inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

[Lyle29464]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Not really sure how the motor choice has anything to do with freeboard? I can name specific examples of every single one of those choices that have very low freeboard, as well as examples of all 3 that are very capable ocean going...

Coast Guard says number 2 cause of boats sinking is water over the stearn. I had the boat us towing franchise. What to see a couple hundred pictures of sunken outboards on the hook?

 

[mccollum74]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Great Question! I am in the market right now for an 18' Bowrider for my family and I have been thinking about this same question. We will be pulling tubes, ski's, etc for the most part in freshwater lakes in Texas. I've been skiing since I was a kid and we used nothing but outboards. I understand that an I/O is better, but in all honesty I think an outboard is easier to maintain and there are ways to get the rope up above the engine if that is the issue. Never used a 4-stroke outbaord, put they seem like the way to go if you asked me.

 

[Ned L]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Personal preference only I realize. For me straight inboard is #1(have two 16' like this), outboard #2 (don't think outboards should need to be over about 100hp), inboard/outboard (I/O) #3 (as has been said, too many parts & a big hole below the waterline).

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

I have had a 23' outboard, 28' twin I/O, and a 35' twin inboard, so familiar with all three. For those who would keep their boat docked on salt water like I do, definitely stay away from I/Os. Too much metal in the water. Lots of repairs due to barnacles and electrolysis. As for inboards, for me, its a pain to work on the engines in the salon, not to mention all the space they take up. I'm currently converting a 26' Sea Ray from twin I/Os to outboards. It will be the boat I want but can't buy (because they don't make it).

 

[haley]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Currently have an OB:
+ Can raise engine more than I/O
+ More HP to weight it seems
+ Easier maintenance
+ Easier to winterize
+ No big hole
+ No dog house in the boat
- My used outboard was cheap to buy, fuel and fix
- Miss the full swim deck
- Just a little fiddling to get tow rope clear
- My OB is 2 stroke. Wife would like less noise & smoke (personally, I love the smell of 2 stroke. If guys sold scented candles "2 Stroke" would be the #3 seller - right after "wood shavings" and "fart")

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

I voted Inboard, better handling in hevy seas, better pulling power, and no BOOTS to leak. As far as OB's that is second for above reasons. As far as seas crashing over the back when on the hook, why was the hook on the back? Always ancor off bow, two hooks in heavy seas.

 

[jmorgan87]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

The maintenance argument is personal experience/preference. Personally I prefer my I/O. It's an old carb 350 chevy with points.. you can't get more simple than that. I think a boat layout has a lot to do with how much of a a 'pain' an I/O is. My current boat is perfect, back seat comes out and you can sit down beside the engine and work on it. Others, you're standing on your head to remove a plug.

I've had a couple outboards and while I know they are 'simpler', the way they are designed I am much less familiar with then my chevy 350.. I also prefer the look of an I/O, over an outboard.

 

[bouttime007]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Seems to me the cost of using and upkeeing an outboard is much lower, thus Im sticking with OB.

My wallet isnt as fat as some peoples, and the 2 stroke smell is heaven.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Coast Guard says number 2 cause of boats sinking is water over the stearn. I had the boat us towing franchise. What to see a couple hundred pictures of sunken outboards on the hook?

again, the question wasn't which type of boat, but what type of engine? There are PLENTY of very low freeboard I/O's and inboards. Look at some of the popular wake boats. The front end of those barely has 3 inches, load a couple people in it with the ballast tanks full, and you better not drop off plane!

Also, depends on where you are boating... Coastal waterways, yes, water over the stern with some outboards is a problem. I boat inland rivers. I can't ever recall a boat sinking from water over the stern, but I know of many I/O's that have gone down at the slip from their bellows failing.

 

[Tahorover]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

I'm an Inboard only boater. There are seven boats in the family and only one is an I/O.

When I bought my Arabian 12 years ago I went through the engine trans and V-drive. She had 1200 hrs on it's original build. The trans could of gone more hours ,but a new set of steels and friction plates was cheap. The v-drive needed two new U-joints and one bearing. The engine was hopped up from 330hp to over 500hp.

550+ hours later, I need a new $20.00 stuffing box packing!

 

[Flynny]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Can I say jet drive without being beaten?

When I think of all the pros and cons between the different setups, I feel like jet drive comes out on top. You have small inboard engines, and the whole impeller assembly is inside the hull. No drag and nothing to hit rocks with. So it can be the shallowest running of all the setups. Plus the performance is incredible, if you haven't, go search jet boat on YouTube. The only major con I know of is poor slow-speed maneuverability, but nothing a little skill and experience can't correct. Or, if you have a Sea-Doo or Yamaha Jet, you can get the Cobra fins.

Plus my dream yacht, the WallyPower 118 uses jet drive.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Cons to the jet drive: anything sucked up into the jet intake means getting wet, and possibly not being able to dislodge the item without removing grates/diving underwater. Also a con: crappy fuel mileage.

 

[Borgey401]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Can I say jet drive without being beaten?

When I think of all the pros and cons between the different setups, I feel like jet drive comes out on top. You have small inboard engines, and the whole impeller assembly is inside the hull. No drag and nothing to hit rocks with. So it can be the shallowest running of all the setups. Plus the performance is incredible, if you haven't, go search jet boat on YouTube. The only major con I know of is poor slow-speed maneuverability, but nothing a little skill and experience can't correct. Or, if you have a Sea-Doo or Yamaha Jet, you can get the Cobra fins.

Plus my dream yacht, the WallyPower 118 uses jet drive.

Thats just the drive tho. The question was about the actual motor. Not the lower unit of the motor.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Everyone says whatever they have is easier to maintain. Well, I would venture to say, they are all about the same. I bet you get a popular brand of OB, and back it in my driveway next to my I/O, we would probably be done in about the same amount of time. Bellows, well yeah they take a bit more time, but they do not have to be done every year. In fact, my last boat was 10 years old and when I replaced them they were in almost perfect shape. I check them every year though. Inboards dont have bellows. We dont winterize here, so that is a mute point.

As said many times, it all really depends on your boating and style of boat.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

OB. Weight, access for anything, better corrosion protection, less maintenance.

Mark

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

I`ve now had both types. I think basically it comes down to the primary use of the boat that the motor is on. I can`t imagine an outboard on my Chaparral 243 Sunesta as we are constantly in and out of the water via the walk thru transom. Yet at the same time I can`t imagine an I/O on a duck hunting, or fishing boat . Each has its stregnths and weakness.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

Inboard because outboards don't make enough power for my needs.

 

[Cap’n Ray]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

I vote inboard, and uve had all three types (not counting jets here). I cannot imagine a cabin cruiser with an outboard, and an I/O gets in the way, and I'm nervous about that big 'ol hole lol. My 2 I/O cabin cruisers were a bit of a pain so I really prefer inboard.

 

[bigdee]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

OB for me. I have owned both and a busted rubber bellows darn near sunk me. I also don't prefer to stand on my head when doing maintenance. Agree that they are not as sexy but rednecks don't need to look sexy to get sexy!

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: inboard vs outboard, whats your preference and why?

As for smell....2-stroke outboards are the way to go! MMMmmm...

I thought I was the only freak that liked that smell on start up. When the boat is back home in the garage it has another smell of oil and gas that if I could bottle it up and sell it as cologn, I'd be a millionaire!

You too! !!? Tho I have an IO, I love the smell of my 2 stroke synthetic ski doo oil I use in my snowmobile.. In the off season, dead of summer I mix up a gallon, and use it in my lawnmower... ah the sweet aromo!!!... BTW I love my I/O chevy engine, the way it looks, the sound....