i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

[mtorts]

Im sure this has been discussed a million times but when i searched it nothing came up. Would love to hear your opions. Im looking at a campion 22' boat comes with a 4.3l vortec mercruiser. I have never owned a i/o before but it seems now that i'm looking at bigger heavier boats its a popular choice.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

Im sure this has been discussed a million times but when i searched it nothing came up. Would love to hear your opions. Im looking at a campion 22' boat comes with a 4.3l vortec mercruiser. I have never owned a i/o before but it seems now that i'm looking at bigger heavier boats its a popular choice.

First question. What type of water will you be in? salt or fresh

 

[southkogs]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

I've had both ... I've liked both boats. I find OB's easier to learn to operate, but once you know the boat it's not as big a deal. I've personally found maintenance to be easier on my outboards, but both of the I/O's I'm familiar with (one OMC and one Mercruiser) have been finicky.

You'll hear arguments that OBs are easier to re-power, but looking at my I/O I'm not so sure that's all that accurate. My OB seemed to barely sip the gas tank, but I've been told that I/Os are generally more efficient.

I think it's probably pretty reasonable to figure out if you're looking at a solid boat with a solid drive system ... don't worry too much about one vs. the other.

However, I'm just one voice in what is sure to be many ...

 

[jdlough]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

I boat from ocean to very shallow bay/river. Any boat I own must be outboard.

In extreme shallows, I can trim up the OB, blast away, and get free. I/O's just get stuck.

If I want to repower, I just get another OB and swap.

When it's time to winterize, I just lower the OB to the down position.

OB's weigh much less for the amount of HP you get.

After a 30 min learning curve, OB's are much easier to understand.

When backing up, just look behind you to see which way it is facing.

Most I/O boats have carpet. Carpet on a boat sux. Also, seat cushions were not meant for use anywhere near water.

With an outboard, you don't have a giant box taking all that room inside the boat.


I forgot the last one.... OB's don't blow up your boat and anyone near it if you forget to run the bilge blower for 5 minutes every single time before you turn the key.

I don't know where you're boating, but if you are at some huge freshwater lake with deep water slips, an I/O may be OK for you. If you have to futz around in the shallows, get an OB.

If you trailer your boat and park it covered, carpet may be OK for you.

If you fish alot, and keep your boat outside on a lift or on the trailer, fiberglass self-bailing decks are a HUGE plus for you. This usually means an outboard boat.


In case you haven't noticed, I'm biased. I hate cushion seated I/O carpeted mildew traps. I cant believe these sofa things were sold to be used any where near water.

 

[ricohman]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

I've had outboards and I just bought my first i/o/ This 22.5 ft Starcraft islander with the 4.3 is great on fuel and has a lot of power. The doghouse in a boat this size takes up minimal room plus is has a cutting board on top for baiting or eating. I don't what jdlough has but my i/o does not have carpet as its a great lakes fishing boat. As a former gm mechanic, the 4.3 is a very easy motor to maintain.
I've owned both and I'd definately go this route again.

 

[Levinz11]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

I boat from ocean to very shallow bay/river. Any boat I own must be outboard.

In extreme shallows, I can trim up the OB, blast away, and get free. I/O's just get stuck.

If I want to repower, I just get another OB and swap.

When it's time to winterize, I just lower the OB to the down position.

OB's weigh much less for the amount of HP you get.

After a 30 min learning curve, OB's are much easier to understand.

When backing up, just look behind you to see which way it is facing.

Most I/O boats have carpet. Carpet on a boat sux. Also, seat cushions were not meant for use anywhere near water.

With an outboard, you don't have a giant stupid box taking all that room inside the boat.


I forgot the last one.... OB's don't blow up your boat and anyone near it if you forget to run the bilge blower for 5 minutes every single time before you turn the key.

I don't know where you're boating, but if you are at some huge freshwater lake with deep water slips, an I/O may be OK for you. If you have to futz around in the shallows, get an OB.

If you trailer your boat and park it covered, carpet may be OK for you.

If you fish alot, and keep your boat outside on a lift or on the trailer, fiberglass self-bailing decks are a HUGE plus for you. This usually means an outboard boat.


In case you haven't noticed, I'm biased. I hate cushion seated I/O carpeted mildew traps. I cant believe these sofa things were sold to be used any where near water.

Haha!

 

[jdlough]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

I don't what jdlough has but my i/o does not have carpet as its a great lakes fishing boat.

Zactly... If you're in a deep water area, then an I/O may be OK for you.

 

[scb1712]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

I debated this issue before buying my boat as well. I ended up going with an I/O because it's quieter, and a i like having a really big sun pad at the back of the boat for the chicks to lie on. The four stroke outboards are nice and quiet and easy, but also lots of $$. Having bought a boat that was full of problems, i've found the I/O very easy to work on. We boat in fairly shallow waters a lot of time, but i've not had any problems getting stuck.

Though i haven't owned the boat long, and we inherited a lot of problems with it, I've discovered that with routine regular maintenance, the I/O is dead easy to maintain.

Thanks just my two cents...

 

[jdlough]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

OK, fine....

So, you have a quiet motor with bikini babes lying on a sunpad...

I am intrigued... You may have a point.......

Lemmie think on this a minute........

Got any pics?

 

[saxrulez]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

The biggest thing for me is fishing. If you fish early spring and late fall, the outboard has a big advantage. You don't need to worry about it freezing that night and needing a new engine block. This alone is why I will probably never own an IO. They definitely have their advantages too, but that is the deal breaker for me.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

Lots of good points to consider here. I've had both and am converting my twin I/O project boat to twin OB for two primary reasons.

