?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

[cube21]

Sorry if this is a repetive post...Im sure lots of people are asking the same question, but I couldnt find a specific enough answer to my questions...
Were looking for a 17-20ft bowrider.
Main priorities are seating 8 people with enough leftover weight capacity and water sports.

Questions.
Would an outboard be a better choice to get more seating. Ive seen outboard boats with "10 person capacities" because of the full rear bench seat. Can you get a higher in-boat weight capacity with an outboard set-up as opposed to an inboard set-up?

We figure we can get more exact on our engine with an outboard, simply swapping for the perfect size, obviously we cant with an inboard and were limited to either 190 or 220. Can any boat handle a different outboard if we bought one and swapped it out for something bigger?

Last, does it make any difference as far as actual water sports between and i/o and an outboard? Wake size, take-off...?

Any pointers would be great. Just trying to narrow down our options until we know exactly what we want.

thanks.
-CUBE-

 

[oops!]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

oh man....where do we start?....this is gonna be a big thread.

first of all......welcome to i boats..

first of all...imho....obs are less work...by far.

you can get more room with an ob as the motor does not take up the inside area....
an ob hp size is rated by the uscg....and it aint smart to play by over powering past the boats capeabilities.... but you can get a 30 foot ob.

as far as vs for water sports....im an i/o guy....for a true wake go full inboard
strictly speaking.....for all water sports...i like i/o's better

 

[reelfishin]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

I've owned both, but what pushed me to all outboard boats is for one, more clear open space in the boat, easier motor changes or upgrades, and most of all, no bellows, seals or other below the waterline openings which can leak and sink the boat.
Most outboard boats are also lighter and seem better balanced to me since you don't have all the weight of an often cast iron auto engine at the back of the boat.
There's also a huge advantage to the outboard boat too when it comes to resale value, at least around here.

I went from a straight inboard to an I/O to all outboards. It took me a long time to get used to fishing around the motor or outdrive but the cost advantages of not having to worry about shaft seals and bellows leaks far outweighed any inconvenience.

I started with inboards and I/O boats since I worked on automotive engines all my life and had little experience with outboards when it came to repairs, but soon found that the added marine elements on a boat motor were more of a detraction than a plus and it didn't take me long to realize that outboards were far less work to maintain.

 

[Bondo]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

Main priorities are seating 8 people with enough leftover weight capacity and water sports.

Ayuh,...

Regardless of your choice of Power,...

If you plan to load up 8 people, And go water sporting,... At the same time...
A 20' boat Isn't nearly Big enough.... 25' Maybe,.. With Big Horsepower....

 

[sickwilly]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

If watersports will be the main thing you do when boating and your not on salt water, then IO all the way, or a used V-drive wakeboard boat. Another option would be one of the jet boats from yamaha or sea doo.

The outboard breaks up the swim platform on the back of the boat. A nice swim step/platform is really nice when you have 8 people wanting to jump in and cool down while your fiddling with ski ropes, skis, wakeboards, etc.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

Like Bond-o said, 8 people and water sports at the same time means a much larger boat.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

I owned one I/O and it was a mechanical disaster when I bought it. I knew some of what was wrong with it but it wasn't till after I got it running that other problems started showing up. To me it is a complete waste of space to have a I/O. As reel fishin said they have bellows between the outdrive and the inboard motor which can leak and in my case they did leak. I ended up cutting the boat up/stripped it down, and removed the motor and outdrive. Now knowing my luck I'll probably half to give the motor and outdrive away to get rid of it, even though I have it advertised as a running motor for parts or repair (which it does run). I have heard of prices being as much as $500 for the bellows and seals (that was for an older motor). I don't know how easy it is to change the oil out on the newer I/Os, but it is a pain on the old ones. I do know that some of these I/O parts are high dollar, the outdrives can bring a grand if not more on a good day depending on the rig. Lets put it this way, when you get into boating, if it be with an outboard or a I/O your going to have to spend money on it somewhere along the line. To me I believe the I/O would be a money hog, for the maintenance, gass, etc etc.

I've had experience with removing I/Os, done one job for my uncle and even though it was deck boat it wasn't very easy, then the one I mentioned earlier.

My father had swapped for a 25 footer cabin cruiser a little while back, it also has an I/O in it. I know that I'll be the main one working on it, and it is going to be a pain. I'll stick with the Johnson and Evinrude outboards.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

My 19 ft Stingray has a capacity of 8 adults. We do 8 people just fine in it, but 4 of our 8 are less than 12 years old. When they become full fledged teenagers I will need more boat.

Are you looking to boat with 8 full sized adults, or are there some kids in the mix?

 

[oops!]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

i put 8 full grown adults in my 19 foot searay with a 4 banger i/o in it.

didnt get on plane.....

took six adults.......(200 lb football players) and put one in the water with a rope.....(water skiing)......and two of the bigger guys had to sit way up on the bow....with the rest crammed up front till he got outta the water.

