280 ROS Info

[PlumCrazy]

I'm looking at buying my first outboard boat, but it has a pair of 2005 280 ROS. Is this a risky prospect? There isn't much info about them online. How tough is it to get parts for them? Thanks in advance.

[Onetime]

JMO. Simply the best ever of Mercury small block engines however there are other sides to this.
Must mix gas and oil. Must use hi octane gas and sometimes pump premium isn't enough. Figure to rebuild at 100 hours and it was never inexpensive to do but worse nowadays. They are no longer made and parts are getting more and more scarce. Mercury has stopped making lots of the parts also.
With that all said, I really love be these engines but not running them on my boat anymore.

[PlumCrazy]

Thanks, I had a feeling that was the answer.

[MStine06]

They are great motors is properly maintained. I always ran Klotz Kl333 and never had an issue. Rebuilding them at 100 hours is excessive, and unless you have a failure of some type, is not needed. The numbers to keep your eyes on with the motors is leakdown. Compression numbers can give you a false reading that a motor is healthy and it is not.

Nic motors maintain very low leakdown for a long time, but when they start to go, they go up quick. Best thing to do is to check them several times a year throughout the stroke of the cylinder. This will give you a true reading on your bore health and let you know if you have developed any wear or the bores have started to "egg out."

When it is time to have them rebuilt (rings, bearings, etc) using a qualified engine builder is key. Lee Sanderson always did wirk for me, and I never had an issue. Great guy to deal with and he knows what he is doing!

Good luck if you buy them!

[David]

What kind of boat? How do you plan to use it?

[PlumCrazy]

It's the Predator C30 in the classifieds and it will just be used as a pleasure boat. The other option is to rerig it with 300XS engines which seems like the better plan to me.

[Risco]

It's the Predator C30 in the classifieds and it will just be used as a pleasure boat. The other option is to rerig it with 300XS engines which seems like the better plan to me.

Thats great looking boat. I'll give you my answer is bought a boat with 280s ros just to sell because of there high value. They are to expensive to rebuild and run for me. Plus I like to be able to shift at the docks and cruise at lower rpm. A set of 300xs would be great on that boat im sure

[PlumCrazy]

Doesn't matter now. The Predator sold. I wish people would update their ads.

[warren]

I agree i have a pair on my skate they r great motors 93 pump 15x 34s 8to 8200 no issues rebuild at 125 to 150 hrs if not hurt nice should b good diamond hone new rings and bearings and off and running again /red rocket out