1) Gets me a lot of space in the former engine room for a generator, a/c, lots of fresh water, more house battery power, vacu-flush holding tank, rollup dinghy and small OB storage, etc. I'll get all the amenities in my 25.5' boat I had in my 30 footer.

2) Even bigger reason - I will keep my boat docked on salt water. I/Os and salt water storage DON'T MIX. Believe me! I'm talking from experience with $1500 stern drive repairs on three occasions due to keeping them in salt water.

So, for the most part, don't worry about the differences, just enjoy the boat. But, if you are going to be keeping it docked on salt water, OB is the only choice.

Sea ya...

 

[jdlough]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

HomeCookin, you wanna help me out here?

They're talking bikini babes on sun platforms and such....

 

[cobra1476]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

Between me and my friends we have gone through a ton of different set ups. Now all of us have O/B's.

Between shallow water, maintenance, and leaks. O/B wins easily. For some reason, all of us had leaking boat due to the drive some how. Between bellows and gaskets.......headache. I think it is just the extreme weather up north, makes gaskets brittle and weathers belows prone to cracking. And yes, you can't trim up an I/O even close to an O/B. Winterizing is one of the biggest plus!!!

Sunpad??? Lol!!! Depending what type of boat you buy, you can beat a "sunpad" any day. My deck boat bow seating turns into a giant bed. I can fit 5 babes on there no problem. My buddys new pontoon has "chase" seating (very cool). Again, these are both O/B's.

jdlough, I never realized it, but you are right about the ease of seeing where the drive is pointing. You just look back.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

sunpad. Ha. My women don't "sunpad." And besides, my boat doesn't stay still long enough to "lay out." Anyone all oiled up laying around will be slid off and overboard, and never missed.

JD said it all. Wait till some lake boater says OB's make the boat "look funny back there." No engine, that's what looks funny.

 

[mnypitboat]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

It all depends on your boating preferances. I personally love our I/O for river, lake, and intercoastal boating. We spend a lot of time doing watersports, but also spend a lot of time just anchored off either in a lake or on a beach. We love the rear padded area, and we love the platform over top of the outdrive. We like not having that engine right in the middle in the way of the swim platform and our grilling out on the lake. It is super easy to maintain, takes all of about an hour to change engine oil, outdrive oil, and spark plugs, if that. About an extra 45 minutes to an hour if we are doing bellows. They are extremely easy to work on, Plus if we have a major engine failure, it is less than $2k to replace, and we are back up in about 2 weeks. About the same if we have a drive failure, maybe a little less. No way you will be doing those repairs on an outboard that cheap.

If I was going to be doing shallow boating, or offshore boating, I would certainly be looking at outboards, and I have. But for our boating, this is the best option. They both have their merits, and you have got to determine what is best for your boating and lifestyle. There is no way anyone will convince me either is better than the other.

 

[ricohman]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

Zactly... If you're in a deep water area, even up to the dock. AND you don't mind dealing with carpet, because you store your boat in a garage, THEN an I/O may be OK for you.

I actually have no idea weather an I/O or Outboard is better on gas. I think if you need to worry about MPG of I/Os vs Outboards, you should skip boating altogether.

My Islander may be a deep water boat but I live on the prairies. The lake near to me ranges from the shoreline to about 100 feet deep. Never been stuck in any boat but I have always stayed out of the reeds and very shallow areas. But my buddy wades in there and shoots big carp with his recurve.

 

[mtorts]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

Lot of great points and advice guys thanks for the input. Saxrulez I think u made my decision a lot easier to stick with a outboard. I use my boat for fishing and love early season spring jigging. This year I was fishing in april and did notice there were hardly any I/o on the water. I fish fresh water only mainly in fairly deep water however I love to fish the first couple weeks of the bass season on LSC and will often fish in as shallow as 4ft of water. I enjoy having the ability to trim the motor right up If needed and as most of u agree winterizing/maintenance is very easy. My 2stroke can run a little rough at times but a good fuel treatment like sea foam takes care of that and also helps with fuel consumption

 

[25thmustang]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

Straight Inboard

If I was into smaller boats, I think I would look for an outboard. There are pros and cons to both, and although I'm a freshwater river cruisers, not a fishing guy, I think the outboard pros, outweigh the I/O pros or the outboard cons. I see an I/O run trimmed up and I cringe, an outboard is no issue.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

how do you see yourself boating?

I grew up with OB's and currently have an I/O. both have pros and cons.

I have had my boats with I/O's in really shallow water where I have had to have people walk to the front to get the keel to float. this was in 12" of water. I/O or OB would have the same problem at that point. (now someone will argue the whole OB vs I/O weight)

my current boat is a 24' (26' OAL) with an I/O. not a fishing boat, however more of a burn fuel and have fun boat.

long story short, only you can make that decision. my recommendation is always, test out various styles of boats until you determine which one you like.

 

[emoney]

Re: i/o vs outboard pros and cons ??

Seems like you've answered your own question, but why not weigh in, right? When I was in Ky, 15 years ago, spending all my water-time on lakes or rivers, I had two boats. One was a 20' cuddy that I considered the "family boat" and it, of course, was an I/O and appropriate for that need. The 2nd boat, and my personal favorite, was a bass boat with and outboard, but that boat was strictly for fishing so "getting skinny" was important. There's advantages and disadvantages to both. One choice can have a platform for girls to lay out on, the other has more room for more girls, so that may be a wash, depending on preference. Now that I'm in Florida, I wouldn't even consider an inboard, simply because my boat is lift-kept and always salt-water. Much easier to maintain the OB, imho.