Should I buy this boat?

[dontask]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

I've got both and agree with you on most points. However, I like my I/O better than my OB because it is quieter, smoother, more fuel efficient, less finicky when starting, and did I mention quieter.

My 135 OB burns 14gph at WOT. My 165 I/O couldn't use that much fuel towing the other boat. Funny, I haven't noticed a huge increase in the number of OBs used on tugboats.

The reason our guys have specced OBs on their police/ranger boats is because they can trash one pretty quick and it is alot easier and sometimes cheaper to swap out an OB than an I/O. I don't think it is fair to compare the way they use their boats with the way most everyone on here uses one.

Do they use IO's on cruise ships, submarines, military ships? NO! Compare the same boat options, IO choices over OB choices. Responders stick with responding intelligently with as much fact based information that you can (if you can) and this forum will be of value. Also talk to the people in government agencies in the purchasing department and learn how and why they spec out a purchase and see how they try to deliver what their operator (boat operators in this case) REQUEST AND NEED.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

Responders stick with responding intelligently with as much fact based information that you can (if you can) and this forum will be of value.

I think you may be a little new here to be dictating to us what is, and is not, of value. Especially since it seems that what is of no value is that which you don't agree with.

Come on, I/O's are in probably way more than half of the boats in the category the original poster is interested in. I also prefer outboards for many of the reasons you propose. But that doesn't make I/O's bad or even necessarily inferior.

 

[CChase86]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

I personally like I/O's over outboards because the engines are simple and robust. I don't think outboards are not robust, but they have a lot more in the way of physical constraints. It's like a laptop computer vs a desktop computer, there have to be concessions in performance/durability/longevity in order to get everything into a small package.

I don't think the original poster was asking whether he should buy an I/O or an outboard, so the whole point is moot.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

Please respond to why Sea Tow (private company) uses outboards. Want to respond to the other advantages I have given? Or show btaylor507 all the advantages IO's have over outboards with facts.
I have owned both and there is no comparison in maintaining, performance, design and reliability.

I prefer outboards and I personally agree with 99% or your points made, particularly the fact that outboards can be moved from one boat to another easily in comparison to IO's. I also respect the opinions of other folks on this site who love their IO's and will buy nothing else.

I'd like to own one of each to see for myself to be honest.

The issue I have is claiming that the gov't is the place to get quality advice on what motors are or are not best for certain vessels.

This goes back to something I learned from Milton Friedman about who spends whose money most efficiently. It turns out that when a person spends their own (hard-earned)money on an item for themselves they act rationally and are concerned with quality and price.

When a person spends another person's money(taxes) on an item for someone else to use they are less rational and less concerned with quality and price.

I now realize that debating this philosophically is futile and regret(almost) the comment regarding the federal gov't and taxes.

 

[dontask]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

I think you may be a little new here to be dictating to us what is, and is not, of value. Especially since it seems that what is of no value is that which you don't agree with.

Come on, I/O's are in probably way more than half of the boats in the category the original poster is interested in. I also prefer outboards for many of the reasons you propose. But that doesn't make I/O's bad or even necessarily inferior.

The question from the opener to this issue was "should I buy this IO boat", remember? And I responded with "no" and the facts why not to. Now you respond with the facts on why he should buy that great design. Simple! Note---90% of the problems boaters have is with the engine, so focus on the source of most of the problems.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

The question from the opener to this issue was "should I buy this IO boat", remember? And I responded with "no" and the facts why not to. Now you respond with the facts on why he should buy that great design. Simple! Note---90% of the problems boaters have is with the engine, so focus on the source of most of the problems.

Thats your opinion and of course you are more than free to express it..But the I/O may be a great boat for the O.P. I have owned both, a 17 ft skiff (35 horse Evinrude Lark..weighed as much as todays 100HP I bet) and I dont have a strong preference to either powerplant, being on the water with a reliable safe boat is numero Uno!!

I know that many times attitude is misconstrued in an email or post, but I have to ask (no pun intended) Why the edge?

 

[JB]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

"The question from the opener to this issue was "should I buy this IO boat", remember?"

Wrong. The question was, "Should I buy this boat?" Not even close.

You, dontask, turned it into an I/O bashing party, then a debate completely irrelevant to the OP's question.

Knock it off.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

"The question from the opener to this issue was "should I buy this IO boat", remember?"

Wrong. The question was, "Should I buy this boat?" Not even close.

You, dontask, turned it into an I/O bashing party, then a debate completely irrelevant to the OP's question.

Knock it off.

To the point as always JB

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

Original Poster : Did you look at this vessel ? Does it still look as good as it did 7 freakin years ago ?
Has to be something wrong with it for that price........

 

[rippest]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

Very cool discussion.
Been tossing around this very discussion i/o vs ob.
Good reading.
Thanks!

 

[MikDee]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

The bottom line is, btaylor, did you look at the boat? did you buy the boat? I really like the lines, & style of it!

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

Nauseating!

 

[skargo]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

"The question from the opener to this issue was "should I buy this IO boat", remember?"

Wrong. The question was, "Should I buy this boat?" Not even close.

You, dontask, turned it into an I/O bashing party, then a debate completely irrelevant to the OP's question.

Knock it off.

Thanks JB, the I/O vs OB thing was TOTALLY off topic.
If you are slightly handy the maintenance required is nothing.

To the OP I remember as a kid we had a Cobia and it was a nice boat. Good luck, I hope it is still as nice as it appears in those pics.

 

[fishon13]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

I/O or outboard aside what condition is the boat in now? I find it surprising theres no pics of the interior. Have you gone to see the boat in person? If the owner is not willing to take you on a test ride when you have cash in hand, walk away and clean registration a must. Also you might want to spend a extra hundred and have a boat mechanic check it out, not the one who put the motor in. There is alot more you can do to hide defects in a I/O check the compression.

 

[rusty barrels]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

Funny thing that no one ask if the replacement engine was for a vehicle or if it is a marine engine! There is a real big difference between the two.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

I've owned both and, while maintenance on the I/O was definitely higher on the hassle factor scale, I certainly wouldn't charactarize them as some monstrostity to avoid as has been done above. I think that's going overboard -- pun intended!

If the Cobia checks out, buy her in good health and have a blast. Sure, definitely learn its workings and how to take care of it but don't sweat it. I/Os can be made to run for decades with ease.

*edit* Oops! I completely missed page 2 of this thread and JB's directive to cool it down before I replied. Sorry! :redface:

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Should I buy this boat?

I've owned both and, while maintenance on the I/O was definitely higher on the hassle factor scale, I certainly wouldn't charactarize them as some monstrostity to avoid as has been done above. I think that's going overboard -- pun intended!

If the Cobia checks out, buy her in good health and have a blast. Sure, definitely learn its workings and how to take care of it but don't sweat it. I/Os can be made to run for decades with ease.

*edit* Oops! I completely missed page 2 of this thread and JB's directive to cool it down before I replied. Sorry! :redface:

Well said...i have owned both and both have their good points.

The biggest thing for the OP is to have it checked out good.