i/o or outboard?

[ggermain]

Any general info on preference for i/o vs. outboard such as speed, gas mileage, any advice??<br />Also, aren't i/o all 4 stroke. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: i/o or outboard?

I/O's generally run Ford or GM 4, 6, or 8 cylinder auto engines converted for marine use. They are heavy but with lots of torque are great on bigger boats. You lose interior space with an I/O vs and outboard. Outboards are lighter. You can have your choice of two stroke carbed, two stroke DFI, or four stroke EFI & carbed. Since you didn't indicated what your primary use would be -- you and only you can make that determination.

 

[DJ]

Re: i/o or outboard?

This is the age old question. It depends on who you ask.<br /><br />I'm an outboard guy. <br /><br />Outboards are one half to two thirds the weight of an I/O.<br /><br />Outboards are simpler to maintain, in my opinion.<br /><br />Outboards allow shallow water running that I/O's can't match.<br /><br />Outboards are "generally" more expensive to buy-sometimes not.<br /><br />Whatever you decide, power the hull (boat) toward the maximum allowable HP.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: i/o or outboard?

outboards

 

[JB]

Re: i/o or outboard?

Make that three Outboard Guys.<br /><br />Same reasons as DJ.

 

[Terry H]

Re: i/o or outboard?

I'll have to go with the rest of these outboard guys, and say outboard. The simplicity if nothing else. Chief

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: i/o or outboard?

I've had both and have enjoyed both. For me the most important factors are weight and room. Weight may or may not be a consideration. Room is very significant especially with any boat less than, say, 20 - 22 feet. I wouldn't consider another I/O with a boat smaller than 20 feet. They just take up too much room. I REALLY like the room my outboard has freed up compared to a similar rig I had with I/O.<br /><br />Some prefer the looks of one over another as well.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: i/o or outboard?

I enjoy my inboard. I bought it because I couldn't afford a new 4 stroke or 2 stroke Etech outboard boat. Quiet, old technology and no oily smoke at a decent price. Great for water sports with no motor in the way of the cord.

 

[AaronG]

Re: i/o or outboard?

There is something to be said for the lack of noise and smoke that an I/O produces. I have both an I/O and an outboard boat. Each has its ups and downs. The I/O boats tend to llook better because there is no motor hanging off the back, and they are nicer when you have a lot of no-wake zones. The I/O is silent, whereas most outboards, especially 2 strokes , are a little noisier. Then there is the smoke. Nothing is worse going through a long no wake zone on a hot day with a tailwind blowing all that stinky 2 stroke smoke at at you. <br /><br />They both break.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: i/o or outboard?

Outboards good!....I/O's bad!<br /><br />Oh!.. and Beer good....Fire bad!

 

[JGREGORY]

Re: i/o or outboard?

If it's going to be a single engine on a 21' or less boat go with the outboard for all the above mentioned reasons. <br /><br />Stay away from twin outboards, in my experience they cavitate alot and require alot of throttle adjustment. <br /><br />For pure unadulterated power I believe you can't beat a I/O. The prop sits way down in the water, if you can maintain a car engine you can maintain a I/O. I think you get better fuel economy on a horse power basis. One draw back to the I/O if your go that way get a freshwater cooled system.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: i/o or outboard?

One more thing I want to mention to the original poster: go look at some similar boats in your price range with both I/O and outboard set-ups. Use the seats, look at the storage, imagine doing what you'll be doing. If the I/O will do what you want it to do, you like the looks and the weight doesn't matter, that might help you decide. Do the same with the outboard rig. If the outboard gives you what you need in the boat itself, or if weight is an important factor, or if you just like the way it looks, well, there you go. There's no substitute for geting a feel for the actual boat. The other factors are all secondary in my experience.

 

[khc1970]

Re: i/o or outboard?

Surely that would depends on the size and type of boat as well as the primart usage?!<br /><br />I don't think outboard/s look very right/neat and tidy on the back of a 35' boat!!!

 

[tommays]

Re: i/o or outboard?

that big one in the add with the 3 300 HP Yamaha outboards sure looks neat and tidy <br /><br />tommays

 

[fireman57]

Re: i/o or outboard?

Outboard no question. Pulling skiers, wakeboarding, or tubing the power and quickness of pulling them is unsurpassed. Had both. Never had VRO and don't mind mixing my fuel.

 

[noelm]

Re: i/o or outboard?

I have also had both but to this day I have never seen a car designed to go in salt water, so, as such I have never seen a car engine designed to run in salt water either! but outboards are made for the harsh marine environment (and they still corrode) so I guess I favour outboards

 

[alden135]

Re: i/o or outboard?

Another perspective...<br /><br />Consider the fact that when you finally have your i/o boat rigged just the way you like it, and the motor has a catastrophic failure, you now need to lift that beast out and disconnect everything. For me, I feel better knowing it's just a matter of taking off old o/b and popping on (similar)new one.

 

[Mercathode]

Re: i/o or outboard?

I ran outboards for years both Merc and OMC. My last rig a 95 4-Winns I bought 10 years ago last month new was my first I/O. I have 634 hrs on this 302CID Ford engine and Volvo/OMC outdrive. I have had no problems. I take it about every 100 or so hours and have the knuckles greased. It is powerful, economical, quiet and if the 302 fails one day it is much cheaper to replace it than an outboard. I/O 's rule

 

[dingbat]

Re: i/o or outboard?

Motor boxes sux. Gimbal bearings sux. So does draining the block every time you come in when it's below freezing out.<br />Having had both, I can also say that it’s cheaper to maintain my outboard also. <br /><br />Having said that I'd take a good diesel inboard over either.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: i/o or outboard?

I like them both. they all break . all need maint. the maint on an I/O is a bit more than some outboards. depends on what your trying to do with the rig,your technical skill level and budget. usually you can pick up a decent 10 yr old sterndrive thats been maintained in the 17-19ft range for less than 3500 dollars thats powerful enough for a family of 4. but if its not been maintained its powerful enough to be a budget wrecker. in my area I dont like them due to excessive amounts of thin water we have in my area. bad for the I/O owner good for me and the tow boat US operator.