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GOTLDH
08-04-2005, 12:25 PM
i am going to be buying a 26' playcraft powertoon extream in the next few months. I am in a bind cuz I cant figure out what engine i want. my options are a 350 mag or the 496 HO. which one do you guys \gals recomend? I was told that the anual on the 496 was over 1,200 dollars. is that true? I was also wondering if anyone knew where i could find how many gal. per hour each engine burns. Any help wold be great.
Thanks in advance,
Bryan

Kilrtoy
08-04-2005, 12:30 PM
The big block has 75 more HP with that said it will make you much happier. If in fact it is 1200 a year then that is 120 a month... if that is gonna break you, then you dont need to be boating.....

GOTLDH
08-04-2005, 12:37 PM
No not gonna break me, I'm just trying to figure out which is the best option for me.

voodoomedman
08-04-2005, 12:40 PM
i am going to be buying a 26' playcraft powertoon extream in the next few months. I am in a bind cuz I cant figure out what engine i want. my options are a 350 mag or the 496 HO. which one do you guys \gals recomend? I was told that the anual on the 496 was over 1,200 dollars. is that true? I was also wondering if anyone knew where i could find how many gal. per hour each engine burns. Any help wold be great.
Thanks in advance,
Bryan
Nice rig. My Havasu neighbors have a playcraft and it is nice. It's like the Caddy of Pontoons. What do you mean by annual. Extra in payment or insurance. If insurance then simply check around but it shouldn't be that much. I'm 25 with a 496 in an Ultra and only pay 730 a year. If you get the 496 then save the money and get the 496 Mag and not the HO. about 5 grand cheaper and you probably won't see a difference in a pontoon nor will you put any blowers or anything. My neighbors have the bravo three behind the 350 I think. They see about 50 top end. You will just get up and go and be able to tow people better and stuff with a 496. You will be happier with bigger if you can get it. It's much better than being dissappointed in a 50 thousand dollar purchase and then having to upgrade later. Get the bravo three though. I makes that thing turn on a dime like a performance boat. And not to be as straight to it as Kilrtoy but... If your worried about gas then don't buy a boat. When you pull up to a gas pump with the boat it is going to suck your wallet dry either way. With the smaller engine you may be able to get one or two more go by's in the channel before trailering.

GOTLDH
08-04-2005, 12:47 PM
Thanks,, it was 1200 for the anual service. I'm not so much worried about the cost. I'm just trying to get a ballpark figure.

mbrown2
08-04-2005, 12:50 PM
Thanks,, it was 1200 for the anual service. I'm not so much worried about the cost. I'm just trying to get a ballpark figure.
That does not sound right...I used to have a 454Mag and the annual service was a fraction of that and that included impeller change....I would personnally go with big block on this boat....since you carry so much weight in these big pontoons, this is where the 496 is really going to shine compared to the 6.2.

voodoomedman
08-04-2005, 12:50 PM
Thanks,, it was 1200 for the anual service. I'm not so much worried about the cost. I'm just trying to get a ballpark figure.
1200 for annual service. That's ridiculous. It should be less than 400 bucks on that engine. I see the best guy in Havasu and it was like 360 bucks for my service.

jayd_jr
08-04-2005, 12:52 PM
The big block has 75 more HP with that said it will make you much happier. If in fact it is 1200 a year then that is 120 a month... if that is gonna break you, then you dont need to be boating.....
Listen to KILR (miguel) He told me to go big and I went with a 496 Mag and I wish I had a 500 or 525 now...... :cry:

Kilrtoy
08-04-2005, 01:01 PM
Listen to KILR (miguel) He told me to go big and I went with a 496 Mag and I wish I had a 500 or 525 now...... :cry:
Come on jay, you cant be unhappy already, you just got the boat

jayd_jr
08-04-2005, 01:02 PM
Come on jay, you cant be unhappy already, you just got the boat
Well I wish it would go faster already.... 66 isnt fast enough...

nodigg
08-04-2005, 01:10 PM
Listen to KILR (miguel) He told me to go big and I went with a 496 Mag and I wish I had a 500 or 525 now...... :cry:
I think many others told you that also?? :rolleyes: ;)

voodoomedman
08-04-2005, 01:16 PM
Well I wish it would go faster already.... 66 isnt fast enough...
That's good enough. When you get to 69 you eat it. J/K. I know what you mean to a certain extent. I would like a huge motor and be able to break 100 every once in a while on the glass. but 70 through the chop is fast and fun and my engine is reliable. I wouldn't want a racing motor to constantly have to work on and definately rebuild after a couple hundred hours.

jayd_jr
08-04-2005, 01:19 PM
I think many others told you that also?? :rolleyes: ;)
This is true but may others also said it would be fine with what I have and for the most part it is. I just think our human nature takes over when that guy passes us and we want to catch him..... Kind of like another deck boat passing you in the narrows .......

