what to buy?

[Bill21]

I am thinking of buying another boat. I would like a 20 to 22 foot with a small cabin and possibly a portapottie. I have small children and would like to have someplace for them to go when they get tired of fishing with daddy but i am not ready to come in from the water. The problem i am having is that a boat with this setup in the lower price range all seem to have I/O engines and i have read alot of bad things about them such as they blow up and the boat sinks. Also that they have a lot of problems and are expensive to work on. Should i look for an outboard engine or can these I/O be safe reliable choices. I am not so concerned about speed as i am safety. Also I would like to put TV or DvD in the boat and it seems to me that you could have a better elecrical set up with an I/O. Any input would be apreciated as i don't have alot of experience in boating.

 

[Thecol]

Re: what to buy?

well they are all b.o.a.t.s break. out .another .thousand i/os re good but they can be apian.yuo are right more chances of fire things of that nature.and you have an out drive they are exspensive but that all has to do with whatkind of shape everythings in.if its been taken care of its probably ok . and probably what you want for dvds t.vs.my personal opinion diesel is the way to go.the best on fuel not as flameable it wiil burn but willnot explode like gas.far more economical.i hopeyou go diesel with these gas prices. my gas motors killing me.take it easy dont rush.there are penty of boats.check marias near you

 

[Bill21]

Re: what to buy?

thank you for your response. also what kind of things should i check for when looking at an I/O?

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: what to buy?

Why I like my I/O: quiet, smooth ride, solid and safe in the wakes, pulls anything, hauls lots of people safely.<br /><br />Why I like my outboard fishing boat: economical to run, easy to move around, gets into tight spots and shallows.<br /><br />Hard to get both---look at the Fish and Ski rigs if you like to fish. Open bow is the way to go. Button the cover up if the kids want to sleep. Only reason for a cuddy-cabin in my book is for overnight trips on the river, or if you boat where it gets real cold real fast.<br /><br />Get all the repair records and receipts. Drive before you buy. Look on any one of 5 sites for comparable prices and check the Kelly Marine Blue book or NADA. You can also hire a marine mechanic if you aren't sure.<br /><br />Take your time, do your homework. Have fun!

 

[MooseHootie]

Re: what to buy?

I have a 22 foot cuddy cabin with fridge and porta-poti for the kids. It is a 4.3 mercruiser. It gets good gas mileage, runs mid 30's and has plenty of room. Sleeps four.

 

[BRG25]

Re: what to buy?

Originally posted by Bill21:<br /> The problem i am having is that a boat with this setup in the lower price range all seem to have I/O engines and i have read alot of bad things about them such as they blow up and the boat sinks.

Give me a break...

 

[Bill21]

Re: what to buy?

I will be in saltwater on the eastcoast and will trailor the boat when not using it. <br />Does this make a difference? And thankyou everyone for your input.

 

[boatguy19]

Re: what to buy?

i personally have never seen a boat blow up, if you dont have any commom sense then you should not own a boat. i personally dont see a problem with a i/o, if you take care of your boat your boat will take care of you.

 

[Bill21]

Re: what to buy?

i thought the same thing. if you take care of the boat then you will be okay. i just don't know why alot of people talk bad about them. I take care of my car engines and they don't blow up. Thanks for all the input. Can anyone tell me what to look for when checking out an I/O? I know about the engines but not about the outdrives.

 

[Thecol]

Re: what to buy?

MAKE SURE PROPS NOT TORE UP.THATS A GOOD INDICATION WHETHER THEYVE HIT SOMETHING HARD.ALSO CHECK LOWER UNIT FOR WATER IN THE OIL IF SO IT WILL LOOK LIKE CHOCOLATE MILK.THE PLUGS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LOWER UNIT.THAT OF COURSE IS BAD.CHECK POWER TRIM TO SEE IF WORKS PROPRLY.ALSO BE SURE IT SHIFTS IN AND OUT OF GEAR.LISTEN TO IT RUN. COMPRESSION CHECK IS ALWAYS GOOD.BASICLY MAKE SURE ALL CYLINDERSARE CCLOSE IN COMPRESSION IF NOT PROBABLY WORE OUT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE WHETHER IT WAS TAKEN CAREOF OR NOT.CLEAN IS AGOOD SIGN.GOODLUCK

 

[DJ]

Re: what to buy?

