Re: Which gets better mileage?
See that was my feeling too about an I/O blowing away the GPH over a Verado 200 hp. Since the motor is father forward. Not a great comparison against the Opti 150 it's just that's what the model I'm interested in comes stock with about 90% of the time. But then again, if the hull designs are different maybe one just edges out the other.
I just figured if I could get 3 x's the GPH I might justify living with the I/O for a season.
But I've ruled it out now because selling a boat in this economy is tough once you get by the peak season. I really don't want to sell the Lund, so I'd have to keep 25k on hand to drop quickly on the used model I want and then have to worry about selling the I/O. I'd rather be fishing than hanging around to meet people (that never show up) to see the boat for sale!
I'd rather live with the Opti 150 for a time. This way I'd only have to swap the O/B for the Verado 200 and the boat model stays the same!
And it's not about the gas for me as Slivertip alluded too. I need a new tow vehicle too. I figure I'll have about 72k wrapped up in boats, motors and another tow vehicle. It's more a conservation issue with me. I can't see wasting gas, if I can afford a more fuel efficient outboard now.
When gas cruises back up to $5 a gal at some point, I'll still be cruising by the marinas and looking at all the boats in their slips on a beautiful boating day (this is what I saw when gas was $5 at the marinas last year). Many people who own some of those gas guzzlers were sitting in port, now having to drink Keystone beer and saying "wouldn't it be nice out there on the water today"
Last year I was behind this boat filling up on Lake Champlain after we had just run up to the Canadian border and then cruised around for 4 hours. It took $18 to top off my tank again. His boat took over $700 to fill and it was only about a 25 footer.
To me, it's "just being on the water" that floats my boat
