outboards vrs inboards

delsol

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 27, 2002
Messages
749
i am thinking about getting that glastron sat..any advice on outboard vrs inboard motors..i have had all outboats and 1 omc 4 cly cobra tdrive set up...what does the group perfer i still have 2 days to back out..i really like the boats stlyle. but i have had about 7 boats and only 2 were good all other broke down alot. i have a 80 hp merc that went last year. piston went.any input would help me alittle as i am on the fence..i keep what i got invest 1-2k i got a great little 17' runabout. i get other boat and put 2k or so in it i got a speed boat...confusing
thanks bob
 

tommays

Admiral
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: outboards vrs inboards

You are in the I/O forum so it may come out with a different result that and outboard section :)



tommays
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,082
Re: outboards vrs inboards

Unfortunately,............I must have missed the thread about the Boats,......

Other than 1 is a Glastron,......... I Don't see the Choices.......

All I can say is,..... Don't buy a boat with an OMC or Yamaha Drive,..............
And,.......Outdrives are a Great way to put the HP into the Water...........
Annnd,...... Longer is Always Better,........ For Boats anyways............d:)
 

shelikesit

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
171
Re: outboards vrs inboards

I'd say 75% of the mid-size boats leaving the inlet down here are outboards, 50 % of them have 2.

It's the motor of choice around here. I'm sure they're strong, powerful, and probably the thing to have in salt water. I may change over one day if I can ever afford it.

in the meantime, when I open my engine compartment, I see a V-6. Sorry, it just doesnt seem to fit in the small engine class that I took in high school where we worked on a few outboards.

plus with this motor, if anything happens at least I'll have a fighting chance of getting lucky knowing whats wrong and be able to get us home.
 

KaGee

Admiral
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
7,069
Re: outboards vrs inboards

Modern day outboards are very "hi-techy" and difficult to try and service yourself. (Ask Rodbolt how many hours he has spent in class!) I also understand that the 4-cycle outboards are very high-maintenance.

I boat on the Great Lakes and the majority of boats out here are inboard, including mine. It's a basic Chevy block engine, reliable and easy to service.

Wy wife's aunt lives down near the Outer Banks. I posed the same question to him a while back. He said outboards are more popular for the sportsman because of the constantly changing bottom conditions. (Conditions we do not normally see here in the GL) Outboards tend to draft less and are easily tilted up in shallow waters without the danger of damaging the motor/drive. I/O's don't like running in that scenario very long without possibly damaging the driveline.

So you have to weigh all the facts and decide for your self.
 

qystan

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 26, 2004
Messages
291
Re: outboards vrs inboards

Over here and the region, outboards are preferred. Especially 2 stoke outboards. Simplicity that translates to relaibility. Leave an outboard for a month or 2 and it will still start up. An inboard risks having the cylinders rusted up. The drivetrain is also complex and that kills the reliability. It is common to see boats on racks without their drives.

An added factor would be that V8's and the other GM blocks are not seen elsewhere other than boats, so internal parts availability are only thru Mercury at boat prices...means cost.

I've spent more money and time on my 15 year old sterndrive alone that came with the boat than the whole 25yr old Mariner in-line 6 in my previous boat.

Main reason I am on the inboard is the 4 stroke fuel effiiciency. Gas cost US4.50 a gal over here.

Techy 4 stroke stuff as mentioned by KaGee is good for better fuel efficiency and power and applies to the new inboards, both wil go down the same slope.

For boats, simpler and less techy is always better. Take a carb anytime.
 

peacekeeper6

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 25, 2005
Messages
765
Re: outboards vrs inboards

An added factor would be that V8's and the other GM blocks are not seen elsewhere other than boats, so internal parts availability are only thru Mercury at boat prices...means cost.


I dont think that is true...V8s are everywhere and alot of people offer forged internal parts, you can get a block rebuilt without touching merc...
 

Buttanic

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 25, 2003
Messages
711
Re: outboards vrs inboards

An added factor would be that V8's and the other GM blocks are not seen elsewhere other than boats, so internal parts availability are only thru Mercury at boat prices...means cost.

For boats, simpler and less techy is always better. Take a carb anytime.

Internal parts are all GM and can be had at your friendly Chevy dealer. Mercury puts on the marine external parts. The only difference in internal parts between GM and Mercury is Mercury puts their part number on them.
 

Limited-Time

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 30, 2005
Messages
5,820
Re: outboards vrs inboards

First off this threads from Oct of 06.......Second



"Internal parts are all GM and can be had at your friendly Chevy dealer. Mercury puts on the marine external parts. The only difference in internal parts between GM and Mercury is Mercury puts their part number on them." by Buttanic

In Singapore???
 

riverjet502

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Dec 28, 2006
Messages
116
Re: outboards vrs inboards

Gosh I luv these debates..lol.lol..... I'll throw my $.02 worth in.... I prefer the big block squirt boats... The jet pump is very very easy to work on when needed and very reliable... Exstreamly safe for tubers, skiers and kids no prop to come in contact with. Shallow water capable, and a blast to dive.... OK flame away guys...lol.lol...
 

peacekeeper6

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 25, 2005
Messages
765
Re: outboards vrs inboards

it doesnt matter if the post is old, people read old posts for ADVICE, if advice is wrong people get wrong info
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: outboards vrs inboards

Let's just move this to the Boat topics and questios forum, that way both the IO people and the outboard people have a choice.
 

orion25

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
386
Re: outboards vrs inboards

Well, I wound up with an I/O because my wife thought it looked better. I just wanted a boat.........
 

scrobo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 5, 2007
Messages
277
Re: outboards vrs inboards

Wy wife's aunt lives down near the Outer Banks. I posed the same question to him a while back. He said outboards are more popular.....


Maybe not the place to point this out but....

your wife's aunt?

I posed the same question to him a....

And you posted this question to HIM?

:eek: :)
 

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,778
Re: outboards vrs inboards

Gotta disagree on what's inside the block. Mercruiser uses their parts in a Ford or Chevy block cause they are made to run at WOT all day.......land based vehicles aren't built for that.

Also the guy is from Singapore. Maybe they don't have a lotta Ford and Chevys with the correct block there.

Mark
 

moterboat

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
275
Re: outboards vrs inboards

I think if you want something more dependable,you should switch over to paddle power.. most dependable way to power your boat.

remember.. a boat is a hole in the water where you constantly pour money.
 

Gary H NC

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 1, 2005
Messages
8,972
Re: outboards vrs inboards

I have owned both. I like my big V-6 Johnson hanging on the back!
Take the cover off and get to anything you need.
I don't miss that straining to reach into the bilge,u-joints,gimbal bearings,bellows,ect,ect...
I don't miss my Cobra one bit!
Yep,nothing wrong with a big Johnson.....:D
 
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