Which motor for a new G23 is needed!!

[Metz]

I am going to order a new G23 and was wondering what the thoughts are as to the 450 or the 550 motor. I have taken out a 450 and I seems like it is enough, but with only 3 people and no gear I have no idea how it will be when it is loaded. Add yes I love power but is it needed in a family boat?


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[Sailfun]

I demo'd one with the 5.3 and it did just fine with 4 people and full internal ballast. The H6 would be my choice for a family boat. Less complicated engine that does not require premium fuel. It will do everything you need and more. Premium fuel is not available on many lakes.

[charlesml3]

As always, the answer is mostly "It depends." It seems that the 550 is pretty popular with the crowd that boats on the high-altitude lakes. Like the ones in Colorado. At that altitude, they really do need the extra HP.

For the rest of us it really depends on how you're using the boat. If you routinely have 11 people on the boat and you're adding even MORE ballast than factory then yes, you should seriously consider the 550.

-Charles

[Kporsch]

I am going to order a new G23 and was wondering what the thoughts are as to the 450 or the 550 motor. I have taken out a 450 and I seems like it is enough, but with only 3 people and no gear I have no idea how it will be when it is loaded. Add yes I love power but is it needed in a family boat?


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I have the H6 in my 2017 G23. I also have 2k of extra ballast plumbed in. I was out yesterday with 4 adults 3 kids and all ballast full (factory plus 2k extra) and it got on plane no problem.


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[SierraWave]

I have the 550 specifically because I will run the boat on Tahoe, 6200 ft. If I ran it at sea level I would have chosen the H6. The 550 is shockingly quiet and incredibly smooth.


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[NautiqueJeff]

Unless you're at high elevation or run the boat with tons of extra weight and a full load of passengers, the H6 does just fine.
A typical day for me is 6 - 10 people and full factory ballast, and I never feel underpowered. I also pull a number of tournaments with my boats, with 10+ people and full ballast plus a little extra weight, and even then the boat does fine with the H6.

I had a 550 in my 2013 G23, and it was fun, but it used lots more gas. Now that all of these boats are getting the 2:1 V-drive, they all perform well. The new 6.2L H6 DI engine with the 2:1 V-drive is a really great power choice for these boats.

The 5.3L H5 is no longer offered in the G23, so the only choice is between the H6 and the XR/XS 550.

[Metz]

Thanks for all of you opinions. I was thinking the same with the H6 being enough. We are 3000ft and I sure felt like it had enough.


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[Whitetail15]

We use two different lakes. One is at 600 feet and the other is 3000 feet. I have the H6 motor. I honestly can not tell the difference in performance from one lake to the other. I run factory plus 400 lbs lead and usually always 7-10 people.


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[SierraWave]

One thing I will say is that the 550 is actually too powerful for the 2 to 1 transmission and I will be changing the prop to get a little better fuel economy and Get the R's a little lower


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[wiggy G23]

We have 450 but optioned up to heavy load prop from wakemakers we use our boat for a few comps an a couple courses are tight for room, heavy load prop certainly get your up to speed quicker an dosn't Rev any hard at speed

[NautiUT]

XR550 all day long. You have to consider air density. On a hot day, 3,200 elevation can turn into 7,000 air density.

[jjackkrash]

The H6DI has the ability to pump gas directly into the cylinder at more the 2k psi. I would think that it would be less effected by altitude than a normal EFI fuel system. Anyone know for a fact?

[Sailfun]

Loss of power due to altitude is simply a factor of air density. Less air means you have to meter less fuel into the engine to maintain the desired air fuel ratio. The delivery method is more or less irrelevant.

[jjackkrash]

Loss of power due to altitude is simply a factor of air density. Less air means you have to meter less fuel into the engine to maintain the desired air fuel ratio. The delivery method is more or less irrelevant.

I have read that turbo/super charging reduces the effects of altitude, it seems like if the computer knows what the gas needs that it would compensate with the mixture and high pressure until the point where there just wasn't enough oxygen to get the job done. But, I don't completely understand the physics/chemistry, which is why I asked.

[nyryan2001]

When you supercharge or turbocharge.... you cram air into the cylinders at high pressure.

so in high altitude areas.... even with less O2in the ambient air.... your cylinders are crammed with more air.