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Excerpt Reprinted with permission of Trailer Boats Magazine.

Power Struggle
A big block and small block battle for supremacy aboard Crownline’s new 260 LS
By Ron Eldridge
2008-04-01

One of the toughest choices you’ll ever face when buy a new boat is deciding on power – and that’s doubly true in larger stern drive rigs, where you’ll have to choose between a small block and big block. And what better platform to evaluate the upside and downside of each than the Crownline’s new 260 LS bowrider? Featuring a delta pad hull with vented, finned chines that introduce air to break water tension and reduce friction, this rig is well suited to wring every bit of power – and economy – from an engine.

First, a little background on the boat. The 260 LS’ redesigned deck features a walkthrough transom, which is a welcome touch. And while there’s no dedicated sun pad (you’ll have to install filler cushions for that), the boat’s expansive, U-shaped aft seating makes a sun pad almost superfluous. Crownline really loads this 26 1/2 – footer with standards such as: an automatic fire extinguishing system; dual batteries and onboard charger; snap-in carpet; docking lights; depth sounder; handheld shower; and a porcelain head. Besides the convenient wet bar, another cool addition is a set of premium shift cables that spoil skippers with smooth, effortless operation.
 

Sound Machine

Crownline’s neatest option may be the Social Swim Transom (starting at $1223) that includes a dedicated amp for the swim step speakers. Flip a switch at the helm, and the amp really booms the sound toward riders or skiers behind the boat. No worries about blown eardrums on board, though, because the system keeps music levels within the cockpit tolerable (see sidebar).

 The 260 LS we tested in mild conditions on Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks performs well with either small or big block power, but, naturally, this 5600-pound hull answered best to the 375 horses of a MerCruiser 496 Mag/Bravo 3. If cost and fuel efficiency weren’t factors, this 8.1L big block would be the only way to go. The question is whether the extra oomph is worth a $12,458 (or 17.5 percent) jump over a rig powered with the base 300 hp MerCruiser 350 Mag/Bravo 3.
 Comparing each boat’s top end and performance at 3000 and 4000 rpm cruising speeds reveals a more complete picture. The 5.7L small block topped out at 48.0 mph, but delivered 2.1 mpg in the process. This indicates a range of 141 miles vs. the big block’s 1.7 mpg showing and 114-mile legs. Bear in mind that an extra mile may make a difference if you’re coming back to the ramp on fumes. Of course, the 496 Mag posted a much stronger top speed of 51.7 mph – or nearly 4 mph faster.

Keep It Moving

At a leisurely 3000 rpm, the small block had to work harder to keep things moving, so it was significantly slower (23.7 vs. 32.4 mph) and a hair less fuel efficient 3(3.0 vs. 3.1 mpg) than its big bro’.
 The fuel picture changed as we advanced the throttle, however. At 4000 rpm, the 350 Mag was still lagging behind on the GPS (35.5 vs. 44.8 mph), but the fuel meter was much happier, as the small block achieved 2.8 mpg – a 16.7 percent improvement over the big block. Again, this translates to an additional 27 miles of cruising range; more importantly, with gas costing $3.00 or more a gallon it means less pain at the pump.
 If you eliminate money from the equation, there’s no doubt the big block was more fun to drive. Packing an extra 75 ponies, it simply had more punch and stronger throttle response. Yet, thanks to the bite offered by each boat’s twin-prop, Bravo 3 drive, 0-to-30 mph acceleration times were closer than you might expect: 9.4 seconds for the 350 Mag compared to 7.9 seconds for the 8.1L power plant.

Ultimately, while you can make a case for the small block’s advantage in terms of price and fuel economy you also have to weigh long –term satisfaction. Remember, our data was collected with two men and minimal gear aboard, and if you normally carry a big crew and all their gear, the performance will sharpen accordingly.

 The final word? Bottom line be darned. Go with the big block. For most of us, being the happy, smiling owner a 50-plus-mph ride beats the dickens off being forever trapped in the roaring 40s.