ZR6 or not to ZR6. That is the question

[lcap]

In Feb 04 "Boating" magazine they have an article on "Horsepower vs Horses @#&! Are bigger engines a better buy?"

Tested Volvo Penta's; 280-hp, 320-hp and 375-hp.

Excerpts from the article:

"The answer: Even though there is a 40-hp difference on the printed spec sheets, there isn't that much of a difference in real life.
Here's an important lesson when you're shopping for a boat. Manufacturers allow themselves a fudge factor when publishing horsepower ratings. An outdated industry agreement permits a leeway of plus or minus 10 percent in published horespower. Sometimes an engine model may have less than its rated power, and sometimes it may have more."

"If you want more performance the only way to get it is to opt for the big-block engine. Anything in the midlle is not likely to be worth the cost."

[Tony-M.]

I think that it depends on the application. Now in run-abouts where Volvo Pentas are being used, it probably doesn't make a huge difference. Pulling a couple of guys doing deep water starts with 4 or 5 friends in the boat....most definitely. I guess I just talked myself into a ZR6. Oh well, better to have too much power than not enough.

[AbunDiga909]

I guess I just talked myself into a ZR6. Oh well, better to have too much power than not enough.

Thats the spirit!!!

[Tony-M.]

Abun.....What colors are you going with on your 216. I'm thinking about: Primary - Midnight blue, Secondary - titanium gray, Silver metallic striping all on white cloud for the exterior. I would get tired of something flashy.

[AbunDiga909]

Tony M., We think that we are gonna go with something very unique, eye catching, and yes, flashy... Just to be different and unique from everyone else, and we also like the color combo. If you wanna go with something classy, your combo seems very nice. I bet you won't get tired of it and even though it wont be flasshy or anything, it will still look nice and everyone would like it. I would get the vapor blue. Just because I like the new color a lot. I think it stands out from all other blues and looks very nice. I saw it in person at the NY boat show and thought it was beautiful. Yours seems nice also and I think it will look very cool. I'm just into the vapor blue more than the midnight. The gray secondary is somethign that we may go with also...

[redelf75]

Tony M., We think that we are gonna go with something very unique, eye catching, and yes, flashy... Just to be different and unique from everyone else, and we also like the color combo. If you wanna go with something classy, your combo seems very nice. I bet you won't get tired of it and even though it wont be flasshy or anything, it will still look nice and everyone would like it. I would get the vapor blue. Just because I like the new color a lot. I think it stands out from all other blues and looks very nice. I saw it in person at the NY boat show and thought it was beautiful. Yours seems nice also and I think it will look very cool. I'm just into the vapor blue more than the midnight. The gray secondary is somethign that we may go with also...

You wrote a lot, but you didn't answer the question.

[AbunDiga909]

Sorry I got confused, I thoght your color combo was for your boat? Am I right, or is that another suggestion? Anyway, the point I was trying to get across was that we are not sure and are not set on a specific color combo, I was just telling you the properties that the combo would be, i.e. unique, flashy, eye catching, etc... Sorry if I was misleading...

[Tony-M.]

Abun....Someone else commented on your reply. Probably one of the main reasons we are not doing flashy is that we had the purple/teal combo in the nineties which was nice, but it got to be dated. Also, the vapor blue looks nice but it just too close to Carolina blue, which would cause me some grief from my other NC State buddies.

[SuperAirDave]

Tony M: Sounds like you are leaning towards the exact color we just bought. You can check it out in the 'Show us your nautique" area if you haven't seen that color in person. We are very pleased with the combo. Out of direct sunlight it becomes real dark blue which looks nice. There are more photo's with different lighting under my photo gallery. Hope this helps :lol:

[Tony-M.]

Dave: That's the colors that I ordered. I never got to see the combo in person. I went to your photo gallery and I think that I am going to like that color combo. April/May is too far away!!!

[AbunDiga909]

Tell me about it.... :lol:

[SuperAirDave]

Only difference between our colors will be you have metallic silver striping between your primary and secondary, and mine is black. They both look good. Just so happens they had a used 2003 216 with the silver striping sitting next to mine, when mine was delivered, so I got to compare. Only difference was the silver kinda blended into the gray from a distance. But up close it looked awesome. Great choice, you won't regret it. April/May is right around the corner :lol:

[Tony-M.]

I didn't notice the black striping...That really sets off your boat.

[Tony-M.]

Today, I had the pleasure of test driving both the 216 and a 210 team. The wake on the 210 was awesome and of course I decided to get a Air 210 Team with the ZR6. I think my wife is going to kill me if I change anything else :roll:

[AbunDiga909]

Tony M., Aren't you a barefooter and were just about to buy the 216? I'm just curious what made you change your mind because wouldn't it be harder to barefoot behind a 210 due to the wake size?