Re: Deck boat vs bowrider???
One item on the I/O vs outboard. My dad has a 19' fish and ski with a 1994 mariner 2 stroke outboard, and i havr a 19' crownline with a 5.7 I/O. I much prefer the I/O and one of the biggest reasons is the noise. I know the old 2 strokes are a lot louder than the newer 4 strokes but having that motor down in the boat and everything completely covered, plus the full width swim platform more than make up for the benefits of the outboard for me. Granted I don't really fish. My mom and girlfriend prefer my boat as well.
As for gas mileage I think my 230 - 260 hp I/O does better than the outboard (once again it's a 2 stroke). The horse power is completely worth it especially with 8 people on it. The extra power WILL make your days of driving more enjoyable.