Kilrtoy
08-04-2005, 01:26 PM
..... Kind of like another deck boat passing you in the narrows .......
I got passed by a deckboat once
http://www2.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/1616372kilcowl_Medium_2.jpg

jayd_jr
08-04-2005, 01:30 PM
I got passed by a deckboat once
http://www2.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/1616372kilcowl_Medium_2.jpg
Well the day that I pass you I am sure you will be beached somewhere....

Kilrtoy
08-04-2005, 01:32 PM
Seriously I learned from the first two boats I purchased Screw the stereo and all the other frills, you can add those at a later date. Upgrade to the biggest motor you can afford and then go one bigger......

djunkie
08-04-2005, 01:39 PM
I think the 496 is really tight in the playcraft. That may be the reason for the service costing more. I'd still go for the 496 though. Even if it is only 75 or so more horse, the larger cubes will make all the difference.

dicudmore
08-04-2005, 01:41 PM
Seriously I learned from the first two boats I purchased Screw the stereo and all the other frills, you can add those at a later date. Upgrade to the biggest motor you can afford and then go one bigger......
that there is good advice :D

C-2
08-04-2005, 01:42 PM
Seriously I learned from the first two boats I purchased Screw the stereo and all the other frills, you can add those at a later date. Upgrade to the biggest motor you can afford and then go one bigger......
Agreed.
There's a thread over at RRL about the Playcraft. I heard one at LOTO was doing about 75 - but the guy was also wearing a helmet :idea: :idea:
Five years ago 70 was kinda fast. Nowdays even lakelice are going that fast (without helmets) :idea: :idea:

jayd_jr
08-04-2005, 01:43 PM
that there is good advice :D
I agree...... especially when a 29 ' boat can pull you with only more HP

C-2
08-04-2005, 01:48 PM
If it were me (and it might be in the future), I would stick with the 350mag and stroke it after the warranty expires. You'll pull 500hp at a fraction of the price for the 496ho upgrade, and its sure would sting to find out you got blasted by a pontoon with a 350 (not!).

kevnmcd
08-04-2005, 02:04 PM
The big block has 75 more HP with that said it will make you much happier. If in fact it is 1200 a year then that is 120 a month... if that is gonna break you, then you dont need to be boating.....
Not that it matters....but wouldn't $1200/year be $100/month? :)

Kilrtoy
08-04-2005, 02:08 PM
Not that it matters....but wouldn't $1200/year be $100/month? :)
yes it would be correct, but its only money......who is counting

dicudmore
08-04-2005, 02:10 PM
I agree...... especially when a 29 ' boat can pull you with only more HP
You lost me there a little bud...

jayd_jr
08-04-2005, 02:11 PM
You lost me there a little bud...
I meant 50 more hp

dicudmore
08-04-2005, 02:12 PM
I meant 50 more hp
surely you don't mean my sled pulling yours...

kevnmcd
08-04-2005, 02:13 PM
yes it would be correct, but its only money......who is counting
If you own a boat you better not be counting! :cool:

dicudmore
08-04-2005, 02:15 PM
If you own a boat you better not be counting! :cool:
ain't that the truth

jayd_jr
08-04-2005, 02:16 PM
surely you don't mean my sled pulling yours...
yes sir......

dicudmore
08-04-2005, 02:18 PM
yes sir......
I don't think so... I don't remember ever racing ;)
If we were, next time push the stick farther forward :D

jayd_jr
08-04-2005, 02:23 PM
I don't think so... I don't remember ever racing ;)
If we were, next time push the stick farther forward :D
Is that how it works??????? :hammerhea

Krumbsnatcher
08-04-2005, 02:47 PM
Listen to KILR (miguel) He told me to go big and I went with a 496 Mag and I wish I had a 500 or 525 now...... :cry:
Why not put a Raylar kit on it for around 8k in the off season.

Kilrtoy
08-04-2005, 02:49 PM
Why not put a Raylar kit on it for around 8k in the off season.
why not buy the 525 and spend the extra 3k on a piece of mind

jayd_jr
08-04-2005, 02:56 PM
why not buy the 525 and spend the extra 3k on a piece of mind
Damn skippy!!!! The boat right after mine had a 525 insatlled and ran in the 80s

TCHB
08-04-2005, 03:54 PM
I looked at the playcraft with the 496 and is was really tight in the center pontton. I think the warranty is also different with the 496 package (much shorter). I would stay with the small block for weight, service oncerns and resale.
I ended up putting a Honda 225 on the back of my new Bennington and have been very happy. Good Luck

TCHB
08-04-2005, 03:57 PM
The big block is not have much more top end then the small blocks.
Top Speed 56.5 mph
Db-a @ Idle 81
Fuel @ 3000 12.4 gph
Any Rattles? None
No. of Gates 3
Boarding Ladder Yes
Mileage
RPM Speed Fuel DB-a
750 4.6 1.8 81
1000 6.0 2.7 88
1500 9.3 4.5 93
2000 16.6 6.5 97
2500 24.7 9.2 96
> 3000 34.9 12.4 100
3500 40.3 14.9 104
4000 48.3 19.4 104
4500 54.0 28.0 109
5000 56.5 32.6 108
Boat Specs
LOA 26’ 6”
Beam 8’ 6”
Hull Design 3 24-inch U-pontoons
Dry Weight 4500 lbs.
Load Capacity 15 People
Fuel Capacity 80 Gallons
Engine & Propeller
Engine MerCruiser 8.1L 496 MAG HO
Cylinder Type V8
Cubic-inch Displacement/Horsepower 496ci/425hp
Lower Unit Gear Ratio N/A
Standard Features
[from manufacturer]
Options on Test Boat
425-horse 496 MAG High Output engine
Prices
Base Retail w/ Standard Features $59,900 (Boat and Motor)
Price As Tested $64,900 (Boat and Motor)

GOTLDH
08-04-2005, 05:51 PM
any specs on the 350????? does $12,000 more for the larger engine sound right?????

TCHB
08-04-2005, 06:04 PM
The 300HP package runs at 48MPH according to a couple of tests I have read. Have you checked on the hull warranty with the big block. I was told it drops from lifetime with the small block to under 5 years with big blocks?

GOTLDH
08-04-2005, 06:38 PM
wow i hadn't heard that yet. that is a pretty big deal to cut down to 5 years. might have to re think the 496

BoatPI
08-04-2005, 07:57 PM
Just get twin Merc 300's on it or more tame with twin Honda 225 outboards 4 stroke.

voodoomedman
08-04-2005, 09:22 PM
wow i hadn't heard that yet. that is a pretty big deal to cut down to 5 years. might have to re think the 496
Like I said my river neighbor has the small block and it does about 50 and with the bravo 3 handles really well. If you were getting a performance boat you would be silly to get the small block. For what your getting and considering the warranty and stuff then the small block may be for you. You wouldn't exactly want to do 100 mph in a pontoon anyway. Not trying to make fun it's just not what they're intended for. I'm sure if you wanted that you would be in the custom market.

GOTLDH
08-04-2005, 10:19 PM
Ah. Ive been in the coustom market for a while, I'M just tired of the rough water. I want to be able to move around the boat bust out a BBQ and whip up some food. I've been going to the river for some 20 years now and i'm ready to sit back and relax. When I'm done with this thing it wont be the avrage pontoon on the water. I'm Looking to turn a few heads out there. I Think its pretty dam cool to see a pontoon all trimed up and getting some. But thats just me, to each their own.

a catered life
08-05-2005, 05:11 AM
that there is good advice :D
yup i agree 100%

Kilrtoy
08-05-2005, 09:01 AM
Do it right or dont do it at all, this guy did......
http://www2.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/111DSC01096.JPG

2Driver
08-05-2005, 11:51 AM
Like I said my river neighbor has the small block and it does about 50 and with the bravo 3 handles really well. If you were getting a performance boat you would be silly to get the small block. For what your getting and considering the warranty and stuff then the small block may be for you. You wouldn't exactly want to do 100 mph in a pontoon anyway. Not trying to make fun it's just not what they're intended for. I'm sure if you wanted that you would be in the custom market.
What he said.........I've had 2 JC Tritoons with 350's and they were great - Did 50 MPH. If I had the choice back then or today to take on all that hassle and cost for an extra 5 MPH in a pontoon, I would still say no....But that is me. I would rather put the difference toward my kid’s college fund or my IRA :)
BYW: There is the same boat with a 496 in the boat trader in Phoenix. Might want to call and chat with the guy. 602-222-6622, he wants 49K for it