Moving from IO to OB experiences?

[hostage]

I am looking at a new boat and Four Winns has the same boat with IO and OB. TBH, I have never really liked the look of an OB on a bow rider or deckboat. Though what shocked me is when I saw the payload/weight numbers and cockpit layout. The OB had 800lbs or 50% more payload than the stern drive and extended the cockpit to make it more roomy, at the expense of a sunpad, which I view as wasted space as I only have one wife, not 4. Then there is the less costly maintenance benefits of no bellows, less winterizing maintenance, no worries about anodes as you can tilt it out of the water. Lastly it costs less, but I am guessing power to weight ratio will be similar.

It looks like OB make a lot of sense from a pure functional stand point and I guess that is why I am seeing it as more of an option on newer boats. I am wondering if I will mind having this huge drive next to me as I sit on the swim platform and watch the kids play in the water. Also I kind of wanted the optional extended swim platform. Though the less maintenance and ability to sit more people comfortably has me interested.

I am curious about people's experiences who went from an IO to OB for an Open Bow/Deckboat? I have read the comparisons, though was curious about users who have been through this. We use our boat for chilling and water sports.

 

[Lou C]

With the added complexity forced on I/Os of cat converter exhaust and expense of repair and replacement combined with the typically horrible engine access of modern boat designs (yes open that little hatch and imagine just how you’d replace a starter or steering actuator without pulling the engine) even just winterizing is and had always been a nuisance, there’s no way I’d buy another for myself. The bigger boats may not be quite as bad but in general the smaller 18-22 foot boats have horrible access.
OB advantages:
Safer by far, no concern with fuel vapors in the bilge or a bellows failing and letting in water or a cooling hose failing and flooding the bilge with water
Much less maintenance, no gimble bearing/ujoints that can be ruined by a failed bellows
Easy winterizing
No crawling around in the bilge to drain just put the engine down just think of the thousands of engines ruined across the south during the great Texas freeze this year, doesn’t happen with OBs
Better power to weight ratio, and better performance for the same HP due to approx 400 lbs less weight
I/Os used to be simpler and cheaper to repair but that’s no longer true; just look up the price of Merc & Volvo parts.

 

[Texasmark]

You'll get used to it. The rest of the OB experience will be very convincing!

 

[444]

Don't worry, you'll get used to it very quickly. The OB doesn't really get in the way except for that an I/O might have a nice swim platform at the back which you usually don't get with an OB. But for that concession you get a lighter boat, cheaper and easier maintenance, bilge that stays bone dry, etc. I like the slicker look of the I/O however I only buy OB.

 

[Lou C]

As my old mechanic used to say we love our Chevy small block but better in a muscle car than a boat.

 

[hostage]

With the added complexity forced on I/Os of cat converter exhaust and expense of repair and replacement combined with the typically horrible engine access of modern boat designs (yes open that little hatch and imagine just how you’d replace a starter or steering actuator without pulling the engine) even just winterizing is and had always been a nuisance, there’s no way I’d buy another for myself. The bigger boats may not be quite as bad but in general the smaller 18-22 foot boats have horrible access.
OB advantages:
Safer by far, no concern with fuel vapors in the bilge or a bellows failing and letting in water or a cooling hose failing and flooding the bilge with water
Much less maintenance, no gimble bearing/ujoints that can be ruined by a failed bellows
Easy winterizing
No crawling around in the bilge to drain just put the engine down just think of the thousands of engines ruined across the south during the great Texas freeze this year, doesn’t happen with OBs
Better power to weight ratio, and better performance for the same HP due to approx 400 lbs less weight
I/Os used to be simpler and cheaper to repair but that’s no longer true; just look up the price of Merc & Volvo parts.

Do a lot of people not winterize their boats down there? I live in the snow belt and I pull the plugs then fill with antifreeze every winter.

 

[JimS123]

In my youth we had OBs because that's what we could afford. Finally, with a family and a good job we upgraded to an I/O for our family boat. Had I/Os for 35 years.

When I upgraded my fishing boat I went to a 4-stroke OB. Loved that rig. Two years later we upgraded out family boat as well.

The storage space and room is awesome. My winterizing is now minutes instead of hours. Maintenance is in the garage standing up instead of on my knees with my head under the doghouse.

But that's not all......LOL. She is quiet with zero vibration, uses less gas and goes faster. Wherever we dock or anchor people come over and ask about it. Of course, appearance is a personal thing, but I think that big ole' Merc hanging out the back is the coolest thing.

 

[KJM]

I switched over from I/O on mine to a 4 stroke OB and haven't got one regret. The motor is way better on gas, quieter, no bellows or other places to leak and flood boat and the winterization is a breeze. I also think the OB on the back looks pretty cool!

 

[Lou C]

When my brother bought a new boat this summer I REALLY tried to convince him to get the outboard instead of the Merc 4.5 200 hp V6. Yep it runs great a lot smoother than the old 4.3s but I look at it from a backyard mechanic view point. Changing a starter would likely be a four letter word job!

 

[poconojoe]

I've had an I/O for 8 years now. The next one will be an OB, no contest.

I have the "sport" seating (rear bench seat), huge sun pad over the engine compartment and integrated swim platform. It's nice and clean looking with no big motor hanging out back, but I'd give that up in a heartbeat.

Don't get me wrong, as long as you keep up the maintenance, the I/O functions well. But with an OB, there's very little maintenance and they don't weigh as much. My 185 bow rider is definitely stern heavy due to the 4.3L I/O.

 

[Lou C]

Taking the rear seats out just to do an oil change and winterize just gets old!
If you have closed cooling and a remote oil filter mount it makes this less of a nuisance.

 

[Lou C]

Do a lot of people not winterize their boats down there? I live in the snow belt and I pull the plugs then fill with antifreeze every winter.

Yes lot of people in that part of the country never winterize. There were so many frozen engines it’s hard now to get a new long block if you wanted one.