why the sudden increase in outboard-powered boats?

[Maxum21]

i/o's and o/b's both have their pro's & cons..but with a shift towards higher o/b demand & sales, i wonder how it might affect resale of i/o's... interesting links btw

 

[fhhuber]

You never notice the number of a certain brand/model car on the road until you buy the same kind of car... then you see them everywhere.

Probably a little bit of that going on here.

 

[JoshOnt]

i/o's and o/b's both have their pro's & cons..but with a shift towards higher o/b demand & sales, i wonder how it might affect resale of i/o's... interesting links btw

About 3 years ago I noticed that I/O's were not rising in price as quick and outboards were steady. So I think in some areas it has had an effect. I know my current boat 2 years ago would have gone for about 4.5k now days it would go for a bit over 6k in the spring yet a bowrider of a big bigger size goes for about 6.5k so not a huge difference

 

[64osby]

I love the Etecs and haven't been a fan of the 4 strokes until Mercury came out with the Command Thrust 115 last year - that is nice!

Pretty sure the Command Thrust is a the Big Foot lower, it has just been rebranded. It is the lower off the bigger outboards installed on the mid sized outboards.

 

[SkiDad]

i think the main thing about the new 115 is the 2.1L displacement - my engine is 1.6 and the 115 we had when I was a kid was also 1.6L - these new engines are 2.1L. I think the older 4 stroke mercs were 1.7L

the other thing that appeals to me is the the gear ratio as we are into skiing and hole shot is king

check out this cool video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gej5dBiVEVo

 

[SkiDad]

just when I think i have it down, i see this article - a 2.1L Merc 2-Stroke - now I'm torn b/c I just love the technology in 2 stokes !!

http://boatingindustry.com/top-stori...s-accessories/

 

[roffey]

Na, inboards are better just because... can you do this with your OB

 

[Illinoid]

If you want to stretch your season I think the OB is the only way to go. I have spent a career worrying about irrigation systems and plants freezing spring and fall and don't need the aggravation with my boat.

 

[thumpar]

The resale will depend on the area. Around here everyone wants an i/o or true inboard unless it is a bass boat or pontoon.

 

[Blind Date]

Emissions has caused the cost of I/O's to rise dramatically. That's why your seeing a resurgence of OB's in entry level family runabouts. The market is really changing on top of that. A few years ago the #1 selling fiberglass boat in the land of 10,000 lakes(MN) was Malibu! Think about that for a second. Volvo doesn't even offer the 3.0 4 banger anymore. I'll also say where I live changes in the market has kept the resale value of used sterndrive boats stronger than ever.

Personally I'll buy a boat with sails before I ever own another OB or get out of boating altogether. Prefer the looks, sound and feel of a sterndrive over an OB. "Give me sterndrive or give me death!"

 

[WIMUSKY]

I believe since the introduction of 4 strokes and Etecs, O/Bs have become increasingly more popular. A lot easier to maintain for the average Joe. Tuck the motor in, let 'er drain and it's winterized if that's as far as a guy wants to go. I've owned both and prefer O/Bs. Personal preference......

 

[Maclin]

The 4 stroke O/B's are a lot quieter along with more power every year, probably part of the upswing in popularity.

 

[JoshOnt]

I think it helps that more boats are being sold with O/B's because of the quieter, more power, more space ect of them.

 

[thumpar]

Some of the boat builders are now offering O/B boats. Crownline just started selling and advertising O/B models.

 

[Slip Away]

"Crownline just started selling and advertising O/B models"

It's been 3 years since Crownline introduced the 19XS outboard powered runabout.

 

[thumpar]

"Crownline just started selling and advertising O/B models"

It's been 3 years since Crownline introduced the 19XS outboard powered runabout.

I know. But for me that is just compared to their history of no outboard boats.

 

[Slip Away]

"I know. But for me that is just compared to their history of no outboard boats. "

Crownline made many O/B boats from 1957 thru 1965.

http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/Crownline

 

[thumpar]

"I know. But for me that is just compared to their history of no outboard boats. "

Crownline made many O/B boats from 1957 thru 1965.

http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/Crownline

Different company.

 

[Slip Away]

Yeah, Crownline is a different company(owner wise) about every 5-7 years it seems.

 

[thumpar]

Yeah, Crownline is a different company(owner wise) about every 5-7 years it seems.

But the Crownline from the 50's is completely different. The current one has only been around for 25 years.