Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

[IQRaceworks]

I?ve been around boats all my life?.mostly fast outboard powered boats (Allison, Hydrostream). My current boat is a Hydrostream Vegas XT??fun and fast, but it really beats you up when you are out on the lake with lots of other larger cruisers and ski boats. I?m planning on selling the Hydrostream, and picking up either a 21? inboard/outboard bowrider like a Crownline, Fourwinns, Bryant?..or going with something like a nice used wakeboard/ski boat like a Mastercraft, Tigue, or Supra. I want something that will handle standard lake chop without beating up passengers, and also putt water toys like wakeboards and tubes.

I have no experience with v-drive or inboard boats. How do they handle rough lake water? Is the same kind of conditions (1?-2? chop?occasional 3? boat wakes), would a bowrider ride smoother ? What about maintenance on a sterndrive vs/ inboard or v-drive boats?

Thanks!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

Depends on the boat. A true competition ski boat (like a Malibu Response) does not deal well with chop, sits about 3" off the water and will result in a boat full of water if you have to stop in the chop or make a bad decision about throttle position. A wakeboard boat has a pretty deep V, rides high in the water and creates chop

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

If you want the best ride on rough water, stick with the deep V of a bow-rider with an I/O... If you want the best wake for boarding, the get a v-drive or direct drive boat.

All rears of Of true inboards have a softer v or a u shaped transoms so the ride will be a little harsher. But hell you don't want to wakeboard in rough water anyways, kills your knees and is no fun.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

I'll take my Sanger D215 over most 20' bowriders in chop or a storm. Like oldjeep said, a true competition ski boat is pretty flat and they all do poorly in choppy water. Any Sanger or a newer Centurian will handle big lake weather pretty well. The newest Tiges and some of the major brands bigger boats are also not too bad. Look for a wakeboard boat rather than just a 'ski' boat.
Inboards handle the water differently than a sterndrive or a hot boat does. The hull is designed to flow water smoothly so they are efficient when they are going at a cruise speed or wake speeds. When you go WOT they can't lift out of the water well and just suck a lot of gas to go 45 mph. At 30 they get good economy. Maintenance on a Direct Drive is a snap. On a V Drive its a bit more effort but still not hard.
A couple other benefits of an inboard are that a 21' inboard is not measured with the swim platform while a 21' I/O is so there is more space in the inboard. Also the swim platform is right at the water instead of above it and swimming is more fun.
Drive some before you decide. They feel very different. Enjoy.

 

[Lake Lizzard]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

When I went from a IO to a direct drive inboard boat I definitely had to slow down in rough water. With the IO and deep V I would generally go 30-35 mph with ease. With the inboard I have to slow down to 18-22 mph in the same water conditions. I'm more than happy with my choice and slower speeds due to all of the skiing/wakeboarding we do. So much difference in the pull, wake, and speed control.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

My friend has Moomba Mobius LSV and I have a Nitro 188 Sport fish and ski. We were out cruising around one day with a slight chop of 6"-12" and he made the comment that he got soaked from the waves splashing up into the boat when he was going slow. I never even noticed it on my boat as I was blasting across the stuff in the mid 50's or idling. He normally only uses it on smooth water for wakeboarding so it's poor rough water manners doesn't bother him. That being said a dedicated wakeboard boat is great for wakeboarding but not much good for anything else. For your needs I think a I/O bowrider would be the best.

Since you like Hydrostream check out the Ventura.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

Inboard/Outboards can be trimmed out to run on top of the water. They're relatively fast, and get great mileage. They're also reliable the first 8-10 years--until the bellows and other rubber parts in the water need replaced. They're a great compromise boat that can be powered with a big V8 engine for extreme water sports.

Straight inboards and v drives are displacement hulls--plowing through the water. At slower speeds, they get good fuel mileage. Inboards last forever if properly cared for and if the engines are winterized. (Guy closeby has a 53 model Chris Craft he bought new.) A new inboard will require mortgaging the soul of your first born child--very expensive new. There are many older used boats available for $7-10K--and they won't depreciate. Your boat mechanic might end up being your best friend, however.

Go with a V8 powered I/O.

 

[festab]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

Not sure if I should ask this here. I have a Crownline 180 with 3 Ltr alpha1 leg . Having trouble holding good wakeboard speed as boat slows in and out of plane.
Have SS 17 inch prop. Will a fin stabiliser (hydrofoil) help to maintain plane or should I just upgrade to a 4 Ltr ?

 

[rallyart]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

Festab, normally you should just start your own thread. But... wakeboard speeds are just below planing speed to get a bigger clean wake and that is why it's hard to maintain your speed. You pop up on plane and drop back into the hole easily. A foil will help some and is cheap. The best solution is to add a cruise control like Perfect Pass to regulate your speed. It's expensive, but much cheaper than changing powerplants or boats, and can add almost full value when you sell your boat or you can take it with you for the next boat.

 

[festab]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

Thanks for your comments, I will check it out. I am looking to put a Tower on but is pointless if I really need the bigger IO. Thanks again

 

[BRiddick]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

Like stated before, the I/O will handle better in the rough water. Check out the Bryant 233X. I got to ride this thing about 2 months ago, and it was a fun time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhw5uhn1wqc
We were running at 23.8 mph with zero-off cruise control and 1,000 lbs of ballast

 

[jsturvey]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

I went from a 18' I/O to a 22' Mastercraft Vdrive. Now the boat I bought has a really steep V at the bow of the boat and, like all other inboards, not as steep at the stern. I have to say that I have been impressed with how well it cuts through choppy water.

Another thing to consider is horsepower. I don't know of any inboard boat that doesn't have anything less than a 350ci V8, whereas many I/Os of comparable size only have a V6. Now that may not be a big deal for some people, but I'm an old school slalom skier and like having the extra power. Plus after 20 years of operating a 18' I/O with a 305, the first time I drove my MasterCraft, it was like going from a Camry to a Corvette.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

If someone needs to go slow planed off, spend $400 for a set of Bennett hydraulic trim tabs. It's the best money I ever spent. You can plane the boat off at 10 mph. It'll ride like it's 3' longer. Your boat will pull like it's got 40 hp more. You can level it up side to side if two heavy people get on one side. You can quickly trim the nose down when you come up on a large wave--and quickly trim it back up. They're just great and should be standard on every full hulled boat--I/O or outboard.

 

[bowler]

Re: Sterndrive Bowriders vs inboard wakeboard boats?

I went from a 18' I/O to a 22' Mastercraft Vdrive. Now the boat I bought has a really steep V at the bow of the boat and, like all other inboards, not as steep at the stern. I have to say that I have been impressed with how well it cuts through choppy water.

Another thing to consider is horsepower. I don't know of any inboard boat that doesn't have anything less than a 350ci V8, whereas many I/Os of comparable size only have a V6. Now that may not be a big deal for some people, but I'm an old school slalom skier and like having the extra power. Plus after 20 years of operating a 18' I/O with a 305, the first time I drove my MasterCraft, it was like going from a Camry to a Corvette.

+1. I went from a 17.5 ft bowrdier with a 3ltr merc to a Super Air NAutique 210 direct drive. Like chalk and cheese!

D.