Malibu-can you give me some ideas

(john_prine) · (john_prine) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 11-06-2006, 2:04 AM

I am about to buy a 07 Malibu wakesetter 23LSV with the Indmar 340 Engine. I am a little unsure about the engine in the boat. I have talked with a friend who is a boat mechanic and he suggested not getting the indmar because parts are hard to come by. Specially when dealing with the electrical on the motor. I know that correct craft, master craft and centurion offer 6 Litter engines in there boats. Malibu only offers the 5.7 or the 5.7 litter screaming 383 HH or they offer the 8 litter. I want to get the Merc cruiser 6.2 litter and some how get it in the Malibu boat. If we are going to spend 65k on a 23ft boat, there is not point and putting a 5.7Litter in the boat. I was wondering if there is any way to special order a Malibu boat with the mercury engine????????

(duffy) · (duffy) **Join Date: Feb 2006** 11-06-2006, 4:51 AM

What? that is plenty of motor for that boat.Indmar is one of the top motors around. If you want to go fast buy a bass boat. Unless your going to weight the he11 out of your boat you don't need more motor. IMO...

(tdc_worm) · (tdc_worm) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 11-06-2006, 5:41 AM

Mastercraft, Supra, Moomba AND Malibu all use Indmar engines. Correct Craft and MB Sports use PCM engines. A 5.7L engine is based off of a GM 350 cubic inch block. The 383 engine uses a 350 GM block that is stroked with a 400 crank shaft. The 6.2L Merc starts with a 350 block that is bored and stroked.

The point is that all engines in wakeboard boats start off as GM blocks that are marinized by some third party company (even the Volvo Penta 8.1L that Epic is using is a GM block). With Malibu, Mastercraft and Skiers Choice selling more tournament style boats than all other companies, there are more Indmar engines in the market place than any other.

Mercruiser is the world's largest marine engine manufacturer (to include outboard engines), so finding a mechanic to work on it is as easy as opening a phone book if your Malibu dealership is 3 hrs away and you dont want to tow there.

And as far as power is concerned, if you have the correct prop on the boat, then the standard 5.7L engine is more than enough for the 23 LSV...

(woreout) · (woreout) **Join Date: Aug 2006** 11-06-2006, 7:13 AM

With a Mercruiser you will need the support of all the mechanics worldwide. The Indmar 5.7 winds up quickly more so than the 6.0 . The 5.7 with the right prop will amaze you. I have been in a X45 with a Mcx 5.7 and it was just fine.

(yosquire) · (yosquire) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 11-06-2006, 7:34 AM

John,

1) The 383 Hammer Head is a 6.2L engine. (even though they market it as a 5.7 - this is because they start with a 5.7 and turn it into a 6.2l)
5.7l = 350ci 340hp
6.2l = 383ci 400hp
8.1l = 496ci 450hp

2) I doubt you'll find a Malibu with a Merc engine in it.

(baschralper) · (baschralper) **Join Date: Dec 2001** 11-06-2006, 8:25 AM

there is a Merc. Black Scorpion option for Malibu.
Ask your dealer if there is a 6.2L Super Scorpion available.

I don't know why you'd want to go Merc., but it is an option.

(trace) · (trace) **Join Date: Feb 2002** 11-06-2006, 8:40 AM

Seriously, is anyone having problems getting parts for their Indmars? Maybe if you live in Africa, but come on... They also tend to need a lot less attention than your typical outboard motor, maybe that's why your boat mechanic buddy doesn't have a lot of experience with them?

Merc builds a good motor, but to write off the other brands for that reason is just silly.

The base motor with the right prop is almost always plenty of go for a wakeboard boat. Horsepower is deceiving anyway - it happens at the high end of the rpm range. Torque is what you need.

(wakesetterlsv) · (wakesetterlsv) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 11-06-2006, 9:04 AM

I have a 06 Malibu 23LSV with the 340 and its plenty of motor. But I do suggest re propping it if you’re going to sac it out. I put the ACME 1235 on and it’s night and day compared to the stock prop.

(cbrown) · (cbrown) **Join Date: Jan 2004** 11-06-2006, 9:38 AM

It is not difficult at all to get parts from indmar. If you have a malibu dealer(obviously you do) then you have an indmar dealer as well. And indmar is very good about getting parts to their dealers rather quickly. Also as stated earlier the 383 stroker motor is a true 6.2l motor as compared to the old hammerhead 380 which was a hopped up 350. All indmar does to that motor is marinize it.

(kevin_lsv23) · (kevin_lsv23) **Join Date: Oct 2006** 11-07-2006, 9:41 AM

Hi, Colby.

(cbraden) · (cbraden) **Join Date: Sep 2006** 11-07-2006, 10:35 AM

What about the 8.1 vs. the 6.2 in a 247LSV? Wont the 6.2 have to work much harder to get the same pop that the 8.1 will with no effort?

(john_prine) · (john_prine) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 11-07-2006, 10:46 AM

Yea the 8.1 will have to work less but if you ask me i think the 8.1 is a little over kill

(cbraden) · (cbraden) **Join Date: Sep 2006** 11-07-2006, 4:08 PM

Will the 8.1 ride longer with a bigger gas tank even though it uses more fuel than the 6.2 with the smaller tank?

(jeff359) · (jeff359) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 11-07-2006, 4:28 PM

Malibu used to offer Mercs, My 97 had a Black Scorpion. I guess they don't anymore.

The Monsoon would be fine. You'll just need to reprop if you want to use big weight, but you'll need to do that with the merc 6.2 as well.

(sjmedic) · (sjmedic) **Join Date: May 2004** 11-07-2006, 4:30 PM

John...the only problem part is the coil for the engine. When this goes (as in all engines) the whole ignition system wont work. It is not hard to find if you look in the right places. This is a common engine.

(festivus) · (festivus) **Join Date: Jan 2006** 11-07-2006, 4:53 PM

It depends where you ride. The 8.1 is definitely not overkill here in Colorado. The altitude is a big factor. We took our 247 to Lake of the Ozarks and it was a different boat. I get 7-10gph with the 8.1, depending on use.
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(john_prine) · (john_prine) **Join Date: Nov 2006** 11-07-2006, 4:59 PM

Is it worth it to get the 8.1 L indmar ? I hear since it is a bigger engine it doesnt have to be pushed that hard there for you will not use as much gas as you think you would basically you have to run the 340 monsoon harder then you would if you had the 8.1