H190 and H200 - Thoughts on Engines?

jdag · **Joined:** Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:18 pm **Posts:** 21

I have a line on a couple of 2011 leftovers. Both are new boats.

H200 - 4.3Gxi-225 HP Volvo, standard seating

H190 - 4.3L 190HP Volvo, sport seating

I am awaiting on the complete list of options for each boat from the dealer. But assume the options are similar (carpet, covers, etc.).

Thoughts on the 2 boats, primarily the engines? I am not a speed demon, but what can I expect in terms of acceleration and top speed for each?

Thanks, John

ric · **Posted:** Wed Jun 20, 2012 5:23 pm

Go for the 4.3GXi only. The 190hp 4.3 is the GL engine. It has a CARBURATOR!!!! Stay away!

Top speed? With a good SS prop like a Michigan Wheel Ballistic or even VP's SS prop... 55+

http://www.stingrayboats.com/products/r ... 03_06.html

jdag · **Joined:** Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:18 pm **Posts:** 21

I figured that was going to be the response. My preference (mainly for cost) would have been for the 190 to have the injected engine! Also, I prefer the sunsport seating of the 190.

LouC · **Posted:** Wed Jun 20, 2012 6:32 pm

I'd try both and see how they feel to you. I am not completely sold on FI, and I'll tell you why, yes it can run great, consistently over time, more so than a carb engine could. BUT, if you start getting odd electronic problems, that are often exacerbated by corrosion that can crop up in terminals and connectors, it can be a real pain to troubleshoot. With an old school carb boat, you have to learn how to start if it you were born in the last 30 years. The oldsters in this crew like me grew up with carbed engines and you either learned how to start them or got pissed off a lot. To this day I have a well trained knack of getting any of my 2 and 4 stroke yard equipment started because I lived with carbs for 40 years.

My 88 200 has the 4.3 with the points n condenser ignition and the 4bbl Rochester Quadrajet. If I have an ignition issue, no mystery boxes to troubleshoot, I put in a new set of points and she starts up. Most I'd need would be a coil, I keep spare ignition parts on the boat. Carb, I have had it rebuilt a few times over the years and the boat runs great. I'd rather get a new Edelbrock marine carb than have to deal with $700 fuel pumps, $80 each injectors, and chase down random intermittent wiring issues. It does not take much to make an FI engine not run properly.
The one thing I would say is if because of EPA regs, the carb has to be set so lean it won't run right, then go for the FI, you have no choice. Well if it was me I'd know how to get it to run right but for most the solution may not be strictly legal...Like when I had to remove the idle limiter caps off of our 72 Chevy to stop the stalling, etc.

Try them out and see if you can deal with starting it from a cold start, and if it runs smoothly throughout the rpm range. If it runs to your satisfaction there is no good reason not to buy a carbed boat. And go with the bigger one if you can, that 190 is small, even the modern 200 is much smaller inside than my old 88 200.

If you don't believe me about FI issues, do a search on Volvo fuel pump problems, it is a big problem, and an expensive one out of warrantee. BTW, my 24 year old carbed boat has the OE fuel pump (mechanical) on it still....

jdag · **Joined:** Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:18 pm **Posts:** 21

Thanks again for your time and thoughts. I think you are right that I'd have to take the time to sea trial both boats. I am sure that the 200 will feel significantly larger than the 190, and my bet is that I will lean that way.

cabwizard · **Posted:** Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:02 pm

I bought a new 2008 H200 Frenzy leftover in 2010, had 2 seasons so far put 200hrs on it and its been great no problems at all.EFI is no trouble theses days. Every car has had it for years. Never had a boat before, thats why I bought new. Didn't want to risk buying someone elses problem.
Good Luck Ray

nhprinter · **Posted:** Thu Jun 21, 2012 5:54 pm

I've got a 2010 H190 with the 4.3GL/SX (and sunsport seating) and you don't lack for power.

Full tank and 4 "full size" adults with the stock prop and I do 43 on GPS with no problem. My boat stays on a mooring and I've never had any issues with starting even when the boat sits for a few weeks if we have lousy weekends. Couple of pumps and turn the key.

The 3.0 I owned had problems with idle and stalling, but the 4.3 runs beautiful.

With that said....you're probably gonna want the bigger boat just for it's size, but don't shy away from the 190 because of the motor.....

