Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

[deejaycee_2000]

Hey guys, I am mostly familiar with most 2-stroke outboards, there's not many inboards here in SA and 4-strokes has only taken off here the last 2 years .... but inboards are flowing in and getting very popular .... I can get a good deal on a brand new out the box bayliner with a 5.0L MerCruiser Alpha I engine .... how much maintenance would this engine be vs. a 225hp Mercery 2-stroke ..... I'm just rying to find out which one would be more economic .... fuel wise and service (maintenance) wise .... I must just add that we don't need to winterise motors here as it doesn't get cold in winter ... our winter here is like summer in UK .... I've always been a fan of 2-strokes and always will be, but I am interested cause I heard that inboards are lighter on fuel (compared to a 225hp merc), and servicing is same as a car ... changine plugs, oil, filters etc ... that can be bought at any motor spares shop, not sure how true this is but I am sure I will find that out from you guys ...... thanx

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

from the pics i've seen from you, you boat in salt water. flushing is a must everytime, to keep the risers and exhaust for rusting out. unlike an auto that you can get to from the top and bottom, most maint. is done by the braile system. then you have the outdrive, that is a complete other maint. problem, should be pulled every year and alignment checked, gimbal bearings, bellows, etc. what i'm saying is the outboard may use a little more fuel, but is much easier to maintain.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

I'm not a fan of inboards in salt water.. I love mine (in sweet water) because I use it extensively for all water sports. It throws a nice large wake with little noise and no smoke. I enjoy the fact that everything is out of sight at the back for sunning and for swimmers.

However, as mentionned by tashasdaddy, risers and manifolds rust out rapidly in salt (every 3 to 5 years or so), the drives are expensive to fix($1000-$3000) when gears go, or it starts to leak in water, or you hit bottom. Maintenance is critical and must be done regularly(once a year). Also, if you keep it sitting at a marina, the drive continuously sits in water and doesn't raise out of it.

Gas savings? Yes, but at a cost.

A nice Etech would be up your alley.

 

[tommays]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

For me they last a long time

if you use it even close to how you use the RIB about 1 week it will be toast


Tommays

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

Hey Dee. The last time you crashed your inflatable into a wave, you must have hit your head. 8)

I can't believe you are even considering an inboard installation with the fine OB's available today.

Absolutely no reason to burden yourself with the problems (maint) necessary with them. BTDT and mine was in fresh water.

Like one guy said on here, he'd have one if someone bought it for him and paid to have it maintained. d

Mark

 

[QC]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

Based on the info I am seeing, the 2 stroke Evinrude Etec is best on fuel of all petrol combinations. This is for the same speed(s) on the "same" basic boat, not necessarily same horsepower as the weight differences still allow a lower horsepower OB than inboard for the same speed capability. I am guessing that the Etec vs. most 4 stroke OB fuel differences are very minimal.

I have owned nothing but I/Os and I am trying to go to an OB, but have had resistance from the family due to the cleanliness of the stern area with an I/O (see cobra's note above). Other than that, I can see absolutely NO reason to buy ANY I/O . . . my .02

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

i've had my one and only i/o. thank god it's gone.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

I/O= Higher maintenance,Higher stern weight.Poor no wake zone handling.Big blocks can't be beat for all out brute performance.But with even more stern weight.
If your buying new an Etec is the way to go.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

That nice clean stern area you mention is not usable space since the engine lives there. You can stand along side an outboard on dry land to service it which amounts to changing plugs once a year and servicing the lower unit. If necessary, you can spin the stern of the boat towards shore and stand in the water to service it (except for the lower unit). With an I/O you lay on your belly and just hope you can reach whatever it is you need to tighten, replace, service, check, stop from leaking, wonder what's plugged, and ---- oh well, you get the point. I've had both and and other than the "nice look factor" I don't miss the bother of the I/O.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

I'd rather replace a whole O/B than a starter in an I/O8)

