i/o verses outboard verses inboard

[jetster]

I'm trying to decide which setup is better. Any thoughts?

 

[JB]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

Howdy, Jetster. I guess a lot depends on what sort of boat you have and what you want to do with it. I prefer outboards for my use. I explain below.<br /><br />I trailer my boats, therefore I have boats under 25'. It allows me to use my own boat anywhere I choose. Inboards and I/Os are heavier and offer less deck space, which is important in a small, trailerable boat.<br /><br />Until recently, inboards and I/Os were more reliable and less expensive to maintain than outboards, often more economical to operate, too. Modern DFI 2 stroke and EFI 4 stroke outboards have become very reliable and economical to operate. Outboards are still more expensive to maintain.<br /><br />There's part of your answer. Let's hear from someone who prefers I/O or inboard.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[Bluefish]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

Each has it's good and bad points.<br />Outboards are less weight,no engine cover takeing up space,I think a single engine outboard handles better at the dock and a hole new bred of animal to work on.<br />I/O mess the engine cover to sit on with a cold one,most people feel more comfortable working on them themself,you can't tilt a I/O out of the water if you leave it in all season more maint.raw water cooled (if in saltwater)manifolds and heat riser's good bad.<br />Like I said Each has it's good and bad points.<br />The list goes on and on.<br />Just watch the H.P. there a lot of under powered boats out there, and it allways has to do with price. <br />Good Luck

 

[Navigator]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

Jester,<br /><br />Like JB said, it all depends on whether you trailer the boat or if it lives in a wet slip in the marina. It also depends on the size of the boat. For me, I prefer Outboards on boats to about 24 feet, preferably twins with a small kicker as well. (When I go offshore, I want to be sure I get back!). On boats 24 and Up, my powerplant of choice is a Diesel I/O. The diesel weighs more, but it is a true workhorse, is frugal on gas, and almost indestructable. True you wont get there quite as fast, but I will gladly trade off a few mph's for the reliability. Price wise, a diesel is just a bit more than the gas.<br />I leave the Inboards for the Motor yacht crowd.<br /><br />Thats my 2 cents <br /><br />Nav

 

[sony2001]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

I'll be looking at an I/O this week I'm attracted by Less noise<br /> Fuel economy<br /> Less tempermental<br /> No premix

 

[markg]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

I've owned Inboards and Outboards but no I/O's. Some pretty good salts have told me that outboards have become so advanced these days that if the engineers came out with I/O's now, they wouldn't even come on the market. Anything under 21', outboard all the way.

 

[JB]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

Say, Sony! With 4 stroke outboards you have all of the outboard advantages and most of the I/O advantages. My Suzi 4S 70 is so quiet at idle that you can hear the telltale hitting the water, and the small displacement, hi-tech engines used in 4S outboards are a lot more fuel efficient than 4S I/O gas engines.<br /><br />Think about it!<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[JasonJ]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

I am partial to outboards myself, but they all have their good points. To me, with an outboard, you can always take it off and put it on another boat with minimal fuss (as long as the hull is rated for the power). Also, if you want more power, but really like the boat you have, you can put on a more powerful outboard (again, as long as the hull is rated for the power). Try that with an I/O...

 

[sony2001]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

*4stroke is the future of boating*<br />But as an outboard they are too heavy for the boats now being produced. A new line of craft have to be engineered to support them.<br />I/Os just need a simple injection system resulting in more power and fuel economy. For the same hp a fuel injected engine takes 25% less gas.

 

[martinwinte]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

I like them both.. I own an inboard. I like the fact of the ease that a person can work on it. I also like the fact that they take up a small amount of room on the outside of the boat (I use mine for diving...Platform mounting is easier). They do take up alot of room inside the boat though. personally I belive that you get more (seat-of-the-pants) HP from an outboard..If it's weight or just me I don't know.

 

[KCook]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

^

 

[Uncle Dave]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

While on the subject of OB vs Inboard/OD I notice most run their outbord at wide open throttle (WOT). Inbord owners seem to not run at WOT. The question is, What is the failure rate and gas consumption of each at WOT?

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

After having spent 2+ years in an engine compartment, I began to wish I had outboards - everything right there at the back of the boat. Easy to get to. Easier to replace, etc.<br /><br />However, the farther I get out from shore in the deep blue ocean the fewer outbaords I see. Just an observation.<br /><br />I/O's give you the handling of outboards with the power, reliability and availability of a standrd automotive based 4-cycle engine. It's not too dificult to find parts and resources to help you with a Merc 260 (chevy 350), I don't know how tough it is for outboards.<br /><br />So I guess it all comes down to what you are going to do with the boat and where you are going to use it.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

Which is better depends on the intended use...<br /><br />A Detroit 671 diesel inboard in a 12' jon boat is'nt right, nor is a 20hp outboard pushing a 30' sportfisherman... Everything has its place...<br /><br />For my money in a 23' and larger seagoing vessle, a straight diesel inboard will still be around running it's butt off while the rest of these IO's and outboards are in the junk pile.... You get what you pay for....

 

[Solittle]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

So long as we are talking about power does anyone have any experience with the Japanese diesel outboard? I understand they are no longer available here. It came in two hp ratings I think - around 65-85 hp.

 

[sergioy]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

I have just got rid of my outboard a little over a week ago and haven't looked back ever since. I replaced it with an I/O. What a difference in performance and gas consumption. True I am not comparing apples to apples, the outboard was a 75 hp Johnny and now I have a 120 Mercruiser. Either way, I feel like I have more than doubled my horsepower and cut my gas consumption way way down. Plus no premixing. Either way, as long as you are on the water, they are both a blast.

 

[conimicut1]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

I think it comes down to the size of the boat and use and how much you intend on using it. And how much work you want to do on it. First try and get a newer outboard if you are buying used, repairs are pricey for them<br /><br />For a smaller boat, up to 20 feet, get an outboard and consider a 4 cycle if you will be using it alot.<br /><br />Between 20 and 25 feet, its tough, definitly a 4 cycle outboard if you want an outboard <br /><br />On my boat 23'; searay, the I/O's motor is below decks and no damn hump and you get a full transom swim platform, much better than what you get on an outboard.<br /><br />After 25 feet get twin I/Os after 30 twin straight shafts.

 

[sloopy]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

What type of boat are you looking for? An outboard is better for fishing in lakes and up to 20 miles off shore. (any thing further than that and you should get a diesel) You will never see a bass fishing boat with a inboard. But if you like skiing and diving, an i/o or strait shaft is the way to go. It is very hard to ski with an outboard (hard to hook up.)

 

[L Christopher]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

I just gata jump in this because I have owned them all. For saltwater fishing and family fun 15' - 25' outboards much more room in the boat, for family fun on the lakes with a bowrider 18' - 25' in/out better power, better fuel economy, less noise. Ski boats with inboards are too narrow by todays standards (I know that the true to skiiing will have a fit with this but give me a 8'6"beam anyday). Anything in salt for fishing above 27' inboard diesels (yea, yea, yea those twin & triple outboards are fast and suck up the gas but I just sold a 28' with diesels with over 3,000 hours and almost got out of it what I paid for it).

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: i/o verses outboard verses inboard

Have tried them all and finally settled down on outboards. The newer ones are in the same economy class as I/O's and inboards and are certainly easier to get to. I don't ever want to be hanging down inside a hatch trying to fix something again. Switching them out is a big plus too since it's so much easier.