Aussie_Horizon_190 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:02 pm

Call me old school, but I really like my carbed 4.3... easy to maintain and nothing too fancy to cause problems out on the water. More than enough power on a H190.... although I have never heard anyone complain about having too much power.. :lol:

ric · **Posted:** Thu Jun 21, 2012 6:19 pm

Call me new school, but there's some reasons why mechanical carbs died out nearly 35 years ago in cars. They're inefficient, high maintenance, and do not change with environmental conditions. Air pressure and temp play a huge role in the performance of your engine. That's why the carb is 190 and FI 225. They have to tune the carb very loosely so it works decent all the time. The FI works great all the time because it self adjusts.

Nothing except lawn mowers and cheap chinese scooters use carbs in the last 10 years. Would you buy a car that had 30 less hp, got 5mpg less, and needed regular trips to a mechanic to keep running smoothly? Just to save 2-3 grand initially?

nhprinter · **Posted:** Thu Jun 21, 2012 7:32 pm

ric wrote:

Call me new school, but there's some reasons why mechanical carbs died out nearly 35 years ago in cars. They're inefficient, high maintenance, and do not change with environmental conditions. Air pressure and temp play a huge role in the performance of your engine. That's why the carb is 190 and FI 225. They have to tune the carb very loosely so it works decent all the time. The FI works great all the time because it self adjusts.

Nothing except lawn mowers and cheap chinese scooters use carbs in the last 10 years. Would you buy a car that had 30 less hp, got 5mpg less, and needed regular trips to a mechanic to keep running smoothly? Just to save 2-3 grand initially?

You can tell you live in Florida. You forgot snowblowers. Even that starts first pull every winter. :shock:

vipergg · **Joined:** Tue Jun 12, 2012 8:24 pm **Posts:** 29

Have had a 190 "carburated" GM Volvo Penta since 1999 without issues. Just add something like Startron to every tank and you should have few problems.

knipper88 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:18 pm **Posts:** 5

Have a new 2011 H180SS sunsport with the carbed engine, already had trouble. Something got past the fuel filter and jammed the float open which poured fuel in the carb flooding it out. My friend bought a new H200 Sunsport (EFI 5.0L) and it starts and runs flawlessly. Mine has an old style disc/ spring choke and needs to warm up even in 80 degree weather. In my opinion we bought too small and should have bought at least the EFI 190 for where we are. They both flatten out very quickly over wake etc and the 200 is even more stable especially on bigger water. The 200 has a totally different interior, the 190 will be similar to mine except a little wider, extra drink holder on driver side for "stuff". Bimini may be extra on the 190. I grew up on carbs and worked on them, and although I do agree that less (electronic) parts is better I think in hindsight I would still choose the EFI vs monkeying with it every cold start. It should easily do 50 mph. Do the math on the power to weight ratio, they should be close. Good luck! Both are very nice boats.

Knipper88
Boat in Honey Harbour, Georgian Bay, ON, Ca

LouC · **Posted:** Thu Jun 21, 2012 9:27 pm

The reason carbs went away is emissions and fuel economy. You can't get as precise mixture control with a carb, as you can with injectors that can have their pulse width adjusted electronically. But a well set up carb can run just fine. I drove carbed cars many years. I was never stranded because of a bad carb. I have had the carbed boat 10 years. It was 14 years old when I bought it. Once the fuel system was gone through by a good mechanic, again, never left me stranded, never refused to start. I have had Boat US on the water towing and never had to use it 10 years. Bad gas is just has hard on FI systems as carbs. If you buy a new boat and don't keep it a really long time its fine. But if you are like me (24 yr old boat, 2 14 year old vehicles, newest vehicle is 5 yrs old) here's what happens with electronic FI. You start to get odd stalls, hesitating, bucking and no check engine light. What is happening is resistance is building up in the terminals, and these systems are very sensitive to that. I would not buy a carb boat because it's cheaper per se. The repairs are simpler and the parts are cheaper, for sure. The less I have to depend on mechanics, the better I like it. Yes I can fix FI but I prefer carbs on my old stuff.

Gumby542 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:09 am

The bigger thing for me would be the sport seating. Having has both, I can't go back to standard seating anymore.
In e family, we have an 89 2.3 liter with a carb and my 02 4.3 liter with a carb. I bought the 02 last year and my family bought the 89 brand new. We have never had carb problems with either. Choke it and it fires right up. That said, I agree with Ric on the benefits of the FI for power and efficiency.

The ideal unit for me would be the 200 with the sport seating, FI motor, and an extended swim platform. My 18 footer is just a bit too small for 4 adults and 4 kids, which seems to be the norm for when we take it out. The stock swim platform leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion.

jdag · **Joined:** Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:18 pm **Posts:** 21

Gumby542 wrote:

The bigger thing for me would be the sport seating.

That's actually my hang up on the H200. I really don't care for the standard seating.

www.iFourWinns.com

H190 and H200 - Thoughts on Engines?

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