i/o archilles heels

[salmonee]

Many boaters I know own nothing but outboards type boat. When i ask them about runabouts they say don't buy them. They always point out that there are still many outboards from the 70's running today. So I have to wonder what's the big problem with i/o motors? Is it just that i/o requires more maintenance? I plan on running in salt water only about half a dozen outing a year. I noticed that big expensive boats especially out in FL all use outboards. That may not be a fair comparison as they run in salt 95% of the time probably. Thanks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: i/o archilles heels

There are many reasons people run I/Os while others prefer an outboard. Here are just a few of the reasons.
1) I/O's are heavier than outboards so if the boat is trailered, it takes a heavier trailer and you tow more weight.
2) I/O engines sit inside the boat while an outboard is outside the boat. For the same size boat, the outboard has a little more room.
3) Many off shore boats use twin outboards since there is a certain security factor is one engine has a problem. It also allows you to just poke along on one smaller engine rather than one big engine.
4) An I/O is generally harder to maintain. Most operations on the engine have you laying on your belly. With an outboard you stand along side it.
5) I/Os in some peoples view are more visually appealing than an outboard but that's just a personal thing.
6) With an outboard if you love the boat but hate the engine you can sell the engine, keep the boat, and install whatever you like. With an I/O you are pretty much stuck with what you have so it's buy a new boat if the engine or boat is not to your liking.
7) While you see a lot of outboards from the 60's and 70's on the water, there are large numbers of I/O's from the same period still running strong. The reason you see more outboards is more of them were sold and it depends on the area of the country to you live in and the type of water you happen to be viewing at the time.

 

[salmonee]

Re: i/o archilles heels

So are you saying that an I/O would last just as long as an outboard if you maintain the thing?

 

[mylesm260]

Re: i/o archilles heels

One major difference between the two systems is bellows.

When you adjust the tilt/trim or steer an outboard, your engine and prop are moving together.

On an IB/OB setup, your engine is stationary and your leg is moving. This means that you have the added replacement labour/costs of
-U-joints
-Bellows
-Couplers
-water hoses

Other than that, the maintenence and life should be about the same between the two setups.


Historically, you coudn't get the same speed out of an OB boat because of lack of power, but now adays OB motors are making the same HP as ib/ob boats, so it really comes down to a matter of preference.

In a lot of cases too, OB parts are much more expensive... so you have to factor that into the overall cost of ownership.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: i/o archilles heels

I have owned them all- outboards, straight inboards, and now an I/O. Out of all of them, I like the I/O the best- which is ironic because I was the first one to tell you I would never buy one!

The I/O is a breeze to dock, (with the duo prop anyway) and the noise level is much lower then either a 2 stroke outboard or a straight inboard (in my experience) and the fuel mileage/power is awesome. My 22' straight inboard got 1-1.5 mpg at a cruise of 18 mph. My current boat- a much larger 26' Larson gets 3 mpg at a cruise of 25-30 mph- go figure.



Look at the cost of an outboard now, they are insane. I can get a crate GM 350 for $4000 or less, that says a lot to me.

 

[mylesm260]

Re: i/o archilles heels

Straight Inboards are garbage IMO

I too agree that IB/OB is the way to go.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: i/o archilles heels

personally i have one I/O in a 23 foot deck boat, but that is the best engine and drive for that boat. it is a royal PITA to service. the rest smaller boats, Outboard is the way to go. especially salt water, easier to washdown you can stand on the ground to service them. if they die, you can remove and install an new motor is about 3 hours. the engine does not take up valuable deck space.

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: i/o archilles heels

mylesm260- Why are straight inboards garbage? Some guys will fight you to the death about it, I agree with you though in regards to lack of trim, or ability to get to the prop.

Tashasdaddy- My engine doesnt take up any deck space

 

[arks]

Re: i/o archilles heels

mylesm260- Why are straight inboards garbage? Some guys will fight you to the death about it.

Absolutely. Inboards have their place so a blanket statement like that is completely pointless.
For me, I was tired of spending big money every year on outdrive service. With my inboards, I can do all my own maintenance. I'll NEVER own another I/O!

 

[mylesm260]

Re: i/o archilles heels

My experienece is that IB/OB's (vs straight inboard) are:

More fuel efficient
Faster
More manuverable (stearing with entire leg and prop VS just a rudder)

Also,
if you hit shallow water on an IB/OB, you can always lift your leg.... if you hit shallow water on a staright inboard, kiss your running gear goodbye

Now I'm certainly open to arguments.....

 

[mthieme]

Re: i/o archilles heels

Agree.
The hundreds of commercial workboats on the Chesapeake are typically inboards.

 

[salmonee]

Re: i/o archilles heels

All are good points. I'm mainly interested in the motor versatility, dependability, maintenance schedule, etc.

Like my Honda car, I just change my oil and it keeps going and going. It may cost a little up front, but the money is well spent. I don't want this or that piece going out. What scare me is that I've seen half dozen ad which advertise that boat has a "New Motor". So I'm thinking, why does it need a new motor? Outboards just seem bulletproof compared to i/o...But i don't own either one, so I may not know what I'm talking about.

 

[superpop]

Re: i/o archilles heels

Owning a boat is nothing like owning a car, you know what BOAT stands for don't you, Break Out Another Thousand. Unless you are mechanically inclined, a used boat that has been very well taken care of is still going to need annual service, in Seattle that is typically 400-500 bucks a pop. On an outboard you are still going to need annual maintenance and tune up, so both drive set ups are similar in cost per year. An IO is much quieter from what I have heard, and you are not climbing around a motor to get in from the back when you are doing water sports. They both are great set ups, I personally prefer IO because I know how to work on a very simple carbonated GM small block, very easy for me to tune and not much to them as far as breaking down. It really depends on how you want to use the boat and how comfortable you are doing routine maintenance on whatever you get.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: i/o archilles heels

Coupla other random thoughts.

