1999 Sundance 290 with single 7.4

[Strecker25]

View attachment 71542 View attachment 71543 You just went through my reasoning for purchasing the 1998 290 with the single 7.4.

My surveyor called me right after going through the boat and doing the initial sea test. He told me "She pulls up on plane quickly and is very spirited". That made my decision. During my sea trial, I ran her up on plane and found myself cruising comfortably at 36 mph with lots of throttle left.

I do all of my own maintenance and can easily guide a single engine large craft around a marina. Sitting on the stringers while changing plugs and doing routine maintenance makes the work in the engine room much more manageable.

These are awesome boats and I can see why they hold their value.

Good feedback, I wouldn’t have thought it would run that well with a single but the B3 is a big upgrade over my alphas and much less weight with the 454

I did compression test and plugs on the port engine today (5.7’s) and we have the genset on that side. It’s a NIGHTMARE so I can see why you like your single

 

[cobras281]

hey gateway! Im looking at the same exact boat as yours! Im comming from a 1999 290 with twins... and hoping im not making a wrong decision i need to simplify! we only cruise the bay and sit on sandbars! whats your real world impresions of the single got any pics or the engine room?

 

[Wanderer 290]

I am reasonably sure that if you buy a 290 with twins in a year you won’t be saying “this is too much power. Wish I would have bought the single engine model”.

 

[Getaway]

C281,
Still loving our boat and no regrets or concerns about power. If I get a chance tonight, I'll shoot a few pics of the engine room. It's really a simple set up.

I just had to swap out the fuel pressure regulator and pump due to a weird "stutter" at throttle up. I understand this is a common problem with the MPI Mercruisers. The pump and regulator are located in a cool-box that is under the engine and sandwiched between the oil pan and port side stringer. I'm not even sure how the hell you would ever get that out on boat with twins without pulling the motor...

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

I did both my fuel pumps and fuel regulator on twin 5.0 efi with cool fuel 2 in a 98 290 sundancer. It took 1 qt of blood, 5 lbs of sweating and a shit ton of MOTHER F*#×*R'S. I would kill to have more room for service in my motor bay

 

[Getaway]

I did both my fuel pumps and fuel regulator on twin 5.0 efi with cool fuel 2 in a 98 290 sundancer. It took 1 qt of blood, 5 lbs of sweating and a shit ton of MOTHER F*#×*R'S. I would kill to have more room for service in my motor bay

LOL!! I cannot even imagine! How many times did you have to pull the first one back out to re-adjust the angle of the fuel line to the regulator? My total was 3!

I'll never understand why on earth they mounted those things under the motors...

 

[Joakim Arnesson]

I have a 1998 290, with a repowered Volvo Penta 8,1. Planing is no problem but have to rev her high to stay on plane.
At 3800 rpm im doing abt 26-27 mph with full fuel and water.
Wot is around 4400-4500 rpm at 36 mph

 

[cobras281]

Gateway... can you take a look at your props im curious if they are factory pitch etc.

 

[Handsome Transom]

I am reasonably sure that if you buy a 290 with twins in a year you won’t be saying “this is too much power. Wish I would have bought the single engine model”.

I am biased with a 7.4 liter single pushing my 268 around but I am willing to bet when maintenance cost and fuel costs as well as actually getting in the bilge to work on the motors and other systems located there many have wished for a single. Real world output of a 7.4 is similar to twin 4.3s . , seems counterintuitive but the added weight of an extra drive plus its frictional drag as well as higher total engine weight and more fuel to carry quickly negate the 1.2 litres of displacement added

 

[Wanderer 290]

On the other hand, I have lost an engine/outdrive out on water twice with twins and have never paid for a tow.
Merits to both options, single or twins....

 

[SrtThis]

LOL!! I cannot even imagine! How many times did you have to pull the first one back out to re-adjust the angle of the fuel line to the regulator? My total was 3!

I'll never understand why on earth they mounted those things under the motors...

I did both my fuel pumps and fuel regulator on twin 5.0 efi with cool fuel 2 in a 98 290 sundancer. It took 1 qt of blood, 5 lbs of sweating and a shit ton of MOTHER F*#×*R'S. I would kill to have more room for service in my motor bay

cool fuel 2 can LMB!

 

[Getaway]

Gateway... can you take a look at your props im curious if they are factory pitch etc.

Factory 20p

 

[cobras281]

Factory 20p

awesome. thanks... so im finding out there are 2 models of the 7.4 454 one rated at 310 (L29) and one rated at 380hp got an engine shot?

 

[Getaway]

I'm pretty sure mine is the 380HP version with the BravoIII, but I'll try to get a shot of the engine room for you.

Yesterday, with 1/2 tank of fuel and 2 of us on board, we topped her out at 36 MPH (GPS speed reading) into the Saginaw River current. This thing clips along nicely and jumps up on plane very well.

She definitely likes to use up the fuel in the tank quicker than the 454 I had in my old 268....

 

[cobras281]

I'm pretty sure mine is the 380HP version with the BravoIII, but I'll try to get a shot of the engine room for you.

Yesterday, with 1/2 tank of fuel and 2 of us on board, we topped her out at 36 MPH (GPS speed reading) into the Saginaw River current. This thing clips along nicely and jumps up on plane very well.

She definitely like to use up the fuel in the tank quicker than the 454 I had in my old 268....

Damn its gotta be! not fair! looking forward to the picture

 

[Getaway]

Damn its gotta be! not fair! looking forward to the picture

Here ya go.

 

[scoflaw]

Super clean but not the mag

 

[Getaway]

Scoflow, How can you tell? Been looking for engine block codes without success. I’m tired of climbing around that thing looking for numbers.

It’s got me stumped.

 

[scoflaw]

If it was the Magnum it would say it on the top cover. The engine # is on a metal tag right above the starter on the block

 

[Getaway]

If it was the Magnum it would say it on the top cover. The engine # is on a metal tag right above the starter on the block

Gotcha! Thanks.

I didn’t realize they said mag on the top cover. The stuff I read indicated the only way to tell was the block code.

Next time I’m down there, I’ll look for numbers in the starter area. Thanks again.