first post, questions about I/O and outboards

[woppini]

So, been thinking about getting a boat for the family, 19 to 20ft. Been lurking on here for a few weeks. For all the experieced boaters out there that do thier own wrenching, my question is about engine drives and maintenance. Ive been reading unfortuneate stories about folks that have I/O bellows that leak, blown gimble bearings, transem seals/or hull rot that leak water into the bilge, outdrives that fail to raies or lower, etc. With all that, Im looking at 4 stroke ouboards (two stroke in CA lakes is getting rare). But for my size boat in mind, I mostly see the I/0 configuration. Iam in the automotive repair industry for 25 years, so spinning wrenches isnt a problem, but Id rather be out on the water than messing with some of these drive issues. So my focus is outboards which I havent had much luck, unless its a 14ft aluminum. Am i blowing it out of proportion?
I did a search and didnt find much to my questions.. sorry if this is repost, and hopfully Iam in the right section
Thanks
Stephen

 

[QC]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

Welcome aboard woppini!!

Do a little more searching as this topic has been well discussed. With that said, OBs are not as popular with families due to the nice large sun lounges and swim platforms that I/Os allow. Maintenance is the issue. I/Os definitely require more maintenance, but maintained properly they are very easy to live with.

I'll see if I can find you some links to the other threads . . .

 

[QC]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=510369

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=491358

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=469424

 

[ezmobee]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

For a family boat in that size range you're definitely going to be seeing vast majority I/O's. If you're looking at newer boats, I wouldn't be too concerned about I/O vs. outboard. If you're looking at older boats that may need some work, well then I/O's can cost a fair bit of coin to get caught up on necessary maintenance.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

Just my opinion but in this case I see it as an even trade-off, 6 of one half-a-dozen of the other. I/O repair costs and maintainace used to be more than with a 2 stroke outboard. New 4 strokes I can't judge as I have no experience there. Boats of that size generally obtain better fuel economy with 4 stroke I/Os.

Could always look for a 20' pontoon if you really need the deck space! Heck they even make those with I/Os these days.

 

[haley]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

I am a happy O/B owner, but in your case I'd consider I/O. I'd think you'd get a warm and fuzzy feeling when you open the engine compartments and see something that you are really familiar with. You'd probably get up to speed on the lower unit rather quickly too.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

Its all opinions.........

But if you know how to wrench cars, you can wrench I/O's. Outboards are very compact, and requires special tools to do almost the simplest repairs. They do requires LESS maint, but still need to be kept up.

For I/O's its typically just like a truck, except drive problems.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

Depends on what you are used to working on. I personally prefer an I/O from a main perspective since its basically a car motor and just as easy to work on. On the other hand the 50HP outboard on my dad pontoon is a horrible pain to deal with - need to disassemble the whole thing just to take a look at a piston. Also much cheaper to replace an I/O engine than an outboard if you have a complete failure.

As for the drive section, yes, an IO has more parts but if you take care of it you shouldn't have to mess with it.

 

[seaboo]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

Bellows, bearings ect. are all maintenance items (just like a 4 wheel drive has "different" maintenance items than a fwd Toyota...I/O's and outboards have "different" maintenance too. Keep up on the maintenance and an I/O will be just fine.

 

[blifsey]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

If you and the family are going to enjoy water sports (wakeboard, sking, tubing, etc.) then an I/O withn a swim platform is the only way to go.

Excellent point. I think key question is how do you want to use a boat? When our kids where young and boating was more about water sports the I/O we had was great. For 10 seasons I never had any serious maintenance issues. Kids are older and less into water sports so we moved to an OB based fishing boat that can do some water sports. Only had it since end of last summer so no idea how it will be with maintenance and costs.

 

[QC]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

Its all opinions.........

Maybe, but I would say there are some subjective factors too. The swim platform, weight and maintenance issues are all real. It really depends on what you want to do with the boat.

And I haven't said it lately, so I will add the line I always use for these threads: Chicks don't dig OBs . . .

 

[ezmobee]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

And I haven't said it lately, so I will add the line I always use for these threads: Chicks don't dig OBs . . .

I'd rather you didn't.

 

[woppini]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

Thanks everyone for the helpful replies. I checked out those links too. Had a few boats in mind, but your feed back help me discard a few, and look at some other choices. I guess the last comment about chicks dont dig out boards can be said about a Prius. :OP

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

I look at it this way. if its a boat, its still a hole in the water to pour money into. once you can live with that, enjoy boating. I have owned both I/O's and OB's. both need maintenance, both break, both are perfectly acceptable choices. however today, most family boats are I/O's, most fishing and center councils are outboards.

 

[zagger]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

I have owned both and frankly I don't see any maintenance cost difference. The OB's cost less to do pm's but you have to do them more frequently than on a good I/O. Over lets say four years of ownership I think it would be a wash, excluding any failures which can be expensive on both. The practicality of one over the other would really be determined by how you intend to use the boat. For fishing the OB will usually give you more room inside but if you include water sports the I/O wins hands down. And QC is correct, nothing looks better than a chick on a sun pad

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: first post, questions about I/O and outboards

And QC is correct, nothing looks better than a chick on a sun pad

unless you have a front sun deck as well as a back sun deck and a whole boat load of ladies