Bill21,<br /><br />Hire a QUALIFIED marine surveyor. It will be the best money you spend.<br /><br />I/O's DO NOT have a tendency to blow up. I have seen one blow up and burn yet it had been modified with car parts (not marine certified).

 

[Bill21]

Re: what to buy?

Thanks for the info. Now i just have to wait till i find the right boat.

 

[pine island fred]

Re: what to buy?

never had an i/o but know some people that do or did. everyone that bought one used are sorry they did and switched back to outboard when they got the oppertunity. the ones that are new seem to be trouble free so far. am currenty trying to help a friend with one, and am glad it is not mine. however if you need some high h.p. there are not two many options short of duel outboards. good luck fred

 

[BinLurkin]

Re: what to buy?

If your gonna' buy a stern drive, only pay $3000.oo less than they are asking because you will put that much into it, at least, after you get your hands on it. They are never what they are represented to be. My Dad was in Okinawa in the last war & he told me that they used to cool off their beer by sinking it in gasoline. Ever notice how cold gas is? Anyway, some wag would come by soon enough & toss in his cigarrette butt. Pappy said it sure scared the bee jeebers out of a lot of personel, including him, but the gas always put the butt out before it flared up. So, while it is a major concern, it ain't as bad as you think it might be. Just use the bilge blower like you supposed to & you shouldn't have to worry about blowing up. I'm on my third sterndrive & ain't blown nothing up yet. No worries.

 

[Bill21]

Re: what to buy?

This may make me sound stupid but is a stern drive the same as an I/O? What would you have to do for 3000 dollars. Are parts that expensive?

 

[rml]

Re: what to buy?

Here's my .02:<br /><br />1. Don't get spooked by FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt). Outboards, I/O's, Inboards - they all have their strong points...they all have their weak points. I would consider the source of the information that led you to believe that I/O's tend to blow up and sink. Perhaps statistically more I/O's meet their demise in this fashion but that is likely because there are more I/O's being run. For what it is worth, the only fire that I have experienced on a boat was on an outboard. Be sensible and follow the rules: run the bilge blower before starting the boat and when running below cruising speed, use only marine rated engine components, replace worn or defective components, have all required PFD's and safety equipment, etc. etc. etc. - get a book on safety and read it.<br /><br />2. Take your time before laying down your cash - it's one way to ensure that you get what you want and want what you get.<br /><br />3. Take the boat for a sea trial. Pay the seller to haul the boat if you must but I would say that if you're looking for a decently outfitted 20-22 footer, your looking to spend a few thousand dollars and you gain a lot of piece of mind when you "road test" a boat Always nice to see them actually float too!<br /><br />4. I second DJ's suggestion: hire a good marine surveyor. It might cost a few hundred $ but could save you thousands and with safety being a main concern...worst case: they discover the boat to be worthless and your out the surveying fees. Best case: he/she finds minor/fixable problems and you have REAL negotiating power with the seller.<br /><br />5. And lastly, a $3000 "repair" would likely replace an entire outdrive or an entire engine or an entire hull or all the other stuff on a boat. Parts do tend to be costly as they are produced in smaller quantities than say automotive parts and need to be manufactured to different standards, i.e. use of stainless steel vs. aluminum. Forged engine parts vs. cast. The list goes on. When you need a part, shop around and you will usually find a decent deal but don't completely ignore your local marine suppliers to save a buck or two.<br /><br />Whatever you decide, these forums provide a wealth of information. Read it, understand it, ask questions and have fun.<br /><br />Best Regards,<br /><br /> --rml

 

[Bill21]

Re: what to buy?

Thank you everyone for your input. I have been reading alot of the post on this website and am learning alot about boats. This website and all the people that post on here are great.