Inboard vs. Outboard

[geeco1]

What are the advantages of one vs. the other? I have always gravitated towards outboards, mainly due to reduced weight. However, it seems that I/O's are becoming much more common (especially in newer boats). It seems, to me, that outboards are easier to access for maintenance, easier to swap-out, no boots to leak, etc... why have an I/O??? Any thoughts?

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

I like the Engine hidden like in a I/O fwiw.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

One reason people dislike I/O's is because of the bellows. Neglect them and you could find your boat in the bottom of the lake. Change them every 5 to 8 years regardless of their condition and you will be in good shape. Another reason is accessibility to the engine. I had a boat that had a straight six, it was very easy to reach and work on things. My current boat is a V6 and it?s slightly worse in this aspect. On some I/O's you can barely see the flame arrester, engine must be removed to repair almost anything. Winterizing is also more time consuming on an I/O.
With that said I still prefer an I/O over an outboard. Outboards are to UGLY for me to even consider.

 

[jakebrake]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

because my boat came with an i/o. good a reason as any.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

IMO both have pros and cons, having a I/O hole in the transom is a bit odd but it works.

As a auto person working on a modified Chevy engine with a weird transmission comes natural. I at first wanted an outboard, I realized I never had a bit of luck with 2 stroke engines, especially 30 years old ones. Which is what I was buying,a 30 year old relic.
The straight six is a pleasure to work on and the parts are plentiful and easy to obtain.

I do love the sound and performance of 2 stroke engines and love seeing the boats with 2 or 3 250-300 hp outboards, what a glorious song those engines sing.

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

For me its easier to work on I/O because they are almost like a car engine.
I know nothing about small engines and would have to sit down and read a manual and that would mean time off the water.
Besides I/O are much better for water sports because with an outboard you need a pylon to get the rope out of the water.

 

[emilime75]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Pros and Cons?

Tell ya what, look around on your local water. How many 30 year old pleasure boats with outboards do you see?

Yes, an I/O does require a little more maintenance but they sure seem to last longer when they get it.

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.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

As stated both have advantages and disadvantages...

I think overall O/B's are more fuel efficient (which is a big factor for me), easier to work on, and lower overall maintenance costs...

Keep them tuned, run some seafoam through them every so often, new impeller as needed, and your good to go...

An I/O is immensely more maintenance, you have all of the wearable parts of an outboard (impeller, PT&T, etc.), PLUS all the wearable parts of a car engine, (belts, hoses, alternator, starter), PLUS all of the wearable crap in the gimble (bellows, gimble housing, the plate that adapts the driveshaft to the motor, u-joints, etc.). You end up with 3x the amount of crap that can break.

A car engine should not be in a boat IMHO... you'll be replacing your manifiolds every 4-5 years, and as mentioned, the bellows, and all that extra stuff... lunch an engine, and its just as much, if not more, work and money to change it out than an outboard.

Again, that 10GPH fuel beast isnt any good either!

I personally will never own another I/O as long as I own a boat.

Num

 

[QC]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Here's my standard answer: Chicks don't dig OBs Almost all else favors them, but this one is a deal killer for me . . .

 

[highN'dry]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Much prefer an outboard over an I/O. Now, a true inboard is another matter once installed in largest boats 26 feet and up, below that I want an outboard. Would NEVER consider an I/O boat--NEVER!

 

[abj87]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

I have outboards an i/o and strait shaft drive.

I like the shaft drive become its bullet proof and low maintenance.

The i/o has some extra maintenance, but generally last longer than a 2 stroke outboard just by design. IE pressure lubrication and more durable parts.

My two stroke outboard runs diffrent every day, and uses as much fuel as my io 50 hp vs 165 in the i/o

 

[emilime75]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Chicks don't dig OBs

My chick don't care as long it runs and gets us to the swimming spots we like.

 

[109jb]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Pros and Cons?

Tell ya what, look around on your local water. How many 30 year old pleasure boats with outboards do you see?

Well I see way more old outboard powered boats than i do I/O's. As a matter of fact I had a 37 year old one with a 34 year old outboard until I sold it a couple months ago for another outboard boat. It ran like a top too and required almost no maintenance in the 10 years or so I owned it. Fresh gas, a couple sets of spark plugs, 2 impeller changes, a little stabil and sea foam every now and then and that's it. Yes that's right. In 10 years I never did anything else and it ran like a champ. No winterizing to speak of on an outboard either. I/O's take up room inside the boat too.

