Outboard vs. stern drive

[rogerbum]

<stuff clipped> Think I asked some specific questions partly because I'm aware of the differences but also had the more general question of why so many small inland lake recreational boats are I/O? <more clipped>

I think it's because the dealers are also the repair shops and they all have kids to put through college. :lol:

 

[thataway]

The I/O are cheaper by about 10 to 20% (depends on many factors, such as type of drive, etc). Some of it may also be style--in that the wake boarders prefer an inboard (then an i/o), over an outboard.

 

[Kushtaka]

The I/O are cheaper by about 10 to 20% (depends on many factors, such as type of drive, etc). Some of it may also be style--in that the wake boarders prefer an inboard (then an i/o), over an outboard.

but compare the cost of a new lower unit to a new outdrive. To put a new DP outdrive on my 25' work boat I could buy two 90hp hondas.

 

[Captain Bella]

I had a mid-80's Four Winns with a GM-based 4-cylinder and an Alpha 1 drive. You could run that boat all day long for a few bucks in gas, and the weight of the motor helped the V hull slice through the chop. During that time the outboards were 2-stroke and thirsty. Those same outboards were not ideal for pulling toys with the mechanical timing advance. I think operating costs would have been a major reason to run an IO back then, and many of those (good) boats are still around.

I'm betting you guys aren't too keen on a pod drive either LOL

I love outboards, just haven't ever owned one, which is why I started this thread. Think I asked some specific questions partly because I'm aware of the differences but also had the more general question of why so many small inland lake recreational boats are I/O? I know many of the reasons. Just wondered if I was missing some major non-obvious disadvantage of an outboard. Evidently not.

Thanks for the insights.

 

[Jake]

The I/O are cheaper by about 10 to 20% (depends on many factors, such as type of drive, etc). Some of it may also be style--in that the wake boarders prefer an inboard (then an i/o), over an outboard.

Yes, price and style (full swim step and sun pad) are the main ones. And now Volvo-Penta has the forward facing I/O so it even works for wake surfing. Not that any of that applies to me, just mentioning.

Glad to see the modern outboard expanding its use on all types of boats including some primarily I/O and inboard boats.

 

[Robert H. Wilkinson]

Glad to see the modern outboard expanding its use on all types of boats including some primarily I/O and inboard boats.

Some boats Stingray(which I own) for example switched to outboards in most of their smaller boats a few years ago to maintain their price point. After being stern drive boats for years - with the advent of laws regarding the use of catalytic convertors on inboards they became more expensive than an outboard.

Personally I love my Volvo I/O.

Regards, Rob

 

[Jake]

Glad to see the modern outboard expanding its use on all types of boats including some primarily I/O and inboard boats.

Some boats Stingray(which I own) for example switched to outboards in most of their smaller boats a few years ago to maintain their price point. After being stern drive boats for years - with the advent of laws regarding the use of catalytic convertors on inboards they became more expensive than an outboard.

Personally I love my Volvo I/O.

Regards, Rob

And with the possibility of GM eliminating the availability of the 4 and 6 cylinder engines used in smaller boat I/O applications. Which is why Mercruiser developed their own 6 cylinder to essentially replace both the 4.3 V6 and 5.0 V8 down the road.

 

[BTDT]

We like to boat into the late fall in the mid-west and not having to winterize the outboards is another plus for outboards

 

[hardee]

The only minus for outboards that I can think of is that you cannot get cabin heat out of the engines. Of course if you are usually running an AC unit than ZI guess that is not a problem.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon