Last bit of advice needed!!

[starcrafter65]

I seem to be homing in on the new winter project - probably a Starcraft Holiday or SS - probably old - you know - $400-$800 bucks.

Here is my question - are old I/O's a bottomless money pit? I probably only use the boat for 25-30 hours a year so use is not an issue.

I am not scared of on OB - can get a decent 100 +/- for 1000-1500 bucks....but I have heard stories from friends about spending huge money on I-O's.

Thanks....I actually would like to get an I/O - more seating in those models

Clark

 

[Bondo]

Re: Last bit of advice needed!!

Ayuh,... Your question is Unanswerable, without stating Which I/O,+ What Vintage...

 

[redfury]

Re: Last bit of advice needed!!

I'd agree. And an outboard can be a money pit too, it just depends on the condition/age of the motor. Blow a cylinder on either, or damage the lower unit and you are looking at a nice repair bill either way. The real difference is that it's only a couple of bolts to get the engine out of an outboard boat, and you have to deal with a lot more with an I/O since you are mating the two components through the transom instead of hanging the whole thing off the back.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Last bit of advice needed!!

To help you answer Bondo's question......most of the older I/O SC's I've seen are 4 cylinder Mercruisers. Stay away from an OMC. Parts and service are tough to find.

To answer your question....both an old I/O or an outboard can be made to be reliable. My personal opinion though, is that if you have 2 $400 SC's sitting in a yard. One is and outboard and the other is an I/O....you have a much better chance of getting on the water with little to no $$ with the outboard. A neglected I/O just requires more catch-up maintenance than a negelcted outboard.

 

[notsunkyet]

Re: Last bit of advice needed!!

i agree,
But in my opinion.....

I/O's have more power and smoother accelation with and but I/O's either work or they don't and they more expensive to repair. With an i/o you have a seperate engine and a seperate out drive... if ya read on here you'll hear alot about mercruisers outdrive and no parts to be found... if its and older one and it breaks well, ya got a choice... hope someone on ebay is parting one out and you win the thing or hop on craigslist and find another one or find a donor boat with your year and make i/o on it.... then if you can't score either well, your stuck with a big planter box the wife will love ya for !.... with an outboard there are less moving parts (more or less if an older unit) and most are fairly easy to get parts for (with given exceptions of course). and if the thing is totally shot part it out make a few bucks buy another and slap it on and go.....instead of rebuilding a block or lower unit.
I have a buddy of mine who laughed at me for buying a force outboard.... He has a mercruser alpha one and his entire lower end of history... he got an estimate of 3400.00 to repair it....i walked over and tapped the key of mine just to be evil and smiled.... but for 3400 bucks you can buy an awesome good used outboard and toys to boot!

for me its all about accessability and purpose.......