Volvo 8.1 Vs Crusader 8.1

[fishsniffer]

I'm thinking of buying a new 25 CC but am worried about this water ingestion problem. Of all the things I've read it sounds like the Crusader is the way to go for gasoline engines. Just so I've got this straight, that Volvo 8.1 is not the same engine as the Crusader 8.1 is it? Just seems like a heck of a coincedance that there are two 8.1 liter engines available.

Matt

[jm1159]

Forget the Volvo

IMHO the only marine gas engine to buy is a crusader, superior cooling system, much better resale especially in this boat. Check out Yachtsurvey.com, David Pascoe has alot to say about crusaders and the competition.

John

[Little Dandy]

GM blocks

Hey fishsniffer,

Crusader & Volvo get their base 8.1 engines from General Motors. They "marinize" them to their own specifications.

I weighed the risks and went with the gasser over the diesel. I boat in freshwater; the latest exhaust design from Volvo (generation 4???) seems to work just fine here. There is a fellow over on Lake Michigan that has well over 1000 hrs on his Volvo 7.4 injected engine.

If possible, I would have preferred the Crusader 8.1 bolted up to the Volvo outdrive. Due to warranty concerns, this was not do-able when I ordered the boat. If the Volvo cooks and cant be replaced in warranty, I will have a Crusader swapped in and never look back. This is an awesome boat.

On edit: My understanding is the Crusader is only available as a straight inboard from the factory. Our boat is the jackshafted I/O setup. Check with Mac or Keith. Better yet, visit Edenton and take a tour. My wife & I spent the better part of 3 hours one day talking boats with Mac.

[Mako1]

Fresh Water Use

These boats never had problems in fresh water, the salt is what kills these engines. If I had to buy a gas inboard again(hopefully not) it would be crusader all the way. As a matter of fact I would rate them this way:

Crusader>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Volvo>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Merc.

[fishsniffer]

Thank You

Thanks for the replies guys. The responses helped clear up my questions.

Thanks again,

Matt