If you boat at the extremes of the season (assuming you live where there are seasons ) an outboard is far less hassle. As soon as you turn the engine off, all the water drains into the lake. With an inboard or i/o one night's cold snap means you can destroy your engine if you didn't prepare for it. I know, I know, all you have to do is lower yourself headfirst into the engine compartment, do some crunches, fish around with a box end wrench and take out a couple of plugs. It's a breeze.. With the outboard, come October I can still leave the boat in the water when the air temp dips below freezing. As long as the leg is sitting in water that's above zero, I'm good.

For dead-slow manoeuvrability around the slip, the inboard is going to be the least favourable...unless you have twins, of course. Not sure if there's a significant difference between i/o and outboard manoeuvrability.

It has been mentioned that I/Os run the quietest. I would have agreed until I sea trialled my Yamaha 90hp 4 stroke. It's damn quiet. Quiet enough to have a converstation in normal tones at near peak cruising speed and certainly no driveline whine that I can detect.

Depending on the hull profile and deadrise of your boat, I'd say an outboard setup will probably draw less draft than an I/O. Something to keep in mind if you need to travel at any speed through skinny water. On the Scout two years ago I stupidly blasted through a channel unkown to me. Imagine my surprise when I noticed I was cruising steadily at just 2 feet indicated on the depth gauge at near WOT. I'd have been digging a pretty good trench had I been in the SeaRay that day...

On a related note, One thing I absolutely love about the Yammy is the tilt switch located on the side of the cowl. Much easier when servicing, trailering, dealing with beach launching etc. than running back and forth to the helm like I did with my old I/O. Now, I have seen some people install such switches at the stern of their I/O, so that certainly isn't a make or break buying item.

One thing I'm not looking forward to is keeping those four carbs on the Yamaha tuned to spec. As far as carb servicing went it didn't get any easier that single, stupid-simple carb on my Merc 3.0 I/O.

Fuel consumption is about a wash for me in terms of comparing the 4 stroke outboard on a 1500 pound boat and the SeaRay's 3.0 in a 2000 pound boat. Both are pretty good, considering "good" is terrible by automotive standards...

Edit - just saw your note above about dependability. I don't think an engine gets any more rock solid than an inboard or I/O block. Simple, proven, been around for ages. Certainly much simpler than my twin cam, multi-carb outboard. However, with an I/O especially, you've got all that driveline gear which isn't nearly so bulletproof. There are several key seals that must be serviced regularly -- and they are a pain to service..or you are at risk of sinking. Gear packs can eat themselves if your shifter isn't maintained within spec. The hydraulics are more complicated. This list goes on. Not that all this stuff can't be made to last decades -- it just takes far more care and attention than a car. Everything about all boats tends to fall into that category.

The other boating sayings I like are: " A motor boat is propelled via the steady combustion of money." And "Sailboats travel forward under the pressure of a steadily accumulating debt.."

 

[Silvertip]

Re: i/o archilles heels

The statement about buying a crate engine for $4000 is valid, but you only get half the drive system. You still have the entire outdrive to contend with and have you actually priced that entire system lately? I too have owned both outboards and I/O's and while there are advantages and disadvantages to both, an outboard is simply my preference. Up here in the tundra where we need to do an exceptional job of winterizing, outboards can be winterized in a matter of minutes. Screw up this process on an I/O and it costs you an engine.

 

[salmonee]

Re: i/o archilles heels

I know a guy at work who owns an 18' aluminum boat with a 90 hp honda 4 stroke for the last 10 years. From our discussion he does literally no maintenance whatsoever besides the oil change and a couple of items here and there. He says the maintenance is similar to a honda car. He says that it's the same engine as a honda civic which I'm not sure how accurate that statement is. Never winterize or changed impeller, etc. It just keeps going and going. He says the motor is so quite, he doesn't even know it's on! This is very different from my experience riding a new maxum 18' boat with a 3.0 mercruiser. That 3.0 was loud as heck. Gave me a headache after the test ride.

 

[QC]

Re: i/o archilles heels

I lust for OB power, but I usually have the same comment when considering a boat for family recreation.

If you are going to be swimming off the transom, And are going to have people getting in and out of the boat, a full swimstep is safer and I think without question more visually attractive than a small swimstep on the side with a little ladder next to an OB.

Also, chicks don't dig OBs, and in my house that matters . . . Very few sun lounges across the top of the transom on OB powered boats. Women love to be able to lay out flat when you are at anchor, and they also do not see the appeal of that big thing sticking up in the back . . .

 

[DJ]

Re: i/o archilles heels

Also, chicks don't dig OBs, and in my house that matters . . . Very few sun lounges across the top of the transom on OB powered boats. Women love to be able to lay out flat when you are at anchor, and they also do not see the appeal of that big thing sticking up in the back . . .

And there you have the whole argument wrapped up in ONE paragraph.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: i/o archilles heels

...Never winterize or changed impeller, etc. It just keeps going and going. ....

Tell your buddy that impeller (and therefore the engine) is living on borrowed time. It should get changed out every couple of years -- outboard or not.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: i/o archilles heels

And there you have the whole argument wrapped up in ONE paragraph.

Yup!