All that said, I/O's are fine. They do have a little cleaner look although I wouldn't say an outboard makes a boat ugly. They are also more efficient than the typical 2-stroke outboard. They burn cleaner too. 4-stroke outboards take care of that though.

My wife and I were just at a boat dealership today and SHE noticed that if you compare an I/O and outboard boat that are similar in length, the outboard has quite a bit more interior room than the I/O.

People have preferences. I prefer outboards. Both I/O's and outbord boats float and pull skiers, and can be fished from, or can just be used for cruising. Everyone just needs to make up their own mind.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

There are some really beautiful old outboards out there, love those old chrome flanked engine cowls.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Thing I like about the outboard is that you can re-power it in an hour or so if necessary and get back on the lake. Fix the other motor on a stand inside a warm garage over the winter to be ready for spring.

 

[smclear]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

I think this might be "location dependent". Growing up in the midwest (Indiana), I've found there are a tremendous amount of 30+ year old inboards. Not I/O's, inboards. Century, Chris Craft, and Correct Crafts for the most part. For an inland lake, there is nothing I would like more. I am a little biased though as I grew up with a 1970 16' Century Resorter and I now have a 1974 18' Century Resorter.

I did spend 10 years living in Fort Lauderdale where I worked at Harbour Towne Marina, Bahia Mar Marina, and Pier 66 Marina. In that location, I would prefer outboards. Unless of course, the boat was large enough to warrant inboard power. Preferably diesel.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

I think that size of the motor is the main thing here. I have a 185 HP I/O. It seems that for higher HP applications I/O's are the standard and for less HP outboards are the thing. Who ever heard of a 75 HP I/O. I know they make 200 hp + outboards but they sure as heck aren't cheap.

P.S. Because I mainly fish and need the ability to pleasure boat with my family my next boat will be a larger aluminum with an outboard. I too think those "ugly" outboards are better because they are more functional on a boat.

 

[Flying Sushi]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

How we use our boat in lake and river with family, kids always hang around on swim platform? We do not want an outboard engine taking over the transom? Also outdrive on I/O is covered under the swim platform on the most of latest larger I/O boat which is much safer for kids to jump in to water from the boat??
If you use boat larger than 20' with family and use mainly in fesh water I/O is a logical choice..... I think there is a compromise in design?.
If I want get a Bass Boat... I would go with Outboard.

I would not want outboad to be in the center of this.....

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

my choice is outboard less maintenance and the family seems to do fine swimming around it love the ease of access if something does go wrong

 

[45Auto]

Re: Inboard vs. Outboard

Thing I like about the outboard is that you can re-power it in an hour or so if necessary and get back on the lake.

I've never understood the "re-powering" argument. It typically takes me about 15 minutes longer to pull or reinstall an I/O than it does an outboard, not that I've ever been in an emergency rush to do either one. The I/O requires that you pull the outdrive (6 nuts), and take off the exhaust hose clamps and water feed hose clamp that's not required on the outboard. On an outboard you've got to disconnect and reconnect the steering that's not required on an I/O. Disconnecting fuel lines, throttle, electrical, engine mounts, and hooking up hoist chains is about the same on both. If you're in some kind of "Indy 500 For Engine Changing" maybe that half-hour would be a significant benefit.

Fix the other motor on a stand inside a warm garage over the winter to be ready for spring.

Do you really think you can rebuild an outboard faster than an I/O? Machine shop time (boring cylinders, rebuilding heads, etc) is the same on both (actually probably quicker with an I/O since you can get them done literally anywhere), and parts shipment (pistons, cranks, etc) is the same - the mail doesn't deliver OB parts any faster than I/O parts. If you're looking for used parts, there's no comparison - the auto junkyards are full of potential I/O boat motor parts ......

If you're talking about swapping in a different engine, OB or I/O, you're back to nothing more than the half-hour time difference. Cost wise, it's going to be an expensive half-hour though. A re-built OB powerhead of over 100HP will typically cost you at least twice as much as a re-built I/O motor. You'll see about the same difference price-wise ordering parts if you do it yourself. And if you're talking about new motors, the outboards with HP in the typical I/O range will cost you about 3 times as much.

If you're chasing fish, an OB is great. If you're into other aspects of boating, it's hard to beat sunpads, swim platforms, and bikinis ......