Inboard vs. Outboard

[Shadow66]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

This is completely wrong. I see way more older boats with outboards on 'em at the lake then I do I/O's of the same age. An outboard that has been maintained can last forever. I am constantly window shopping for restorable boats in my local classifieds, and the majority of boats that need major engine work or a complete replacement are I/O's. Besides, there's nothing "mud fence ugly" (whatever that's supposed to mean anyway) about a classic mercury tower of power on the back of nice classic boat anyway.

No seriously though, OB's are really ugly.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

From Kenmyfam:

however I can remove the outboard entirely and replace it with a spare one and be back on the lake in a very short space of time. I can also repair the broken one on a stand in my warm garage at my leisure over the off season with my vehicles in there as well while we have a blizzard outside.

I don't doubt that a competent individual can remove and replace an outboard with a spare in a very short space of time. My point was that a competent individual can also remove and replace an I/O with a spare in a very short space of time, around a half hour total difference between the OB and the I/O in my experience. If that's a significant factor in your decision between the two, so be it.

We started on this Sea Ray 5.7L just before 12 on a Saturday morning. The picture was taken at 12:44 (including pulling the intake manifold and head and removing a bad piston). If getting back on the water had been important enough to keep a spare engine around, we could have easily had the spare engine installed within another hour. Total turn around would have been less than 2 hours. How long does it take you to swap a 250 HP outboard with a spare? I don't doubt that you can swap it a little quicker than 2 hours, question is whether that's significant to you in making a decision on OB vs I/O. It's not to me.

What's the difference between repairing a broken OB on a stand in your garage in the off season or repairing a broken I/O on a stand in your garage in the off season? An I/O engine on an engine stand takes up the same (if not less) room than an eqivalent HP OB on an engine stand.

Who says OB's are ugly??? Nothing like a boat with a smooth, sharp bow, then the graceful sweep of the windshield, then the big lump on the back! Makes me want to go tape a big cardboard box on the trunk of my Corvette!!

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

I agree with 45auto, pulling an I/O engine is easy. First time I pulled an engine from a boat it took me about 1.5 hours. I ended up having to pull that engine again two weeks later and it took a little less than an hour the second time.
I/O better than outboard power? Nah, it will just come down to personal taste in the end. Both power plants have been used long enough to consider them equally reliable.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

The swapping thing is dependant on a few condiitions, if you're talking about a tiller controlled outboard, there's no question it can be swapped out quickly. If you're talking about a remote controlled outboard then if the new outboard isn't compatable with the throttle controls you have to rerig. This adds significantly to swap out time and costs.

For my situation (fishing) I prefer an outboard, it is easier to walk around the stern area and I like the idea of having a gas engine "out board" and not in the bilge! Also in my experience, car engines don't work as well in a marine enviroment, if I had a boat large enough to need an inboard I would go diesel.

Another thing, the power of a two stroke engine is hard to beat for a boat.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Yeah . . . but an I/O that is 100% covered by a mega swim platform is probably safer yet.

Only if you're immune to carbon monoxide posioning.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Only if you're immune to carbon monoxide posioning.

You know, I never really thought of that until recently. I took the on-line boating course (actually two of them) that where suggested on here. On the Louisiana one, it has a section about keeping people from hanging out under the swim platform because of the buildup of carbon monoxide. I never would have thought of that before.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

The swapping thing is dependant on a few condiitions, if you're talking about a tiller controlled outboard, there's no question it can be swapped out quickly.

I was comparing swap times based on powerplants of comparable output, figuring I/O power starts at 120 HP. I'm not aware of any tiller-controlled 120+ HP outboards.

 

[jkust]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

I like them both but for different reasons since I have a bowrider with one of each. I/O for the sunpad, quietness, low fuel usage and overall look. The 2 stroke outboard for the instant performance and smell when I am in the mood. The o/b has had 25 years of 0 maintenance and the I/O needs preventative yearly. The outboard literally drinks gas and requires constant fill ups. When it was 99cents a gallon it wasn't a big deal but when it was $4.00 it was noticed. My biggest gripe about the OB is when you stop without slowing down, the wake comes right into the transom well and sometimes into the boat.

 

[109jb]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Whether something is ugly or not is subjective and can't be argued. I don't personally regard outboards as ugly. You can decide if YOU think something is ugly, but you can't make that decision for me. There are also valid reasons for liking outboards or I/O's and valid reasons for not liking either too. The decision as to which features are important is also subjective. Again, YOU can decide which reasons are important to YOU, but you can't decide for me. There are nice outboard boats and nice I/O boats too. I choose outboard power because of ease of maintenance, more room inside the boat, no holes in the transom below the waterline, lower weight, shallow water operation, etc. That is my decision. If you don't like it then that's OK with me. You don't have too, but arguing that my decisions are wrong based on subjective importance is unproductive.

