Thinking of going Black,, Comments.

[rebible]

I am considering buying one of the remaining 2.5 280s that is still new.

Boat is a stoker 20'
current motor is a pretty much stock omc 91 3.0 block on a gt midsection, with boysens and nose cone.
I spend insignificent time running flat out, due to where we use it. We water ski with only driver and observer in the boat.

My rational is that all of the current and future motors are really getting too heavy for this hull.. in reality I have always thought the 2.5 s were cool.

Is the 2.5 a top end only motor, or does it have low and mid end. e.g. will it be happy pulling my daughter around on the wakeboard with the boat only half on a plane. Or at least as happy as my current motor.

I have a wall full of good stainless props, only 1 with a flo-torque hub, can I run them on the mercury.

What are starting and idling like? Is it user friendly?

My alternative is to give up on the 2.5 and put some of Al Stoker's heads on my current engine, maybe I can convince him to upgrade it etc. You can do a lot of stuff for the price of a new engine.

If I sold my current engine, (it is running good, fresh water and checked out by stoker, but I am not sure of its history) how much will I get?


Thanks

[hydroholic]

Go with the 280 if you can afford it and you won't be dissapointed. Like you said ,they ain't makin em anymore,so never a better time than now.I wish I had the cash to buy a new one before they are all gone,I would jump at the chance and I don't have anything really to put one on.I could put it on my Vector,but thats way to much motor and the Bridgeport (not stock) pushes it faster than I want to go in it anyway. Hydro

[Frank Molé]

Just Do It,you Will Be Happy..............

[SUPAJAY]

Once you go black you never go back.
Theres no other way, Just do it!

[SUPERBASH]

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/193/85postnb9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[David]

Sure, one of the last 2.5 280's would be cool, but no oil injection, premium fuel, frequent re-rings...and you don't care about top speed.

I bet your Stoker could handle 500 lb of Etec 225 or Merc 250XS or 300XS.

[The Big Al]

Understand this!

The 2.5 280 is not a consumer engine. It is also very sensitive to weight.

Also in the 100-200 hr range it will need rebuild.

Engine only uses Merc Synthetic oil at 32to1 ratio. (this is not cheep)

Engine has no torgue, very sensitive to weather.

Think hard, but if fast is the only thing on your mind, then thats your engine.

Personally, I would opt for a 250XS or 300XS. More user friendly and economical.

Now I know there coming out the wood work on this, but trust me, And bash the hell out of me.


You will spend money on fuel and oil.
Plugs every 10 hours! At 7.50 each also!!!

And you will need a prop for everything.
Wintertime,
Summertime,
1 person
2 person,
watersking,
Fishing
Not fishing
Top end
Bottom end.

[merctech5591]

i would go for a 250xs, the larger boats do better with the torque of the 3.0l.fuel consumtion will be loads better than the 280, it can use 89 octane and premium oil. the best part is 2 year warranty.

[Tampa Cat]

If you want an easy 100 mph and you don't want to spend 16k+ I think you might be happy with a used long lasting 7k 300promax at 3.5 mpg.It will probably always be worth the cost of keeping it running.Many of the 225/250 3.0 liter parts work or can be made to work by Eric Simon and other venders here on it.My understanding is that if you send him a fixable 225 it will come back a 225 to 335,and there's a lot of 225 blocks and cranks out there.The 2.5/280s are for racers and fanatics.But don't tell them that sense their all so proud and everything;).Oh,by the way,I think a 4k merc efi 225-3liter(240+hp)with a nose cone would meet your stated needs.Maybe 90 mph?

[YELLOWXD]

I own a 280 and can give you more than just an opinion. I agree but disagree with Big Al. First of all it is 40 to 1 on the oil mixture and the oil from Merc is about $90+ for 2 1/2 gallons. Required to run 93 octane at 3.10 a gallon right now. Not sure what he means no bottom in torque cause that aint true. My motor has been as he said very sensitive and has required alot of tweaking to get right and the temp do effect it but I am sure they effect all outboards. As far as props go there is alot of all around props to keep respectable performance without owning 10 different props. Most importantly I could not imagine using a 280 for alot of wake boarding or sking just does not seem practical. 280s are well known for fouling plugs at idle and you would think that idling around in a circle waiting for a skier to get ready would be a nightmare. The plugs are pretty expensive and unless you find them at a deal somewhere. Lastly I to always wanted one for alot of reason and I guess overall am glad I had the chance but make sure if you are not a mechanic that you have one because most of your trouble will come from finding one to work on it.

[Big Johnson V8]

Stay with your OMC. If your not racing the OMC turns less rpms and that translates to better reliabilty. I can pull a skier all day, idle the no wake and kick it to a 100 when I want. You just wont have the awsome holeshot of a 2.5 but alot less headaches.

[Stoker100]

He will tell you to get an E-Tec 225HO. They are 250hp at the prop and have a good lower for the stoker. If top end isn't a concern, you will be happy. The 280 doesn't sound right for your application.
A guy has one gear and it is awesome if you are happy with 90mph top end
larry

[gfinch]

Talk to Al, he will tell you the boat will need to be rebalanced due to different weight engines.

[Ziemer]

Personally, I would opt for a 250XS or 300XS. More user friendly and economical.

That was about the only true statement in Big Al's post.:p