as far as i/o's, i think the bar is alot closer than outboards. I've seen the same praises and complaints w/ each. I have more experience is mercruiser, but i think similar to outboards, having the shop that sells/installs nearby is key. I love the idea of the duo-prop bravo3, a boat ALMOST does what u tell it to when in reverse, and can really optimize performance on certain boats. But the bravo 3 i don't think is optimum in commercial applications, at least the beating we put on them. We had a bravo 3 we got used and had alot of down time. More moving parts to possibly go wrong, like a helicopter vs. fixed wing aircraft. Not the best example but a reality when the boat gets 70-80 hours a week. If i was a pleasure boater that never fished or boated in skinny water, bravo 3 might be optimum. But for heavy use and for our commercial applications, the new 350 MPI w/ bravo 2 is bulletproof, and averages 4-4.3 gallons per hour!!! Unfreakin believable fuel #'s, and these are real time from much less than optimum usage(w/out coming clean about what they/I really do). My buddy has twin turbo volvo's on his big pursuit express, great motors, also diesel. But given the choice i would rather buy american assuming there was realistic service nearby. The fuel burn is 10-20%better than they publish. When was the last time any of us had car or especially a boat overdeliver on a promise? As much as i love the twin turbo volvo's on my buddy's pursuit it snapped a belt 90 miles offshore 35 hours before volvo suggested replacement. He limped back on 1 motor, 12 hours. 2 different boats w/ different scenario's but our boat has gotten 50-80 hours per week since november being beatin to crap w/ out a hiccup. Right motor on the right application, w/ service is key, but i love our merc/bravo2 combo, and so does the boss
