is the Volvo Penta 300HP - 5.3 (new design) enough power for the R3.
I've driven a 220 with a 300 and it's amazing but the R3 is 800lbs more.

Anybody have any experience that would be willing to chime in?

We have the 300HP in our R3. Gets on plane easily and goes as fast as we want to go. Pulls skiers and tubes out easily. I don't think about calling it amazing because we're not speed freaks. I've never even taken the Bimini down to see the top end speed.

I'm also in the camp that believes it should be just fine. When I drove a few boats in that range, having a duo prop outdrive seemed to make a bigger difference than 20-30 horsepower.

I have a 350 in a R5 and its plenty. Low 50's lightly loaded with plenty of torque over a wide RPM range. 300HP in a R3 should be similar.

I have a 350 in an R5 at Tahoe. With the altitude, and a 3% decline in power per 1000 feet, I get a 18% decline in power so my 350HP is really 287HP. We have no issues with that power.

I have the VP350 in our 2019 R3. It's top end is a bit higher than with the 300HP version, but if you look at the HP/Torque curves for both engines, if memory serves, they are the same up to 4,00RPM after which the 350 continues to climb and the 300 flattens out. I think you would be fine with the 300HP version.

Mine knocks you back in your seat. Plenty of power.

I have a 2016. It will run about 46/48 in flat water, but it gets out of the hole very well, I can't tell a big tube is behind it. Where it really shines is in the mid RPM's. If I crack the throttle at 18mph (which is just on plane) and you are standing up but not holding on, it will knock someone off their feet.

Do I wish I had more, somedays, but it's few and far inbetween and then only to run from idiots.