Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

[oops!]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

btw....if you decide...i/o......run from any boat that has an omc sticking out of the transom.......

but what the guys have said about ob s....is totally correct.....allmost zero maintenance.....go like stink....mine were cheep on gas...older 50...85...100 hp mercs....(14 thru 16 footers)....good first setups.....

but now in my i/o phase.....i hate noise....the i/os are quiet.....but im still gonna do major sound proofing to mine

 

[45Auto]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

I doubt if you would be happy with 5-6 adult sized passengers in an 18' boat with 100 HP (100 rated, probably more like 80 at your altitude) at 6000'. My 18' OB had 125 HP and it was "acceptable" (still just capable of doing everything you wanted it to) with that load at sea level. As OOPS said, if I were you I would be looking in the minimum 150 HP range assuming you would end up with 110 - 120 HP at your altitude.

 

[QC]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

Well, hmmmmmmmm, I lust for an Outboard but . . .

if the women don't like it the can stay on the bank or ride the jet flea!

I lust for Bikinis more . . .

 

[45Auto]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

Got to admit I'm with QC on this one! - keep'em happy!

 

[ParallaxBill]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

IMHO maintenance including winterizing is a snap on my old L6 165 Mercruiser I/O. I just drain the water (3 places & the lower water pump hose) and store the outdrive down for the short mild winters here in NC.

The biggest plus that I see in an I/O is the quieter running motor either idling or at WOT. Mine is very familiar to me mechanically because I had basically the same engines in pick up trucks over the years and the Chevy/GM 250 inline 6 is one of the simplest engines to tune well or to work on especially in an earlier "open" boat like my Glassmaster. Most modern I/O's have everything covered over for aesthetics making for a better(?) sleeker hull but they loose valuable floor space for stuff like fishing and add clutter to interfere with easy maintenance.

Poor holeshots with I/O's without "tinkering"? Not in the case of my boat. It jumps up on plane with very little bow rise. Very smooth.

Now I have had OB's and my biggest complaint about them was noise at cruising or WOT. Mine was an old Merc 500 inline 4 and it was pretty darn loud at anything over idle. It was tremendously reliable but not cheap to get worked on.

That said, if I buy another boat, especially a new one I will probably go with an OB since the newer one's are pretty nice and some folks tell me quieter. My budget will probably have me maintaining (on my own) what I already have but I feel confident I can handle any problem my I/O gives me. Especially if I have the help of some of the fine folks right here.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

If the OB has to be a 4 stroke, then noise is not as big a problem. I have a 2006 Suzuki outboard, and you cannot even hear it at idle. You are not going to have a conversation on any boat at WOT. At most speeds the wind is louder than the motor!

 

[BoatinFool]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

I/O = Sunpad on the back .........................

 

[Bamboo]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

Yep, the new four-stroker OBs are pretty nice. I currently have a Yammi F150 and it is quieter over most of the rpm range than the 4.5L and 5.7L mercruisers I've had, and waaaay quieter than the 455 Olds Rocket. At WOT the Yammi might be a little louder than some I/Os, but not by a lot. The maintenance on the Yamaha is a lot easier to perform (oil changes, filter changes, fuel/water separator, spark plugs, impeller...all easily done by the owner and doesn't void warranty). Also, working "in the hole" on an I/O was always a PIA, and never much fun. Much nicer to stand up next to the motor.

At this point (and given where and how I now boat) I don't know that I would ever go back to I/Os after having the Yamaha. I can see where if the tubing/boarding thing is a high priority you might want a purpose built boat, but if you find a OB powered boat that you really like I wouldn't discount it just because of the power.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

Sorry, shouldn't be doing this at work
Lake Tahoe has banned *two-stroke* motors from the lake.. Not four stroke as I state in my previous post..

I figure one day all lake in CA will band old two-strokes. I believe the ETEC is allowed in Tahoe.

 

[njlarry]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

Anyone know how to enlarge avitars?

 

[Btwick]

Re: Outboard vs I/O - Advice needed!

For sure. With all the helpful information in this thread, the most compellling argument for I/O over OB is Boatinfool's avatar.

... not that the boat I buy is going to come with one of those as part of the purchase.