which 2 X 225hp engines on 8.5m RIB??

[maritain]

HI! I am new to this wbesite, and am therefore asking for your kind contribution and valued opinion

I am about to buy a BWA eightfifty RIB (8.5m). I am going for a twin engine option and the maximum recommended HP is 450hp so I am looking for 2 225hp engines.

The RIB will be used for family day trips, waterskiing/wakeboarding and fast runs in the Meditteranean, so I would like torque and speed but I obviously value reliability! and fuel efficiency!

What is in your opinion would be the best engine on an 8.5m RIB of the following:

2 X HONDA BF 225 VTEC (are these old 2006 models or have they been updated?)
2 X SUZUKI DF 225 (the BWA agent is pushing for a package deal)
2 X YAMAHA V6 225 (seem quite popular)
2 X MERCURY VERADO 225 (are they more reliable and more fuel efficient?) or Optimax?

Thanks for your help. Am quite stuck!
Chris

[Cypman]

I don't mind admitting to be slightly biased towards the Suzys, only because I have found them to be very reliable and fuel efficient. In addition, as you are being offered a package deal with them I would negotiate strongly for additional discounts. In my experience in the Eastern Med huge discounts were available, especially on twin engine purchases.
Finally, whatever your final choice, they are all great engines.

[mvervoor]

Hi Chris,

At Riboat (NL) they have a Eightfifty with twin 225's. Maybe you can contact them for more info.

Regards
Martijn

http://riboat.nl/riboatoptv.php

[maritain]

Originally Posted by mvervoor

Hi Chris,

At Riboat (NL) they have a Eightfifty with twin 225's. Maybe you can contact them for more info.

Regards
Martijn

http://riboat.nl/riboatoptv.php

Thank you Martijn. On the website they seem like 2 X 200hp Yamahas. i will definitely contact them. Thanks!

Chris

[9D280]

Originally Posted by maritain

so I am looking for 2 225hp engines.

.................. and fuel efficiency!

I suspect if you run anywhere near WOT the fuel consumption isn't going to be very different between them! If you do plan to go properly fast for a lot of the time, a good hint is compare the gearbox / leg sizes. The drag goes up roughly as the cube of the frontal area, by minimising that, you will reduce the drag.

.......and welcome to Ribnet!

[maritain]

Thanks again for the added info.

It seems now that the choice is between 2 X Mercury Optimax 225s or 2 X Mercury verado 225s. Most probably it will be the Optimax even based on info from the agents themselves.

What i am now wondering and scratiching my head is on the following:

there are 2 tupes of Optimax 225hp: The Optimax XS or the Optimax 3.0l.

Any idea what the difference is and which are 'better'?

Thanks
Chris

[maritain]

Have been informed that the Optimax XS are racing engines only suppied to commercial racing teams? The normal Optimax 225s should do fine

Any idea what top speed one could achieve on such 8.5m RIB ( 1550kg) with twin 225 Optimax and stainless steel props?

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by maritain

Have been informed that the Optimax XS are racing engines only suppied to commercial racing teams? The normal Optimax 225s should do fine

Any idea what top speed one could achieve on such 8.5m RIB ( 1550kg) with twin 225 Optimax and stainless steel props?

The optimaxes will be more efficient than the verados by a fair bit I would think, but the verado comes with digital throttle and shift, and that is very nice to use, plus they are almost silent to use compared to optimaxes.. then theres the mid range thrust from them ooh baby

[Cookee]

I would say both the Optimax and Verado will do what you want, but for water skiing and wake-boarding the quieter Verado would be my choice as it has better low down torque and you can communicate easier with the people in the water.

As Bigmuz says the fly by wire controls are great to use, and they can all be made to match up to any GPS that accepts NMEA 2000 for displaying engine information showing things like fuel to destination etc.

ps Don't forget to check the relative weights of the different motors!

[Mollers]

4strokes make the best w/boarding tugs without doubt.