Engine size for a 2014 230

[theduke]

I currently own a 2008 230 with a 390 engine. It has worked great but when we sack it out with big 8 bodies it takes a little longer to plane out. Has anyone been in a 230 with either the 450 or 550 engine. I am thinking of putting in the 450. I would welcome oppinions on whether the 450 is enough or would the 550 be too much?

[nyryan2001]

If you sac heavy and get after it... 450 on a 2315/2313 would get my vote all day long.

[perry386]

I agree with nyryan. 450 with the right prop will pull as much as you can put in there.

[ers906]

I vote for the 550. I have never had an experience that too much power would be a bad thing. I know we are comparing apples to oranges when I compare the weight of the boat between a G23 and a 230, however, from the posts on PN, my 550 seems to be more fuel efficient (even though I use 91 octane) than the 450 in the G23. just my 0.02$. Could be completely wrong with the 230, but most people (my dealer included) recommended the 450 when I was ordering my G23, but I ordered the larger engine. Other than the decision to order the G, that was the best thing I could have done. It seems like almost everyone who has gone from the 2013 to a 2014 model has ordered the 550.

[AirTool]

..... I have never had an experience that too much power would be a bad thing.....

I've told the story longer before on another thread....but the punch line here. I commented to an old man one time on the size of his outboard motor on his new flats boat. He smiled and said "son (I was 20 then), I've been broke and under powered my entire life. Now....I'm just broke."

[surroundsound64]

I've told the story longer before on another thread....but the punch line here. I commented to an old man one time on the size of his outboard motor on his new flats boat. He smiled and said "son (I was 20 then), I've been broke and under powered my entire life. Now....I'm just broke."

Haha! Awesome.

[vision]

I have never had an experience that too much power would be a bad thing.

Agree, but with 2 caveats:

- Is the gas usage truly less in a smaller boat?

More importantly,

- Supercharged engines have been around for a long time, but not in production marine engines. There is a slight risk that these engines will have shorter engine life than a naturally aspirated engine.

[scottb7]

Someone once told me that if you get the larger engine you will not need to open it up as much and you will save or have same gas mileage. Not even close to true in my experience. I would get smallest engine that would NOT underpower the boat.

[Zach@n3]

I'm going to say the 550 would be over kill and a waste of money. It will push a G with a stock prop to 44 mph. I would bet none of you guys really need to go close to 50 mph in a 230? 450 is a great engine even in a G and a hot rod in a 210-230. I'm guessing we don't have many guys on here that want to barefoot with multiple people behind a 230 .

On the other hand, if my back side grew money I would order a 550 in a 230 for sure.

Just for fun, you can order the Indmar's version of the 550 in a DX11 Sanger.. Can you say scary?

[tommy1005]

other issue is the 550 requires premium fuel, where the 450 does not......the cost difference doesn't bother me, but the fact that the lake I'm on only has one marina with premium gas and it's a 20 minute boat ride from the house is kind of an issue, so whatever I buy G or 230 will have the 450 in it for that reason alone.

[AcerMD]

Dealer told me the new 230 doesn't come with the 550?