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

mmmmm .... thanx for all the info guys ..... maybe I will stick to the outboards then ..... I forgot to mention that (if I decided to get the inboard) It would stay at my holiday house where it will be used in fresh water only and taken out the water after a weekend of use and stored in my garage .... used every 2nd weekend ..... ok let me put it this way, I can get this whole rig bayliner with the inboard out the box for R80 000 that is $10792 .... with the outboard it will be a little more expensive ....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

One last thought. If you love your I/O boat but hate the power plant or out drive, you are pretty much stuck. If you love the power but hate the boat you are also stuck. Of course deep pockets can remedy most anything. With an outboard if you hate the boat but love the engine you can sell the boat, keep the engin and and install it on a new boat. If you love the boat but hate the engine you can sell the engine and replace it with a new one.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

Dee, read what you said, but would still go OB.

Mark

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

Thanx mark ..... after this weekend (I saw a guy getting stuck with his inboard) I decided to stick with OB .... but now .... which outboard 200hp supercharged verado merc 4stroke .... or 200hp optimax merc 2-stroke?

 

[05GlastronSX]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

go with the 2 stroke optimax. Merc has bulletproofed the design and IMO, it is(along with the e-tec) one of the best direct injected engines out on the market. The early(1998-2000) optimax's had their share of problems, but those are long gone with mercs current models. I have always been a merc fan, but have never took a liking for the verado for two reasons: The first is that i prefer two-strokes; less moving parts, lighter, better power-to-weight ratio, easy maintenance, and the new direct injected ones get as good if not better fuel economy then the comparable 4-stroker. The second reason is because i find it to be really ugly. (i know looks don't matter to everyone but to me they do) BUT, either way you go you should be pleased. I'm not saying the verado is a bad engine, i just don't care for it due to the reasons stated above. Good luck on picking the right engine. d

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

Dee, "The maximum horsepower is never enough". 8)

Now, I wonder where I got that?

Look in the mirror when you say that. Why limit yourself to 200 hp?

Can't advise on brand choice.

Mark

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

hahahaha, thanx mark, I was thinking about putting my 375hp Johnson offshore on, but you see I wanto give this boat to the wife as a X-mas gift, so I NEED to limit the hp, not that I WANT to, but I HAVE to ... haha and that is why I want a low maintenance motor, light on fuel and easy to drive and now thanx to SX's advice I think I will go for the 200 DTS .... (thanx SX) the digital throttle ans shift system sounds good ........ the women always complain on my boat .. you know how it goes .. "put the music softer, don't drive so fast, watch out for that jetty, don't ignore the watercops ...." you know that sort of thing ... hahaha so I thought I will give her a nice boat so she and her friends can do their thing, when us guys do our thing ... problem solved ...

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

Is the Johnson a V8? Knew they made 300 horses but didn't know they went all the way to 375.

Sounds like you have a good idea. Put the women in one boat where they can complain and you and the guys go off and have some fun.

But I kinda like seeing the girls lounging around in their bathing suits.

Can remember one time when my daughter and daughter in law were in their prime. Were standing next to me (in their swim suits) at the helm. For a minute I forgot they were related and thought I had died and gone to heaven. 8)

Mark

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

hahahaha .... "gone to heaven" good one mark .... I also enjoy the women in their bikini's on the boat, but I will rather settle for a boat without complaints .... besides I will see them at home, the wife has really hot friends .. after a while you get use to them walking around in their bikini's ...... Yeah the Johnson is a V8, but it has absolutely no HP rating on it and no serial plate, and when they tested the motor is was 375hp .... but I think it has more HP than that ... it is quite a monster ....

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Maintenance difference on 2-stroke outboards and inboards?

Babes prefer inboards. Quieter and everything is tucked away out of sight...and simply more pleasurable for cruising around.

If you are buying new, or close to new, a lot of the "higher" maintenance stuff (in fresh water) isn't a big concern.