I/O VS. outboard

[lazypt]

I have always owned outboards but I am considering an I/O in my search for a slightly larger more famiy friendly boat. I currently own a 2000 Key West 1900 CC. It is a great boat but lacks some comforts of a walk around or a cuddy.

So any input on the pros & cons of an I/O would be greatly appreciated.

 

[allymoss]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

Inboard can be cheaper, you can get a car engine and covert it e.g. a nice v8 or something. Can be maintained easier because not everything is compressed into a small space.

Outboards in my opinion look cool and you get all the big marine makes with warranties. Doesn't take up as much space inside the boat, dont have to worry about the seal around a shaft in the bottom of the hull.

Loads more that I cant think of right now.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

if you like to do your own maintainance, the outboard is the way to go. winterizing is much easier, in the future repowering is much easier.

I/O's, have bellow (rubber between transom and outdrive) that have to be changed, exhaust manifolds, many changing the spark plugs is done by the Brail system, as you can see them, the outdrives have to be remove, every year of two, for service, and service of the gimgal bearing, etc

the engine takes up valuable floor space.

i am part owner of a i/o deck boat. the agreement when we bought it, "i don't work on it" i have had one other I/O, and learned my lesson.

 

[MercGuy]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

People have strong opinions about I/O vs Outboards, so you will probably get conflicting answers.

A couple of things that can't be debated are:

1) I/O's have many more moving parts to fail that outboards

2) They are heavier

3) They take up space inside the boat

4) They require special attention when starting (running the blower) to avoid explosion in the event that fuel vapors are present

5) If you boat in cold climates, I/O's are a problem since the lake water doesn't drain out of the block when the boat is pulled out of the water. This can lead to broken blocks or engine manifolds during a cold snap.

6) You can't tilt the drive out of the water while moored on an I/O

I can't think of any disadvantage that a "Modern" outboard presents, with the possible exception of purchase price.

Many times people will talk about outboard problems such as fouling plugs, mixing 2 cycle oil, and noise, but those are problems of the past.

Even my 10 year old Merc 115 doesn't have those problems, and the new ones are even better.

My $0.02

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

The last few guys posted all the same things that I went through a few months ago when I sold my first boat in place of my second.

I stuck with the outboard for those exact reasons (and the great deal on the second boat)

If you plan to do maintenance yourself, which i hope to be able to do most of mine, outboard is the way to go.

 

[Kev144]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

Both nowadays are pretty big pain in the *** to work on with all the damn electronics. One reason i love working on carb motors! But yes, the outboard is easier to work on and will give you more room.

Though i prefere I/O's for the more power. Nothing like triple 800's or 1075s power at your control.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

Outboard every time. Easier to maintain and should the poop hit the fan you can drop another one on in a short space of time.
No comparison in my book.

 

[Benny1963]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

i build a few inboard motors and a few outboard motors
i would much rather build a inboard motor ,but thats it ive had nothing but drive probs and they are also heavy and take up space .so i run and outboard

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

I am actually looking for a "replacement outboard" in case this one gives up the ghost !!!! or needs major time consuming repairs. Our boating season is short enough already. Not like the "year rounders" down south.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

One often overlooked factor is that with an outboard, if you love your boat and hate the engine, you keep the boat and install whatever engine you want. Conversely, if you love the engine and hate the boat, keep the engine and buy the boat you want (with or without and engine). With an I/O you are stuck either way unless you have deep pockets and can afford an entire outdrive/engine swap along with any required transom mods. I too have been down the I/O road and while the I/O makes for a nice clean looking boat, it does have many drawbacks that were previously indicated.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

Outboard is the way to go. I presently have an I/O and will never do that again.

 

[lazypt]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

some great points!!! The boat would mostly be moored in saltwater and stored outside on a trailer in the winter, mostly rain here in eastern LI. I was thinking an I/O would be a quieter engine than the outboard but I can see where maintenance would be high and labor intensive.

and yes I do prefer to do most of my own repairs and definately my own winterizing.

 

[marquette]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

for you guys that have run both I?O's and outboards. how does the steering and handling compare?

 

[triumphrick]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

I would imagine you could move up to a 22 - 24 walk around with at least 200 hp on an outboard and have plenty of room and power. If you look at the 18 - 24 sq. ft. minimum the doghouse of an I/O needs, that means you need a lot bigger boat for an I/O.
Obviously, with a bigger boat comes more power needed. You may find yourself having to move up to a 5.7. A 4.3 may not cut it.
I have to agree with some of the previous posts, and think an outboard may be a better way to go.
Also if you are happy with the Key West line, they have a couple of pretty neat W/A's.

http://www.keywestboatsinc.com/boats/2300wa.html

 

[lazypt]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

for you guys that have run both I?O's and outboards. how does the steering and handling compare?

I've driven a couple of I/O's the most notable difference was at slow/idle speeds where the turning wasn't as responsive as an outboard. It was a bit of a surprise at first and required some adjustments to my driving.

 

[lazypt]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

I would imagine you could move up to a 22 - 24 walk around with at least 200 hp on an outboard and have plenty of room and power. If you look at the 18 - 24 sq. ft. minimum the doghouse of an I/O needs, that means you need a lot bigger boat for an I/O.
Obviously, with a bigger boat comes more power needed. You may find yourself having to move up to a 5.7. A 4.3 may not cut it.
I have to agree with some of the previous posts, and think an outboard may be a better way to go.
Also if you are happy with the Key West line, they have a couple of pretty neat W/A's.

http://www.keywestboatsinc.com/boats/2300wa.html

I know the bigger engines will use more fuel too. I see your in FL. I grew up in Hernando Beach and I bought the boat down there and it was a very dry boat and I never saw really rough water down there. The water changes quickly up here and calm dry morning can quickly turn into a slow wet ride home.

 

[haskindm]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

Another vote for outboards! The new outboards are much quieter, and many of the reaasons for I/O's have disappeared with the new generation of outboards. Some of the higher end coastal boats are not even available with I/O's anymore - Grady White, Parker, Boston Whaler to name a few. Someone once told me that an I/O has all of the disadvantages of an inboard plus all the disadvantages of an outboard and the advantages of neither. I am not sure that is all together true, but there is probably some truth to it. For extreme high horsepower I/O is probably the way to go - more powerful engines and weight better distributed in the hull - but for the average boater outboards offer many advantages.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

I know the bigger engines will use more fuel too. I see your in FL. I grew up in Hernando Beach and I bought the boat down there and it was a very dry boat and I never saw really rough water down there. The water changes quickly up here and calm dry morning can quickly turn into a slow wet ride home.

You bet we have a lot of days of pretty smooth sailing. Also we don't venture too far out, just because of the size of this boat. No more than 6-8 miles to get into 20' - 25' of water. The drop off of this area up here is very gradual.
The picture of the boat was taken just off the Hernando Beach channel, next to the spoil islands.
Bayport is our home port.
Good luck with your new rig.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

Would not consider an I/O !! To many reasons to list. FRED

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: I/O VS. outboard

I bought my first Mercruiser I/O durring the 4th of july of this year, I knew the motor in the boat was going to be a project because it was locked up, but I didn't know it was going to be a project from he**. I got the motor freed up, now this is where the problems came in . Motor runs but has major problems. Been toying with the idea of converting the boat to an outboard and parting the I/O out. Changing the oil in the I/O can be a PITA as well.

I also looked at a 25ft cabin cruiser with an I/O, we didn't buy it, it would be another big PITA.

I'll stick with my bass boat with the good old outboard on it.