Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

[fore4me]

I have been shopping for a used boat for about 4 months now and I am having trouble making a final decision. I have narrowed my choices down to 2 distinct types of boats:

1) Direct-Drive or V-Drive ski boat.

or

2) Deck boat with an outboard motor only. No sterndrive for me, ever again!

I like the deck boats for their versatility and available porta potti, but I am having trouble finding one with a 4 stroke outboard in my area.

Even though I don't ski very often, I like the ski boats for their power, looks, and mechanical simplicity.

So to the questions:
1) I can find a deck boat with a 2 stroke outboard in my price range, should I go with this setup, will I be happy with the 2 stroke outboard???

2) I can easily find a inboard ski boat in my price range, but I worry about using this type of boat for cruising. I would like to go on some extended overnight cruises, would this type of boat be practical for that??? I also hear that an inboard boat rides rough in choppy water???

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[tommays]

Re: Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

Are you planing to stay ON the boat on trips OR hotel it, i camp on a 19' boat with NO problem BUT you would never get my wife to


A true Ski boat will be terrible in rough water





Tommays

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

i have had bowriders for years, 2years ago, we bought a 23 chris craft deckboat, will never go back to a bowrider. it is an 5.7L VP great riding boat, capacity 13, excellant storage. we ski, tube, snorkel, fish, and just cruise. it has been 7 miles out to Loe Key Reef, in the keys, on many occasions.

the problem with an inboard, is you cannot trim the outdrive.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

If you can find a deckboat with the Evinrude Etec you will have a state of the art 2 stroke.Cleaner than most 4 strokes and excellent performance and power.The only 2 stroke allowed on lake Tohoe.Go to the BRP site and check out the performance reports.Don't know if they test any deckboats but you can see some excellent reports.including many 2008 motors.
No maintenance scheduled for 3 years or 300 hours.Excellent warantee.
As far as the ski types; direct drive is relatively simple but V drive definately adds some complication and I think some V drives have seperate cooling systems.
And of course both types are fixed drives so cant be beached,or adjusted for shallows or weedy conditions.And of course there is no trim adjust except for trim tabs.I'll bet they are pretty wet and rough in windy conditions.Not because its an inboard but the hull design.There are plenty of inboards that ride really smooth.
The ski boats are cool looking and fast but certainly not for extended cruising.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

And of course both types are fixed drives so cant be beached,or adjusted for shallows or weedy conditions

to me that would be a deal breaker right there...... i like trim.. to me. the inboard ski boats are just that. ski boats. they do that very well. anything else and they aren't quite as hip.... the ob deck boat could be used for anything you wanted.... much more versital i'd think....

 

[KCook]

Re: Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

"1) I can find a deck boat with a 2 stroke outboard ... ???"

Assuming it is a modern design with EFI, should run fine. Main downside will be that these are still LOUD, compared to current 4S designs. Your female crew may or may not tolerate that. Demo ride with them on board is definitely in order.

"2) ... inboard ski boat ... extended overnight cruises ... inboard boat rides rough in choppy water???"

For extended cruising I would put a V-drive way ahead of a straight inboard. Unless it's one of the huge Malibu inboards with twin cockpits! The V-drive will simply have a lot more room AND storage. As for ride, depends on size, as with most boats. It's the 19-20' ski boats that have the brutal reputation. 21-23' boats will be setup more for general use, with better ride. Plus these days most of the bigger ski boats are V-drives. IMHO the main downside to cruising a big ski boat is fuel consumption, not ride.

Kelly

 

[180shabah]

Re: Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

You have a variety of uses intended for your "new" boat, so you need a versitile design: Deckboat, no question.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

I had a Larson 19' bow rider and recently bought a Splendor deck boat and it is awesome! They are very affordable and they deliver it to you as part of the price. You can also get them with an outboard engine just go to Splendorboats dot com

 

[earnies2]

Re: Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

I am on my 6th boat. I've gone from small to large...salt to fresh....my small was a 17' glastron 230 chevy i/o merc good boat...than i got a 30'with twin 350s inboard it was fast,and expensive i thought i had a leaky fuel tank and or lines turns out it was just the hole on top of the engine (carb) and the dumb captain (me) my next boat was a 24' formula with a 260 merc good boat fast and ok on fuel next was a 20' bowrider with a 4.3 omc cobra another good boat now i have a 248 hurricane Deck boat with a 7.4 merc with a bravo drive and it is the best boat ive ever oned it does every thing all my other boats coulnt power speed handiling it is even good on fuel so for my money buy the deck boat and dont skimp on the horse power i tried 3 outboards 2 were 4 strokes and 1 was a 2 stroker and than the i/o and you know wich one i bought.....Thats your mission should you accept it Good luck This thred will self destruct in 5 seconds........

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Decisions,Decisions??? Deckboat vs. Ski boat

Second (or third,etc) the deckboat. Better for just about everything but skiing, and I ski behind mine all the time. I love the low draft and the ability to get the whole motor out of the water. Also you get a lot more room and seating flexibility. Lastly, I don't believe I could ever dock an inboard, but I'm a n00b.

Neither is going to be worth much in rough chop though.