[JohnB]

Scott,
This is my opinion, and for my application.
I typically run offshore 25-35 miles to fish, and usually run at speeds between 32-40 mph.
With an I/O your have a large hole in the transom, that has a seal that keeps water from coming in. If something catastrophic happens to that seal, there is no pump that will keep up with the water coming in. With an outboard, you don't have "the big hole". Now if you maintain a boat correctly, replace the seal at regular service intervals, it probably/statisically not going to be a problem. Theoretically, I could have a plumbing failure with one of my thru-hull pickups, but at least there, I could use a sea-cock to stop the water from coming in.
With the big hole, until you pull the boat out of the water, or it sinks, water is going to come in. Back to my application, I probably cant get the speed out of an I/O that I get out of my outboard. I give up noise and fuel economy, but that's the tradeoff I'm willing to make. If you are running at 30 mph (which is hauling for an i/o), and hit something, there is the potential for the seal to partially or completly fail. I hit something with my outboard 6 months ago 22 miles out that completly destroyed the lower unit case, but at least I didn't have to worry about "the seal". We have alot of junk out in the gulf stream where I fish that comes floating by (pallets, containers from ships, trees, railroad ties, you name it).
That is pretty much my take on i/o vs outboard. I'm not trying to scare anyone away from an i/o, but for my application, the outboard fits me better.

[ July 25, 2003, 09:26 AM: Message edited by: JohnB ]