Two 2006 boats both about the same price <BR>One has the MCX engine and no bimini with 400 hours <BR>The other has a bimini but no MCX with 70 hours. <BR>Whats a boy to do

MCX then add the bimini of your choice.. It's alot harder to change engines vice a simple bimini.

What about the hours gap

rtp in that boat is totally fine

If you add ballast I would think you would want the MCX. We run up to 1400 lbs over stock and I wouldnt want to do that with <i>less</i> power! I wouldn't worry about 400 hrs at all if its been maintained properly.

Either motor will do fine with extra ballast but plan on repropping either. I'd throw a 14.25x14.5 on either the MCX or the RTP. <BR> <BR>FWIW we run a 2009 X-2 with an RTP, stock ballast plus 800 in the back and another 750 in the walkway and it works perfectly.

In my opinion the MCX is for someone who wants to say they have a bigger engine. It is for the kind of person who asks the salesman how fast the boat is and how much HP it has. <BR> <BR>I believe it has been discussed on here a few times that the 2 motors have a very similar torque curve. The MCX probably doesn't realize that extra 40hp until a high RPM? <BR> <BR>If the boat with 400 hours looks like it has been absolutely babied the hours wouldn't turn me off. That being said that is 400 hours of people crawling all over the vinyl, bumping into docks, hitting rollers at higher speeds, etc... I think Unless the one with the MCX is in mint condition I would go for the one with the RTP(assuming it is in really good shape). <BR> <BR>I think the 330 hours less will be better for resale than the MCX if you plan on owning the boat for 7 years or less. If you are going to keep the boat for a long time resale might not be that important to you.

lower hours no question.

I have an 08 X2 with MCX but have had RTP in the past. Can't say I notice the difference. I would go with lower hours. just my 2 cents

Pretty even split of opinion then

+1 lower hours assuming all things equal except motor.

lower hours

Yup... RTP motor will work most excellently. The only place the MCX has more power is way up on top of the power band.

RTP works Great..... even when the boat is LOADED down....

RTP will do just fine, providing you have the wakeprop. i have a 07 and have the factory ballast system, along with the 2 fly high additional bags in the back and 400lbs of pop products up in the bow.

Is it not more about tourqe rather than horses, wheres the extra tourge come in to play