Outboard vs Stern Drive

[steve064]

Newe to boating, and I will be purchasing a Four Winns 17 ft Horizon. I am interested to know your opinions on which way to go, do you have one and wish you had the other? Why? Since this is a first boat, I am more interested in simplicity, maintenance expense, and potential problems rather than how fast I can go. I would greatly appreciate all returns.

 

[corm]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

Hi Steve,<br />My choice would be an outboard based on your 3 qualifers.<br />...Have Fun with it...corm

 

[steve064]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

Corm,<br />Your reply surprised me, here is why. So far I have been told that a Stern Drive is cheaper to maintain,it has maintained its simplicity in design, while Outboards have become so technically advanced that service and parts are much higher than a Stern Drive. Add the fact that you have to mix fuel and oil and you set yourself up for potential problems. Maybe when you get the chance you can provide a little experience/ knowledge, as well as anyone else who may want to jump in. Steve

 

[corm]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

Hi Steve,<br />All outboard motors these days are oil injected in the power your looking at.They have less moving parts,less rubber couplers<br />to go bad.<br />OB maintance at seasons end;run storage seal<br />through motor,drain gas from carbs,drain and<br />refill lower unit with oil. cost if you do it = $17-$20<br />IO maintance; change motor oil & filter,water<br />separateing fuel,fuel filter in carb,run gas out of carb,spray storage seal in motor, remove stern drive check CV joint and lube it<br />(ya I know they are permantly lubed thats why I lube them),grease gimble bearing,check<br />motor alinement,checkrubber bellows for ware<br />or tear,put LU back on boat with new gasket,<br />drain LU oil and refill. Parts cost $55-$60<br />Use only factory products in your motor.<br />IO's have a extra set of gears in the upper<br />housing. the LU parts prices are close to each other for either one. Power head part<br />prices,the outboard parts would be a little higher. The LU is the weak link in either<br />choice. The horsepower to weight ratio is usually better with an OB. Fuel mileage is<br />close to the same with equal horsepower.<br />Check your local dealers to see if the labor $/hr are the same for each product.<br />The 4 stroke OB's seem to be good motors too.<br />Noise the IO and OB 2or4 stroke make the same<br />within 5dbs but the frequency is different,so<br />one may seem louder to one person than another.<br />No matter which you buy you will have fun.Make sure you get enough horsepower and a relieable dealer.Hope someone else posts as<br />I am more of a Mercury person.But all have<br />the same weak spots.<br />...have fun...corm<br /><br /><br />------------------<br />cubic inches = power<br />power = speed<br />speed = FUN

 

[Capt DHD]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

Hello Steve;<br />I'am with Crom, OB's are right. 10 years and you could get nickeled to death by an old SD, and no one wants an old stern drive. Repower with an outboard much easier. Longer usable season, (we are in the North Country). And matainance costs are a factor, My shop services near an equal amount of both SD & OB'S, and the SD bills are always higher, considerably higher on average. Go OB.<br />Good Luck, Rob

 

[steve064]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

Rob,<br />Exactly the information I was hoping for, and I applaud I Boats for providing this forum where information can be exchanged. Your experience in this area gives me real nuts and bolts and allows me to make a more informed decision. I hope others will continue to add to this discussion, as I bet there are silent others who have questions just like this. Once again, thanks for the advice.

 

[Capt DHD]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

Steve;<br />Happy to be of assistance, Good luck with your choice.<br />Rob

 

[tony03]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

great topic <br />have been strugling with this decision for 6 months

 

[Forktail]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

With outboards you don't have that big box to walk around in the back of the boat. And you don't have a hole the size of a basketball below water-line. Plus you can upgrade and actually get some resale on the old. A good 4-stroke fuel injected outboard won't have nearly the maintenance of an stern drive.

 

[AUGIDAWG]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

Forktail hit the major advantages.<br /><br />I had a Mercruiser 470 I/O for 12 years. It ran perfect all of the time. Great gas mileage. Little or no maintenance. The only problem I had, was a leaking bellows below the water line. Cost me $500 to have it fixed. Sold it last year.<br /><br />I bought a 95' Four Winns 203 Coast Runner with a 200 Johnson last year. I've spent over $2000 in repairs, and I still have to work on it everytime I go out.<br /><br />My wife tells me every time we go out, "I wish we would have kept the old boat!"<br /><br />I love my new boat, and especially not having to walk around that big box. The mileage sucks, but I don't care. Eventually, I will get all of the bugs worked out, and she will be happy. (until all of the plastic parts start cracking)<br /><br />It is really a toss up.

 

[Forktail]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

Comparing a Mercruiser to a '95 Johnson 200 is apples and oranges, as in my opinion that outboard was pathetic.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

Awgidawg, you did good to lose that 470. When they are running good, they are okay, but when they go, the wallet just gets sucked dry. It is getting more difficult to get parts for, it had a bizarre aluminum Merc block with a Ford 460 cast iron head, a strange (and expensive) generator, heat exchanger was too small on early models, the list goes on. At least now you can ditch that Johnson 200 when you want to and put a new outboard on with little fuss....<br /><br />Outboards are the way to go. More room, lighter total rigged weight, less below waterline through-hull components, cheaper to maintain.

 

[93bronco]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

im curious as to why the 1995 j/e 200hp is considered pathetic?

 

[Forktail]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

im curious as to why the 1995 j/e 200hp is considered pathetic?

Just my opinion formed by my own experience. <br /><br />Constant electrical problems were enough for me to part with one. Not to mention the fact the thing burned more fuel than a wild fire, and it wouldn't idle, troll, or start worth a hoot.<br /><br />IMO, back then Johnyrude was into developing the FICHT (which they introduced in 1995), and the quality of the Ocean Runners took a back seat. There were other, better outboards on the market.<br /><br />But don't just ask me. Ask AUGIDAWG why he's always working on his, spending $2000 to fix it. I'll, bet ya it's electrical. <br /><br />I think an outboard would better suit the original poster's situation. I don't think the 200 Ocean Runner is a good example. And I certainly don't think it should be compared to a Ford Mercruiser. Sorry.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

One thing to remember is that outboards don't tend to collect explosive gasoline vapors inside the boat. If there ever is a fuel leak it generally doesn't wind up inside the hull. No blowers required as a result.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Outboard vs Stern Drive

In a boat that size, I'd go for an outboard, since it will give you more room in the boat, and it will be easier to maintain. The only time a sterndrive is "cheaper" to fix is if you are re-powering, since the automotive engine is cheaper to replace. Another advantage, if you are comparing to a carbed 2 stroke OB is the lack of smoke and odor. But if you are buying new, with a warrantee, and want to minimize maintenance, the OB is the way to go. Stern drives do well in freshwater (you are in NM, lakes right?) so you would not have as much trouble with it as you would in saltwater. But the only advantage to the sterndrive is the auto based engine is cheaper, and more familiar to the backyard mechanic. <br />BTW, the biggest Four Winns you can get an outboard on is the Horizon 180.<br />Now I have a sterndrive because my wife can't stand the smell of 2 cycle exhaust!!