i/o archilles heels

[reelfishin]

Re: i/o archilles heels

If an outboard has a failure, no matter what it is, you won't sink. An I/O drive has bellows, shift cables, and through hull gaskets to leak. A cracked bellows tube or bad hull gasket you can take on water.

 

[mandopickr]

Re: i/o archilles heels

I have to agree with Reelfishin. We have o/b and a i/o. I love the performance, the torque, the gas mileage of the i/o. The i/o saved me about $6000 over the same hp outboard. I doubt, however, that I would buy a i/o again due to the potential problems of water in the bilge.

My bass boat, with an o/b, once had enough water in the bilge to almost sink it (due to a rain storm, and the bilge pump switch fouling). All I had to do was get the bilge pump running, and all was well. That same situation with an i/o would be disastrous. If you use your boat enough, you will eventually get water in the bilge.

 

[mthieme]

Re: i/o archilles heels

That same situation with an i/o would be disastrous.

How so?

 

[ksubigbuck]

Re: i/o archilles heels

How so?

The motor would be under water if enough of it got into the bilge.

 

[ksubigbuck]

Re: i/o archilles heels

Here is my take: Outboards are designed specifically for boats and are made to turn high rpm's. I/O's are automotive designs that are modified for boat use, and it is much harder on them to turn high rpm's for extended periods.

Performance: with all else being equal (same hull), a 200 hp outboard will smoke a 200 hp I/O. It is lighter and will be able to turn higher rpm's in general, especially if it is a 2 stroke.

However, I/O's are a great option for most boaters. Quiet, look good, good mileage, easy to fix (drive not included).

Just my take,
Hunter

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: i/o archilles heels

"easy to fix (drive not included)." i don't believe any I/O boat was ever designed around engine maintenance. they are a PITA to get to. laying on the deck, using the brail system to change spark plugs, and oil filters.

 

[salmonee]

Re: i/o archilles heels

Thanks everyone for all the inputs. Alot of useful info has been brought up. I guess this is why I'm having such a hard time trying to find a good boat. My initial instinct was to get a boat with an outboard. These are harder to come by in a fiberglass open bow. I had to settle for i/o because these are more common. However, if the owner neglects to winterize or have proper maintenance, I'm buying a $ pit.

 

[mylesm260]

Re: i/o archilles heels

Most IB/OB setups have a
starting battery,
a deep cycle battery,
a bildge alarm and
a bildge pump

Set your bildge alarm to auto, and you won't have that problem. =)

 

[mylesm260]

Re: i/o archilles heels

Here is my take: Outboards are designed specifically for boats and are made to turn high rpm's. I/O's are automotive designs that are modified for boat use, and it is much harder on them to turn high rpm's for extended periods.

Performance: with all else being equal (same hull), a 200 hp outboard will smoke a 200 hp I/O. It is lighter and will be able to turn higher rpm's in general, especially if it is a 2 stroke.

However, I/O's are a great option for most boaters. Quiet, look good, good mileage, easy to fix (drive not included).

Just my take,
Hunter

RPMS are completely relative.
In fact, all things being equal, your better making your speed/power at LOWER rpms.

rotational wear equals RPMS squared.

My 21' boat does 62 MPH @ 4900 RPMS with a 4.3 V6.
I cruise @ 35 MPH @ 3100 RPMS

an equivialnt outboard would be pushing 5500 rpms to get the same speed....more wear, more noise, worse milage.


Outboard can rev higher because they have to in order to make the same power as an IB/OB.


The fact that IB/OB and OB's get relatively the same milage just shows how good IB/OB's are in my opinion.

99% of all IB/OB setups are pushrod 2 valve per cylinder motors ther were for the most part designed in the 1940's and 1950's.

Modern OB's are 4 valve per cylinder dual over head cam motors with variable valve timming and modern combustion chambers, and yet the IB/OB motors are still getting comperable millage. Go figure.