I/O vs. OB

[BigLew]

While the towboatus guy is dragging you back to the ramp you can have the OB unbolted(no cherry picker required) and making a nice little artificial reef that you can go back and fish later. With an I/O it is pretty easy to blow you and your boat into a million pieces if you were to forget to turn on the blower.

????- What's that about, or am I missing something?

[adamcannon]

I was just saying if you had to replace an engine an outboard is easy to remove and replace. I was just joking about dropping the outboard overboard although I do know someone that got so fed up with an outboard that kept leaving him stranded that he did unbolt it and drop it overboard. Gas inboards have always scared me a little because there have been two or three that have exploded when the people went to start them around here where I live. Those gas fumes can be pretty dangerous when they are bottled up in an engine box.

[workinpr0gress]

Most seem to feel an i/o or inboard rides better in rougher water. I've never seen this occur with 20', 23' boats. In my expierence that applys only with slightly rough water and/or at a crawl. Also any advantage the i/o may have the outboard could compete with with proper trimability at speed. When you get above a certain point in wave/chop height or speed of the boat you want the bow to have the tendency to stay in the air. Again I am speaking of the smaller boats like here, once you get a little more length on the hull then it seems to be more of a tossup. I have rarely been on a quality smaller boat that runs better with an i/o or inboard in comparison to an outboard at what most would consider a practical speed. Now if we are talking about drifting or feeling like a heavier boat then I could never argue about an i/o. Most of the guys I know prefer outboards on smaller boats even taking into account some people love closed transoms and some hate brackets. Then again I may be nuts which has happened before.

I will say the nicest running small inboard boat I have been on is a 25 Rampone with a single cummins, amazing but makes a seacraft seem drier than Arizona. It would cut the tops right off of solid close 4's on the nose and put it all over cockpit at 20knts.

Just my .02.

[Tiny]

had a 74 scepter 20 with a 130 yamaha (91) outboard and now have a 71 i/o with a 4 cyl merc (circa 89).

The I/O rides better, gets better economy, cruises a little slower and tops out a couple miles per hour less... any day my family and I would rather have the IO. We actually like the IO box, it's great for sitting on while drift fishing, and the closed transom is nice...especially with a 1 and 3 year old. It's the best, most capable all around boat for us I feel like we could find anywhere.

[pelican]

outboards-only power designed strictly for marine use,anything else,is an after thought-hence,the term,"marinization"
stern drives,nothing wrong with a stern drive-my rig's stern drive powered-merc 5.7 magnum mpi with the horizon package and a bravo I drive-230 trouble free hours in 2 seasons-fantastic on fuel ! there's a little more upkeep on a stern drive boat-risers and manifolds every 4-5 seasons,pull the drive every winterization,30hr oil changes...but,it's got it's benifits,quieter,much quieter...engine box ?? not in the way at all,it's a center console,you fight a fish from the bow...

ride is better on a stern drive,but,the inboard has the best ride-low center of gravity...outboards on a bracket are the worst ride-leverage.the engine's sitting way behind the boat,acts as a lever,the boat has a tendency to porpoise,and ride "bow high",need alot of "down tab" to counter act...

[76Red18]

Properly set up, I would think there wouldn't be much difference. HP is HP. The lightest power source will be the fastest. What are the weights of a modern 250 hp outboard vs. a 250 i/o? Straight inboard is a different story because of inefficient drive angle. Not the fastest but probably the best ride.

[Islandtrader]

The lightest power source will be the fastest. What are the weights of a modern 250 hp outboard vs. a 250 i/o?

A 300 HP Mercruiser with Bravo Drv.900 #

A 300 Yamaha 4/s 800#.

So hundred pounds lighter, I bet the speed would be insignificant.

Remember I asked which would be faster, not which would be better

It is interesting getting everyone's opinion.

Ford or Chevy...Black or White!

[77SceptreOB]

A 300 HP Mercruiser with Bravo Drv.900 #

I had a 300hp Mercruiser (7.4L) which is a 454 ci Chevy block and a bravo 1 drive, It was way heavier than 900 #, all together it was close to 1300#.

[Blue_Heron]

I had a 300hp Mercruiser (7.4L) which is a 454 ci Chevy block and a bravo 1 drive, It was way heavier than 900 #, all together it was close to 1300#.

I don't know the weight, but the current 300HP Mercruiser is a multi-port fuel injected 5.7 liter,(350ci) small block.
Dave

[Fr. Frank]

I don't know the weight, but the current 300HP Mercruiser is a multi-port fuel injected 5.7 liter,(350ci) small block.
Dave

One site lists the complete package for a Mercruiser Magnum 5.7L 300 hp motor, transom mount and Bravo 2 drive at 1083 lbs.