8 people and a skier?......big boat and a big motor

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

My first season, first boat, so no expert by far and nothing to compare to, but my 21 ft Sea Ray bow rider pulled 7 large people and one in a tube all summer long. Our legal capacity is 10 people.
It would take a while to get up to plane and had to shift people's seating positions sometimes but it worked.
The swim platform as mentioned above is nice and easy on and off. My parents are getting older and it helps. It has rear is a full bench seat.
Now regards to maintaince, bellows and such, like I said first season and IOs are much more complicated and cumbersome design then I thought they would be. Time will tell. Ike

 

[cube21]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

I replied a few days ago but I guess it didnt go through...great. anyway:

Most our boating will be done with 4-6 people in the boat. Occasionally we might bring one or two more people, and get 8 in the boat at one time. Between the kids and adults, itll average about 185lbs each.
We plan to eventually get a tower but we will also use the boat for general stuff, hanging out on the water, spending a day at the lake, fishing...etc.

So far, the 18-19 foot 4.3L in-outs have seemed fine for what we will be doing. But according to you guys...maybe not.

The i/o seemed perfect until I saw this add:
http://boats.iboats.com/maxum_boats/191307.html
It made me think I can get more seating, a higher weight capacity, and a more powerful engine if I get the same size boat with an outboard instead of an inboard.

Let me revamp my questions:

1. In general, does an outboard set-up raise the person and weight capacity of a boat in comparison to an i/o of the same size?

2. Can an outboard style boat handle varying engine sizes? Or will I need to find an outboard bowrider specified to a certain outboard motor?

3. When comparing a stern drive with an outboard, does a HP rating mean the same performance between the two? Will a 190 HP 4.3L i/o have the same power benefits as an outboard 190 HP? How do they compare?

Thanks
-CUBE-

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

1. In general, does an outboard set-up raise the person and weight capacity of a boat in comparison to an i/o of the same size?

Usually (more room inside w/o the motor)

2. Can an outboard style boat handle varying engine sizes? Or will I need to find an outboard bowrider specified to a certain outboard motor?

Yes, they can handle various sizes, but there will be an upper limit.

3. When comparing a stern drive with an outboard, does a HP rating mean the same performance between the two? Will a 190 HP 4.3L i/o have the same power benefits as an outboard 190 HP? How do they compare?

OBs have more power at the prop.

If you decide on an OB, think about a deck boat. More room for people, and you get an extra "swim platform" at the front (makes up for the loss of the one on the back).

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

You have to keep in mind the capacity plate info is a little miss leading. That law was enacted years and years ago and they use the average weight if I recall correctly was 141 lbs. Unfortunately we Americans have gained a few pounds and they need to update the formula for calculation. In the United States the average weight of males between 20 and 74 years of age was 191 pounds, the average weight of females of the same age range was 164 pounds. Capacity plates also includes your gear and sometimes your motor.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

The i/o seemed perfect until I saw this add:
http://boats.iboats.com/maxum_boats/191307.html
It made me think I can get more seating, a higher weight capacity, and a more powerful engine if I get the same size boat with an outboard instead of an inboard.

There is a reason Maxum no longer makes any of their boats available with outboards. I don't see any Bayliners with them either. They keep making what sells.

Glasstron only offers them on their smaller versions -- 17 and 18 foot boats. The 18 foot one does have a listed 8 person capacity. I think you are going to have to look to some of the deck boats to find an outboard with the seating capacity higher than the comparable IOs you are looking at. Check out the Hurricane line.

I wonder if that boat in the add has an eight person capacity.

If you are really looking at water sports and want a lot of room, look at some of the v-drive wake board boats.

Lastly, look at the access point to the water on the back of the boat you linked versus on the back of the newer 19 foot maxums and you will see why many people don't buy them for water sports.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

If you decide on an OB, think about a deck boat. More room for people, and you get an extra "swim platform" at the front (makes up for the loss of the one on the back).

I have to agree with this. For the kind of boating you are looking to do, a deckboat sounds ideal!

 

[Dirty Dawg]

Re: ?s for the experienced - Outboard / Inboard comparisons...

Well here are some photos of my 2000 21 Ft Sundeck. Sorry about the situation, the boat is in the middle of winterization. The forward Sundeck has a center section that has removable cushions and platform allowing seating on both sides. There are two captains seats and a full bench in the back ( the cushions are out of the corners in the photo) Cup holders everywhere a small head and good storage. Easy access thru the swim platform and plenty of power. Its legal capacity is 10, whatever that means by todays more realistic numbers. It is however a IO with what ever that comes with. Cube your uses seems similar to mine. Understand that this is my only boat type and our first year so not much to compare to, but it seemed to be perfect fot our needs all summer long!!
Sorry about the second pic, I cannot seem to downsize it so I thru it into a thumbnail!! Ike

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