540 qsm 11 715 hp or qsc 8.3 600 hp

[AK1]

anyone with experience with qsm 11 715 hp engines? What are the life expectancy, are they better or worse comparing to qsc? If I can get your opinion, I'm offered to trade my boat, 47' 2015 qsc 480s Zeus 170 hours with either a 54' 2012 qsc 8.3 600s Zeus 565 hours or a 54' 2012 qsm 11 715s 680 hours. If both in good condition, would u trade at all? and what would you choose? Less hours or more power? Both same price and I won't be paying that much out. Thanks my friends

 

[Zach312]

What have your experience been with zeus?

I have heard the pods run well with the QSC's. I have the QSC 600's now and have no complaints.

 

[Ididntdoit]

Same boat same year - smaller maxed out higher revving 8.3 with the extra maintenance of pods or a workhorse 11 liter with shafts.......no brainer for me - QSM 11

 

[NotHerDecision]

I say qsm simply because I’m not a pod fanboy. I have and love the 8.3 but it’s a known fact that larger displacement engines don’t have to work as hard and last longer. And you won’t have the upkeep of pods.

 

[AK1]

Hi. Both have pods. I have pods on the 470 and I like them. Mainly because of the skyhook and the joystick, I have 3 little kids and get minimal to no help Also the draft is less with pods which is important were I am. Maintenance is a drawback. Im checking if anyone have complaints about the qsm 11 models. What is the life expectancy of those engines? I'll do a sea trial today on the 600 and tomorrow on the 715 and will keep you posted.

 

[fwebster]

During that period of time, the Mercruiser Zeus drives had a horsepower limit of about 700hp. And, Zues drives are also known to be far from trouble free so I wonder how successful the QSM-11's power package was in 2012.........I don't know anything other than that because our dealer won't order or stock anything with POD drives. They ordered an early 47DA and an early 330DA with Axiuus drives and both were plagued with software problems and continual redesign of various parts that Mercruiiser refused to allow anyone but Mercruiser personnel to repair so they stayed broken down and out of the water for about 8 months. Both were wholesaled to a dealer in South Fla to get them off the books.

As far as the base QSM engine is concerned, they are excellent high torque diesels and far more robust than the QSC engines.

I have run a 54DA with QSC/Zeus power package. The boat was at a sales meeting and it had 5 adults, no water, no waste and about 20% fuel onboard. I thought the boat felt under powered and lacked authority around the dock, so much so that you had to get into the throttles to get the boat to react to counter even modest cross winds.

My own boat is an older 450DA and is powered by 350hp 3116 Caterpillars with v-drives. It and the 54DA are about the same physical size and the Cat engines w/v-drives produce about 60% of the power and have more torque than the QSC's/Zeus the old 450DA responds better in tight spots.

The QSM-11 engines have a lot more torque than the QSC's so I suspect it will be a much better handling boat than the lower powered QSC version.....if the drive can handle the added HP and torque.

 

[Robski97]

Franks 100 % right . QSC in the 600 version are maxed out .. QSM is the way to go even though it not an electronic motor . The qsc are over taxed in this application .

Rob

 

[AK1]

Good morning. i went for sea trial for both boats this weekend. conditions were similar. Both boats were able to get to the rated rpm; 2500 for the qsm and 3000 for the qsc. both achieved similar speed at WOT, 36.7 mph and 36.6 mph. I felt the boat with the qsm's a little heavier at the stern making it seem longer to go into plane and faster to go out of plane. they are about 1600 lb more in weight. it seemed the qsc's were more responsive, and planes instantly. around the dock they both were the same. i tested the qsc's first, so maybe i was expecting much more from the qsm's. the starboard engine on the qsm was replaced with a new one so it had 420 hours while the port had 700 hours, they both looked worn out comparing to the qsc's. I have a comparison sheet from searay that shows at rated WOT rpms, the qsm should reach between 35-39 mph, the qsc between 31-35 mph. i initially placed my deposit on the qsm, but i think for this particular situation, i should go with the qsc which maybe at a tip-top shape.

 

[bmac]

Franks 100 % right . QSC in the 600 version are maxed out .. QSM is the way to go even though it not an electronic motor . The qsc are over taxed in this application .

Rob

Now, now Rob....I know you love your QSC's but the QSM11's are fully electronic engines as well. Good to see you last Saturday....