ezmobee
Supreme Mariner
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2007
- Messages
- 23,767
Re: Going to look at a Chieftain
Great info from jas above. Here's my opinion on I/O's with as little bias as I can manage.
I/O's require more maintenance than outboards. They have bellows and seals that need to be periodically replaced, outdrives that need to be pulled and serviced periodically and you have to winterize them or you end up with a cracked block. However, I'll be honest....if you keep up with these things it's really not a big deal. Also the motors themselves are simpler and easier to work on. The drives, not so much. One big issue is that if you get an older one that hasn't been maintained in a while, catching up with all the deferred maintenance all at once will cost you a good bit.
Outboards are lighter and don't require much maintenance at all. I pretty much change the lower unit oil in mine every fall and change the impeller every couple years. That's it. However they are more complicated. The larger ones usually have multiple carbs and more complicated ignition systems. Troubleshooting a running issue can be more difficult.
One advantage to an outboard in most boats is more usable room in the cockpit. However Starcrafts have such ridiculously large splashwells it kinda evens it out. Heck the I/O's may even have more room.
Stick with Mercruiser or Volvo for I/O's with the exception of the Merc 470 and anything but Chrysler/Force for outboards.
Great info from jas above. Here's my opinion on I/O's with as little bias as I can manage.
I/O's require more maintenance than outboards. They have bellows and seals that need to be periodically replaced, outdrives that need to be pulled and serviced periodically and you have to winterize them or you end up with a cracked block. However, I'll be honest....if you keep up with these things it's really not a big deal. Also the motors themselves are simpler and easier to work on. The drives, not so much. One big issue is that if you get an older one that hasn't been maintained in a while, catching up with all the deferred maintenance all at once will cost you a good bit.
Outboards are lighter and don't require much maintenance at all. I pretty much change the lower unit oil in mine every fall and change the impeller every couple years. That's it. However they are more complicated. The larger ones usually have multiple carbs and more complicated ignition systems. Troubleshooting a running issue can be more difficult.
One advantage to an outboard in most boats is more usable room in the cockpit. However Starcrafts have such ridiculously large splashwells it kinda evens it out. Heck the I/O's may even have more room.
Stick with Mercruiser or Volvo for I/O's with the exception of the Merc 470 and anything but Chrysler/Force for outboards.
