550 vs 450

[Laketexoma]

I'm ordering my 2016 g23. This is our 3ed g23. My 13 had the 450 but no reduction. My 14 has the 550 which I love but sometimes its hard to find premium. So on my 16 I'm thinking the 450 with the reduction. My main question is will there he a huge difference in my 14 with the 550 and NO reduction and the 16 450 with the reduction? I only run stock ballast but do have on average of 8-10 in the boat at all times.

thanks

[Wayward]

I have a 16 with the 550 and 2:1. It is overkill. If I ordered again today, I would be ordering with a 450 and saving the coin.

My friends G is a 450/2:1, and it never struggles.

[ironj32]

There is a different between the 550 with 1:48 and 450 with 2:1, however you won't notice it until you start pushing 2000-2300 pounds or so of extra weight (on top of factory). The 550 with 1:48 will allow you to creep up into the area 3000-3200 of extra weight. I've been told that the 550 w/ 2:1 will let you add another 1k on top of that.

From the looks of your application, the 450 w/ 2:1 should be just fine.

[JoeA]

I have a 2015 with the 550 and love it and would not have anything else for that year boat or earlier years. If I was going to order a 2016 I think the 450 is the best choice unless you plan to ride real heavy.....well over factory ballast.

[aoblak]

My 2014 has the 450 with reduction and I have run heavy loads for surfing with Zero issues

[Tallredrider]

What is the elevation of your home lake?

I have the 15 with the 2:1 reduction at 2700-3600 feet and she starts to struggle at 3600 feet and 10 adults in the boat getting from 14-18 MPH. But I bump to 12 MPH easily no matter how many people I put in the boat. If I were a wakeboarder, I would consider the 550, but for surfing, I cannot imagine enough weight to make it slow to get to surfing speeds. 99% of people who wakeboard don't need even the stock ballast anyway. I have 1 friend who could handle it, and has landed a 900 behind my boat, but I didn't buy the boat for him.

I am still trying to decide if it is propaganda, but the H6 is supposed to add more torque than the Zr450. But I am honestly not all that sure that direct injection makes that big of a difference.

[wakeslasher69]

Ok Lake you answered the same question for me a few months ago with "I think you'll miss the power of the 550"! I have a 2013 with the 550 I'm selling and I'm purchasing a 2016 with the 550 from my local dealer. Thanks to member BlueReef here locally i drove a 2016 with a 450 and a 550. Short answer is, you WILL notice a difference.

Since you are coming out of a 550 you will notice a difference going to 450, however if you were used to a 450 before obviously with the reduction you probably be happy. I would say 100% drive both before you decide. Is the 550 overkill? Probably. But I just don't want to get out on the lake and "miss" the power I had before.

The 450 will absolutely work. And until you drive both engines its hard to put words to the "feeling" of the 550 over the 450 but its there. The 450 is a bit louder, it will take longer to plane out, turns won't be quite as tight, etc.

I can't stress enough to get out and drive both engines, even with having to run premium and paying a premium for the upgrade I'd say 550 hands down. (again since I'm used to the 550 power)

Note: I run the same conditions as you, stock ballast only and usually 8-10 ppl, a lot of which are adults.

[Beg4wake]

I have to actually disagree with wakeslasher69. If you get out there and test both engines back to back, in a '16 model, then YES you will feel a huge difference especially since the 550 comes with the 2:1 ratio now. And that will make you want it. However, the 450 should be more than enough engine for your needs, especially at an elevation of 650' (Googled Lake Texoma). I was actually told by both my dealer (who would probably want to push me into a more costly option) and the pro rider (Stephen Pierce) that the new H6 is more than enough motor for my needs which are basically the same as yours. My dealer told me that with full stock, 8 people, plus another 1k lbs extra ballast (or lead), the motor would still be fine IF I wanted to push it that far. He said it would struggle just slightly, and that the 550 would def handle it better, BUT that the benefits of not having to run premium and saving thousands over the upgrade would be well worth it. Now granted, if you just have a crap ton of money just laying around, then by all means, get the 550 and don't allow the room for regret! But I feel like if that were the case....you wouldn't even be asking this question!

[wakeslasher69]

And that will make you want it.

Nuff said

[Laketexoma]

Thanks for all the responces! you guys are awesome. I think I'm going to go with the 450. There might be a little difference but not worth the extra $. I'm very much a gear head and always want more power, its hard to justify the upcharge. Thanks again for all the help. Gel spray date 2/5/16!

[wakeslasher69]

Make sure you report back when you get a few hours on her since this debate rages on in everyone's minds at ordering time!

[Laketexoma]

Will do!

[Shodan01]

This was a great post. I am looking between a 24MXZ with the 575 Roush Motor, but saw a G23 at the show with the 450 and was curious about the power. I am supposed to demo both next week.

[Live to surf]

A good friend who has had a few boats told me, when I was first buying, to get what you want the first time. I ignored him and this is one of the reasons I have had 4 boats in 5 years. I talked myself out of the bigger engines. Started with a MXZ 22 with a 350. Then a 2013 G23 450 and then a 2014 G23 550. Personally I won't go back down from a 550. I know that the 450 with 2:1 would likely be all that I need most of the time and maybe even all of the time. But it just takes that one time when you have all your friends on the boat with full ballast and it is slow to plane that will drive you nuts. Happened to me a few times with smaller engines. Has not happened with current 550.

[Beg4wake]

Nuff said

NEED and WANT are two very different things! Unless you just have more money than you know what to do with! Don't get me wrong...I would LOVE to have the 550! But the practicality of it just doesn't exist for me! I will likely never go more than 1k over factory ballast. Plus 91-93 octane fuel isn't easily available on my lake if I were to need some fuel in a pinch (I mostly fill the boat every day since I pass a gas station heading to the lake which is 5 mins from my house). And the extra cost of the upgrade along with the extra cost of fuel plus the added fuel consumption....Just not worth it to me. Now if I win the lottery, then I will def be buying a new G with the 550! But for now, building my dream house on the lake is taking precedence of my funds! Which is why I'm glad I didn't test a G23 with the 550....bc I prob would have ended up picking it! haha