Are used direct drive boats really worth more than i/o's?

[hostage]

I have been looking at some boats for a friend and I noticed that direct drive boats from the early 90's are a few grand more pricey than a boat of same size that is almost a decade newer. Are these boats built better and more reisitant to rott? I know the direct drives usually have a larger motor than the equivilant size. My friend knows little about boats, though has owned one before. Though are direct drives worth it, if he is very into water sports?

 

[Rossterman]

Depends on the make and model. Many just cost more when new (mastercraft, malibu, etc) compared to a I/O and some have been wood free from the mid-80s.

 

[hostage]

So less chance of rot, hrmm...

I saw this on clist: http://rochester.craigslist.org/bod/5070861779.html

It seems a little over priced, but has a wakeboard tower and looks in good condition.

 

[oldjeep]

So less chance of rot, hrmm...

I saw this on clist: http://rochester.craigslist.org/bod/5070861779.html

It seems a little over priced, but has a wakeboard tower and looks in good condition.

Don't know about overpriced. Seems average. You will rarely find a DD under 10k and never find a vdrive near that price, unless they have been sunk.

The thing to remember with a boat like that is that they can be a pain in even semi rough water. Very easy to take water over the bow, even in my much taller v drive.

 

[hostage]

We boat on a bay off lake ontario. I told him not to go out on the bay, unless it is calm and he stays near the mouth. I have a few friends with boats. Worst case if he wants to go out, he can come on my boat. How is maintenance on it? I know no bellows.

 

[oldjeep]

Maint is a bit less, but some different items. Engine alignment needs to be checked periodically, shaft packing adjusted/replaced if you don't convert to drip less like the newer boats.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Are they worth more? Not to me......

It all depends on if that's the style of boat ya want...

 

[Ned L]

An inboard has less "stuff" to suffer with age. A 60 or even 80 or 100 yr old inboard is put together exactly the same as a brand new boat, and all are equally reliable and repairable.
When it comes to I/O's, how many times are we hearing "what drive is it", or "stay away from this drive", or "that drive".

 

[Texasmark]

I think the maintenance problems are less on an inboard. Also like the weight being more mid-ship. That's the only plusses I can give it.

 

[oldjeep]

The downsides are
1) Can't operate in as shallow water as an I/O
2) Props cost 4x as much
3) If you hit an under water obstruction you are going to tear up a lot more on a DD/VD than you will on an I/O
4) Can't (shouldn't) beach a DD/VD since it puts a strain on the tracking fins
5) Can't steer in reverse

Main upside is that they are superior for just about any sort of watersport

 

[hostage]

We are going to check it out today, he was scared of old boats, though I purposely didn't tell him the age so he understand that a 92 boat is nothing like a 92 car. It has about 600 hours, though that is about how many hours someone puts on their car every year. It is a hard trying to help him find a good boat at a good price as he doesn't move quick enough to look at the better priced boats. It seems like 4.3L Mercs are rare and most of the ones we find in the age and price range are 3.0L

 

[smokeonthewater]

actually I'd say a 92 fiberglass boat is quite often way worse than a 92 car

BTW newest boat is an 89 and I drive a 94 jeep wrangler every day

 

[Dave-R]

I have a good friend that just bought a new one. He took it to Lake Powell where he is used to boating. They do not maneuver well at all in the narrow canyons, add the wind, and you got a handful. Also they can't be beached very easy. To say the least my friend is underwhelmed. I think he paid over 60 grand. Dave-R.

 

[Ned L]

It's all in education and practice. I personally have never, and would never own an I/O. 16 ft and on up,... all inboards
for me.

......But that's just my personal preference.

 

[oldjeep]

I have a good friend that just bought a new one. He took it to Lake Powell where he is used to boating. They do not maneuver well at all in the narrow canyons, add the wind, and you got a handful. Also they can't be beached very easy. To say the least my friend is underwhelmed. I think he paid over 60 grand. Dave-R.

You definitely lose low speed maneuverability compared to an i/o. Took a while to get my wife to get used to coming at the trailer with enough speed to have steering.

 

[bobdec]

As with many different boat styles, they are built and designed for a specific limited audience use.. pulling water sports.. They are so so to bad at other things..

 

[rallyart]

Are they worth it? I have no intention of going back to an I/O after owning my Inboard. It took me a bit to ensure I wanted to change but I love the benefits I now have. Mine is not a $10k version but it's a 2006 that cost $40k at the time and would sell now for about $30k, although a couple years ago it would have been less than that. It's worth more than I/O from that year that would have cost more to buy. So for resale it seems worth it.
For a family with small kids or who are involved in watersports there are real benefits. If you like to cruise at 30 mph they are great. If yo like to go fast they suck.
Mine is very good in rough water but most are not as good as mine due to hull design and construction. Most 10k inboards will not be comfortable or safe in a bad storm, and will thump you when crossing wakes or in chop.

If the design benefits suit your needs, they are easily worth it. If they don't, you should just keep something more common. Mine is not "so so bad" at anything, compared to comparably sized inboards.

 

[rallyart]

Oh, cool. That last post finally made me an officer. I feel special now.

 

[gddavid]

They are a niche market compared to inboard outboards so fewer are produced and fewer available used. The mechanics of an inboard engine, transmission, shaft and prop are much simpler and probably shouldn't be more expensive to produce, the economy of scale isn't as large as outdrive units (for this size of boats). Another consideration is that these are rarely the first boat a new boater would buy so they are generally taken better care of by more experienced boaters who realize that they shouldn't be left outside uncovered or slammed into docks.