24ve engine - is the 5.7L 343HP enough?

[IDBoating]

The 24ve offers two engine options: The 5.7L 343HP and the 6.0L 409HP. That 343HP is the same engine Tige puts into some of their much smaller boats. Is it really enough for the big 24 footer? Would you pass on a 24ve with the 343HP in it and hold out for the larger engine?

Thanks!

[boatwakes]

I would buy that boat with the lower horsepower over the high. It would not be offered as an option if it wasn't enough and fuel economy takes a dump with the larger motor. In my opinion, it's only offered in higher hp so you can spend more on fuel and parts when they break.

[RockRig]

I have the 343 and it has plenty of power.

[Fiveflat]

Back in the day you could get an F150 with either the 302 or the 351.
I know that I had a 302 F150 and it got a little worse fuel mileage than my dad's with the 351. We could only account that to the 351 working much less to move the same weight the 302 had to work to move...

Just my
I don't have any experience with the 409 to compare in boats though...

[loudelectronics]

I have a 24V and use every bit of power that the 6.0 puts out. There is no way I could have a smaller engine. As far as gas consumption goes, $20 bucks an hour is not bad.

[RockRig]

I think that the 04 24v had a different engine than the PCM 409, it was a GM 6.0l and made 375hp. The 343 makes 343hp and has a very strong torque curve.

We surf with 2k in the boat, and wake with about the same weight just distributed differently, it works great and plenty of power.

Top speed with four people and full fuel is around 44mph.
We use about five gallons per hour wakeboarding and cruising, and about 7 surfing.

All that being said, I suppose more power is always better, but I wouldn't pass up a good boat to get the 409. The PCM 343 is really common and is known to be a great engine.

[da.bell]

My old 24Ve had the 5.7L and it was fine. If you add additional ballast, you might want to look into new prop for a better hole shot.

[ragboy]

24Ve with the 343 will be fine, I have a 2007 with a 340, and it runs great, and gets amazing fuel economy. The only issue, is once we started weighting down heavily for wakesurfing, we got a lot of cavitation. <--how do you spell that?

So we jumped to the 1235 prop, from the 537, problem solved, and still goes 41 mph. No more cavitation.

[IDBoating]

So that's one vote for the 409, and all the rest for the 343. The old adage "I've never wished for a smaller engine" was echoing in my head so I thought I should ask.

I'm aware of repropping based on load, so no problem there.

Thanks, everyone!

[robert theisen]

everyone of the 24ve boats on our lake has the 340 or 343 hp engine depending on the year none have a problem with power. i've driven a 07 24ve with 8 passengers and it had plenty of power my 07 22ve has been weighted with 2100 lbs of ballast and full tank of gas for wakeboarding.other than slower takeoff and acceleration it's fine with stock prop. you can change prop for better holeshot,but you lose a little top end.i would say you should be fine unless your going to add 3500 to 4000 lbs of ballast then larger engine might be needed.

[chpthril]

24Ve with the 343 will be fine, I have a 2007 with a 340, and it runs great, and gets amazing fuel economy. The only issue, is once we started weighting down heavily for wakesurfing, we got a lot of cavitation. <--how do you spell that?

So we jumped to the 1235 prop, from the 537, problem solved, and still goes 41 mph. No more cavitation.

The cavatation in many of our cases is more about reaching the limits of the prop, which any boat will do regardless of the engine. So I agree, the 343HP will not be an issue, but the 537 prop will be taxed once a lot of ballast is added.

IMO, a $600 dollar prop goes alot further then a 4K engine upgrade.

[IDBoating]

IMO, a $600 dollar prop goes alot further then a 4K engine upgrade.

I totally agree, but on the other hand - if there WERE a power limitation with the 24 footer, that's not something a prop by itself is going to solve.

Just trying to get educated so I can make intelligent decisions. Thanks!

[G-MONEY]

Go with the 5.7 You will not disappointed. I have had 3000lbs of ballast/people in the boat, I'm 6-8" 250lbs and I had no problem getting up wakeboarding. That was with the 537 prop.