Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

[ezmobee]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

Well water doesn't really lay in an outboard for starters.

 

[lewistt]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

I guess I qualify for an I/O. I was a gymnast, and now I'm a weightlifter!

 

[Bob Gilvary]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

You might make it. Now all you need is the mechanical know how.

Oh, and each model boat is built differently. This allows you to figure out what contorted position you may have to get in, to just change an oil filter. Yeah, they're a real hoot to work on.

 

[barato]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

y'all must be talking about different I/Os than the 4 banger in my boat....access is easy.

 

[Spivy30]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

I would agree most Starcrafts with i/os have very easy access.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

For those interested in the closed cooling system for a 120/140 hp I/O. I installed the closed cooling on an existing block that looked real clean inside. I suspect mainly fresh water use. Then about 3 years later timing gear broke and I put a brand new engine in the boat. Kept the closed cooling system. The only closed cooling system kit I could find was one just for the engine block, the manifold/elbow still run raw water. Since I run 100% in salt h2o I like the closed cooling system and especially with a new engine.

Winterization is drain manifold/elbow/engine cooler. 3 drain plugs and I make sure I use a wire so no rust is plugging them. Since I do not use my boat all year long I generally drain, put plugs back in and add some old antifreeze to the manifold/engine cooler then I redrain. That way if any water is left it is mixed with anitfreeze. This is probably not necessary.

I forgot where I bought the closed cooling system, I searched the internet. I have the info somewhere in my boat parts box but that info is not handy. I installed the thing about 5 years ago.
I thought about modifying the system to include the manifold, but did not.

 

[Bob Gilvary]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

I would agree most Starcrafts with i/os have very easy access.

Yes, I am talking about I/O's built differently than your easy access 4 bangers.

Had one once that required removing port side rear seats and some panels, and send in through that void, the bosses 12 year old son, just to get a filter wrench on the oil filter.

The best I ever saw as far as a mercruiser mechanic was my instructor at marine tech school. He was also Mercury's recertification instructor in central Fl. He was also a weight lifter.

Nope, you couldn't give me one, I know too much about them.

 

[starcrafter65]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

I am with CBK - any style that works beats the other that doesn't. I have had 3 OB's and now an I/O. If something in the power head goes wrong in an OB - it's not exactly that easy to fix - but it doesn't have the added hole in the transom with universal joints, boots, bellows, etc.

When I got the Holiday - I had no I/O experience - but I like figuring things out - since I put a new motor and outdrive in - I know what is going on. I agree that there are more parts - and therefore more things to watch....but I love the way the boat looks with the I/O, I am pleasently surprised with the acceleration performance of the 140 (my previous experience with the 140 was with glassers that weighed 2x the SC and were butt slow), and I love the economy - man - you can go all day on 8-10 gallons of gas. I also love the integral gas tank and no oil.

I had a Sea Ray with a 110 Merc 2 Stroke Outboard Oil Injected that worked great and went like stink. Both of the boats worked great and I would be happy with either - My little Nassau had a 80 Merc, mixed gas in the 6 gallon tanks (spills, oil, messy) and needed a new electrical harness - so not so much

Works well > Not works

 

[airshot]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

Well I guess I have to put my two cents in here, been an outboard man for 40 years, just got my first I/O. Yep.. they are alot more work, but I am finding them interesting, and getting alot of great help from I-boats forums.
Outboard parts are getting very expensive, not that I/O is any cheaper but with my limited experience on car engines the I/O seems easier to trouble shoot. Fuel economy is the biggest plus, when I made the decision to go to a bigger boat I knew the additional cost of fuel was going to be the killer. But my 140 hp I/O uses no more fuel than my 40 hp 2stroke jonny. Only now I find myself going out much further and enjoying myself more. I have used the I/O as a learning experience trying to find out all I can and do the work myself. While it is to early to say for sure, ( 40 yrs vs 2months) I am favoring the I/O for its ease of service. Be sure you consider the ease of maintenence when choosing your I/O model. I choose the Islander model 140 hp I/O and have no regrets..great fuel economy, easy to maintain, easy to work on.
Just my two cents.............

Airshot

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

Airshot I agree with you I have a 140 I/O in a 21' Cheiftain.
However I have been burned with issues, almost never the same one. I would love twin outboards vs. 1 I/o with a 15hp kicker. I go 5-20 miles out.
1. Lost a drive line coupler
2. Lost timing gear
Both times left me out in the ocean on the kicker.
Got a hole in the u-joint bellows, rusted the gimble bearing and yoke on the outdrive. Bellows were in good shape no crackes except for this hole, looked like a tear or defect. Now my outdrive is back at sei getting a new upper seal.

I think a outboard would be simpler, but they are expensive to get new one's, so I/o per hp i think are cheaper.

 

[snowman48047]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

Never owned an I/O. My dad always had outboards too. A couple things that I had to cinsider buying my Islander with an OB;

1. I use the boat early (March) and late (November) in the year so winterizing is a no hassle no brainer.

2. Nobody has mentioned how much more room there is in an OB boat. That engine cover takes up a lot of valuable deck space.

 

[airshot]

Re: Starcraft I/Os vs O/Bs?

As far as cost goes, outboards are getting very expensive to repair. My 40 hp jonny O/B had the choke solenoid..OK.. primer enrichment solenoid go out that little jewel was almost 200.00, I can do a lot of choke adj on my I/O for that money. I bought my I/O used, lower unit was rebuilt, engine ran great but did need a carb rebuild ( carb kit for I/O was half the cost of O/B rebuild kit) and I got an extra outdrive with it. having a backup outdrive is the only way to go. I searched for a boat that was well maintained and did the same when I was buying O/B's.
As far as space that the motor takes up, I use mine wisely as a cutting board and a seat, for fishing it is the best seat in the boat. My O/B did not have built in tanks so I lost space for fuel tanks and well. Actually have more usuable room in my I/O, family agrees. Yes outboards are simpler and I/O are more work but the quietness, and added fuel economy are looking like the better tradeoff.

Airshot