v20 165 merc inboards vs ouyboards

[Steplift 72']

Originally Posted by cfelton

I dont know about the 165s, but the 170hp 4cyl mercruiser I have in mine has plenty of power.

I've only had outboard powered V20's myself, but have fished onboard those with both the 165 and 170 MerCruiser. I found that either was adequate for fishing offshore. Nothing compares to the rush of a V-6 2 Stroke trimmed out, but at the gas pump the sterndrives were better and cruised as fast as offshore conditions allow on 95% of the days.

I know what you are talking about, when the seas are glassy calm even 40 knots seems slow. The sterndrive boats idled and cruised quietly all day without a hitch.

I'm an oldtimer and love the simplicity of the Chevy I-6 250 cid engine and have seen their strengths and weaknesses. They will corrode to useless if not fresh water flushed after use. I tried to rebuild a low hour 165 out of a Glastron and when bored .030" over hit the corrosion holes from the water jacket.....a junked block. I have a friend who flushed and maintaned his old 1968 model 160 MerCruiser properly and ran it for over 20 years without major repairs.