 

[QC]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Horsepower to weight ratio makes me lust for an OB despite the fact that one would not fit our family as well as an I/O does. Horsepower for horsepower they are the fastest combo period and that makes them mega cool to me . . . Like 109 said, doesn't mean squat though, just an opinion based on some simple math.

 

[ebentraywick]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

outboards all the way. if u need them fixed u can take it off the boat and breing it 2 a shop with out breing the hole boat. and they are wayeasier 2 fix in my opionion

 

[Thad]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

See, I told ya. You sure opened a can of worms here. Just like saying my daddy can beat up your daddy.

To each his own I say. If there were valid "scientific" advantages to one over the other, companies would not put R&D dollars into both. Plain and simple, they both have pros and cons. I think it all boils down to personal preference and choice.
I have had bow riders of both kinds. I personally prefer the I/O.
Can't argue with the hole shot that O/b gave me though!
So, that being said, LET'S BOAT

 

[dorelse]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

I've never understood why no one has come up with a production bowrider that puts the sundeck over the back of the outboard, or near as you can get to it...

That is what I really wanted a bowrider/outboard combo with a sundeck...like what I did with mine, only by a real manufacturer.

I went back to an outboard simply b/c I got tired being hunched over everything to work on my I/O, and I hated wondering if I'd winterized it properly. With the outboard, I run a little pink RV antifreeze through it, fog it, change gear lube I'm done. 30 mins - 1 hour

 

[_chris_]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Why cant you have both? Have the I/O in the center and a couple of outboards on the swim step on each side best of both worlds.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Outboards may be ugly but they don't have a problem pushing this 18K lbs boat at 55 MPH.

http://www.gradywhite.com/366/

 

[roscottjr]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

outboards all the way. if u need them fixed u can take it off the boat and breing it 2 a shop with out breing the hole boat. and they are wayeasier 2 fix in my opionion

Now I have a disagreement. I dont know what you are referring to whether it is major repairs or basic maintenance but the only way I would take the extra time to remove my outboard just to take it to the repair shop is if removing the engine was going to save me some money at the repair shop. However, I do all my own repairs and rebuilds on my boats and vehicles as I run my own mechanic shop so mine wouldnt be going to the repair shop anyway.

As I said before, and as others have said, it is all personal choice. I currently own an outboard but I also have 4 children so I need the extra floor space. However, for me it comes down to what I want to spend on a boat, what kind of boats I find, and most importantly, the condition of the boat for the price.

Robert

 

[roscottjr]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Outboards may be ugly but they don't have a problem pushing this 18K lbs boat at 55 MPH.

http://www.gradywhite.com/366/

Im sure other will have a different opinion but that is far from ugly to me. That is just plain SHARP looking. Looks fast.

On the flip side though, I also like the look of twin or trip sterndrives as well. You cant see it in the water but out of the water it just looks plain fast. Then open the cover and see twin or trip V-8's and wow.

I know there are advantages to the sterndrives and inboards but I just prefer my outboard right now. Then again, who knows, may change my mind in the future.. Nah,, I dont know about that one,, unless its a really large boat.lol

Robert

 

[jkust]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

I've never understood why no one has come up with a production bowrider that puts the sundeck over the back of the outboard, or near as you can get to it...

How do you tilt that OB up? From this angle looks like the platform is in the way.

 

[roscottjr]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

I've never understood why no one has come up with a production bowrider that puts the sundeck over the back of the outboard, or near as you can get to it...

That is what I really wanted a bowrider/outboard combo with a sundeck...like what I did with mine, only by a real manufacturer.

I went back to an outboard simply b/c I got tired being hunched over everything to work on my I/O, and I hated wondering if I'd winterized it properly. With the outboard, I run a little pink RV antifreeze through it, fog it, change gear lube I'm done. 30 mins - 1 hour

Did you move the rear seats forward or is that where they already were? I have a 1988 Maxum Bowrider with 125 Force that Im planning on completely redoing in the next year or two and looking for ideas. There is just so much wasted space on this boat it is unbelievable. The boxes under the seats are just closed in so you cant use them for storage. The same with under the dashes and under the rear seats. 1 rear seat has just enough space for the battery and the other has dead space around where what I believe was originally a cooler. I will get pics on here one day, lol.

Robert

 

[roscottjr]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

How do you tilt that OB up? From this angle looks like the platform is in the way.

The silver colored line looks to me like it may be a hinge so he can lift that section and then tilt the motor. Now if he has some sort of cable system or extra cylinder on that piece so it lifts on its own when the engine tilted, I think that would look really cool.

Robert