my first boat

[5chev5]

I am buying a I/O merc 140 HP, in a 17 ft chris craft cavalier bowrider,, a buddy of mine told me that I/O are a pain to work on, is there a big difference in theses motors, am I getting my self into trouble,,thanks for the replys. i do not no sh--t about a boat. so all the help is apprecaited.

 

[steelespike]

Re: my first boat

No question they require more care.You may want to post in the I/O section.
and check the stickys.
On the plus side the engine is basically an automotive application adapted to marine use.but the drive train is more complicated with universals,gimbles,
2 cooling pumps,water cooled exhaust elbows that occasionally require replacement.More difficult winter prep.On the plus side they are fairly quiet and smooth.I prefer outboards but have never owned an I/O so I have no personal experience.

 

[Arima90]

Re: my first boat

Recently sold my I/O and went back to a four stroke outboard. Gas I/O's have some benefits such as lower sound levels, however, some things to consider are these:

1) does the unit have a fresh water cooling system? If not the raw water from lake, ocean or ?? is ran through the engine, manifolds, risers, etc. and corrosion can be a big issue. If it is fresh water cooled, you then have two cooling systems to deal with, one is the raw water pickup that cools the second fresh water system in a type of radiator then the raw water is flushed back out through the manifolds and risers.

2) engine to outdrive parts such as the gimbal bearing, u-joints, housings, etc are not inexpensive to replace, and you will be replacing.

3) gas I/O's tend to wear out quicker (I'm sure that statement will cause an uproar) but here's my take- you have an engine generally produced for passenger vehicle use, someone says "hey lets upgrade a few of the internals and slap it in a boat" then it's run at 3200-4500 rpm's in a harsh environment such as salt water.

My last boat was a 1988 Bayliner Trophy with rebuilt 5.0 Chevy Engine (first engine only lasted roughly 350 hours). I put about 700 hours on the rebuilt engine and boat. In the six years I owned her I replaced the 60 gallon fuel tank, two sets of risers, one set of manifolds, one starter, one outdrive lower, and later the upper, u-joints every year, gimbal bearing twice, rebuilt carb once, etc. This is the very short list of what was done in that time. An older used boat with a gas I/O can be serious work and money.

 

[5chev5]

Re: my first boat

thx for the scare, now don't no if i want this boat, i put a 400.00 dollar deposite on her ,now i think i will go and try and buy a outboard, even if i loose the deposite it's better than throwing alot of money away on repairs,,, man am i confused now.. cheers

 

[blouderback]

Re: my first boat

There are tons of people that have I/Os and love them. There are tons of people that have outboards and love them. Both are great setups and have their pros and cons.

Don't be afraid of an I/O. Just get some manuals and ask a lot of questions on this and other forums.

 

[steelespike]

Re: my first boat

Don't mean to scare but all boats have there maintenance weaknesses.
There is a saying "a boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money".
In my opinion the only reason to go with an I/O is for brute horsepower on a budget.And your not in that hp range.I think you are smart to go with an outboard.Stick with Evinrude,Johnson,Mercury,other major brands that may
be available in your area.Avoid odd ball or orphan motors.Force,Chrysler,Sears,Montgomery ward,Elgin,Sea King.Volvo,Spirit,etc.
Try to select a boat with a well established dealer reasonably close.
You will need parts and service,advice etc at some point.
We'll be glad to try to advise you in your selection there are many years of experience here.

 

[Hashi]

Re: my first boat

I used to be a outboard owner, now I own an I/O. It all depends on how much use you put on the motor. I personally think they both require the same amount of maintenance. Only difference is, it's a hassle getting to certain parts on an I/O versus outboard being on the outside and everything is readily accessible. Since I'm no mechanic, I take my boat to the shop. Costs a little more, but I save my knuckles and a lot of frustration.

 

[rndn]

Re: my first boat

Had a Baja for 10 years with an I/O. The entire 10 years I gave it 1 full tune up, replaced the alternator, 2 impellers, changed the oils annually. 10 years and 480 hours in fresh water. Don't be afraid of them but they do require a little more effort to winterize them. Total process takes about an hour and a half. I'm sure people do it quicker but I'm old and have a bad back.

 

[Arima90]

Re: my first boat

In defense of the gas I/O, my Trophy was used primarily in salt water year round just because I love to fish the winter Kings.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: my first boat

Since you have absolutely zero boat experience I would suggest an outboard for the simple reason that if you love the boat and hate the engine you can keep the boat and trade or sell the engine and replace it with a different/new one of choice. On the other hand if you love the engine but hate the boat you can keep the engine, sell the boat and install the engine on a different boat -- even if it already has an engine. Sell that one to lower your investment. With an I/O you are stuck both ways. If you hate the engine you have very limited options. You can install a new engine of the same type or a new or different engine of a different type (say swap the 4 cylinder for a six cylinder or V8) but the costs would be really high and you probably would not be able to do the work yourself so that option is simply not economically worth it. And then if you love the engine and hate the boat, you have a totally opposite situation. I/O's by their very nature are hard to work on because you lay on your belly to do most anything on them. If there is a serious issue the engine must generally come out. With an outboard you can stand along side it and work on it.

 

[blueoval1]

Re: my first boat

I've owned both I/O and outboards. O/B was the easiest to work on and maintain. I switched to the I/O setup because I was over screaming at everyone on the boat just so they could hear me. Granted the new 4 strokes are probably quieter than my 1988 2 stroke. But I sure like the quietness and smoothness of my I/O.
As for the I/O requiring more maintenence ... bull....! They all got to be worked on. Preventive maintenence is the key to not having major problems with any boat.
Good luck with your endevor either way. You will find that the joys of boating will far out weigh the headaches.
P.S. : Happy New Year Everyone!!

 

[Arima90]

Re: my first boat

Both requiring the same amount of maintenance? Maybe, but here's some more input. Just got back yesterday from running around the San Juan Islands for the afternoon. Rinsed the boat off and ran the outboard with the elephant ears then put her away (engine drains itself). I don't winterize since I use her at least once a month through winter months. When I owned the I/O I would need to run the engine then Drain the manifolds, drain the heat exchanger, then drain the one (maybe it was two) different water drain plugs on the outdrive (yes there are these plugs and I don't know why). This was very important in the winter because if you forget one of these you risk freeze and break of very expensive parts.

 

[blueoval1]

Re: my first boat

Pros and Cons to both Winterize every year here in Colorado. I guess I am just used to the routine.