Diesel inboard vs 4 strokes

[critt77matt]

How does a Straight inboard 240 Yanmar compare to a 4stoke Suzuki 250 bracketed or twin 150s on a bracket. All three available for the same coin. Hull 23 seacraft. Which would you choose. Have a diesel truck, bronco, tractors, heavy equipment so diesels are familiar to me plus certified diesel mechanic across the street, acess to qualify off-road fuel on the way to launch. However I have no experience with inboards or their cooling systems and Rotella oil ain’t cheap. That being said other than changing impellers, lower oil and cleaning carbs outboards go to a local shop.

[bmajvi]

I'm sure others with a ton of specific first hand experience will chime in shortly, but thought I'd throw out a few of the commonly discussed general points. 1. The diesel is mounted low in the center of the boat, the best place for all that weight from a handling and motion perspective. 2. Straight inboards, especially diesels, just sound cool! (to me anyway). 3. If you already understand diesel care and feeding, they are pretty easy to keep happy for a long time. 4. As a rule, inboards are significantly slower than big outboards. 5. Beaching and ultra skinny water ops with an inboard is a no-no, while outboards can be tilted up out of the way. 6. Inboards have fixed directional thrust, while outboard lower units swivel, dramatically improving low speed maneuverability. With twin outboards you can usually "spin on a dime" with one engine in forward and one in reverse. 7. Single inboards usually prop walk one way or the other at low speed, making docking and backing in lotsa wind and current a little trickier. Once you get the hang of it it's not the end of the world, but going from an outboard to an inboard can be a little nerve wracking at first. 8. A 23' SeaCraft inboard with Yanmar diesel is sort of considered the "Holy Grail" among many SeaCraft enthusiasts, and if you go that way you'll have to budget some extra time to talk to strangers about the boat!

[cdavisdb]

Not having a diesal, I'm talking out of school, but if the coin is the same and you don't need the shallow water ability, the Yanmar is a no brainer. The ride will be substantially better and most of the time offshore you can't use the extra speed of the outboards. For example, my 25 is several knots slower at cruise than my old boat (which was considered a good rough water boat). I nearly always get to my destination quicker and better rested in the 25 because the ride is so much better. You should have a lot more range with the diesal. That can be amazingly useful at times. Finally, knowing diesals, if you carry the spare parts, you can usually fix problems yourself, while offshore. That ability has saved my cookies more than once.

[erebus]

Unless your currently looking to buy a 23' straight inboard or a 23' outboard specifically, you can't really just get any 23' hull and then choose between going straight inboard or outboard.

The straight inboard hull was designed specifically for a straight inboard.
It has a pocket for the shaft/propeller and rudder. There would have to be A LOT of modifications to convert a previous outboard or IO 23 hull to a straight inboard.

Conversely, I suppose you could get your hands on a straight inboard hull and throw a bracket and outboards on it, but why would you want to?

[critt77matt]

For fishing how does the Cuddy cabin vs the center console. I always had a center console but have young children now.

Found both boats already rigged and ready. Inboard Yanmar does have a tunnel.

[cc]

I addition to a seacraft and a searay, we have a trueworld marine 288 with a 315 hp yanmar jackshafted under the floorboards to a merc bravo 3 diesel x drive. Love it! At about 28 mph cruise, we get better than 3 mpg. Runs like a sewing machine, entire engine freshwater cooled, and quiet. Very safe boat, reduced fire hazard.

[dginge]

I have a Yanmar 6LP on my sceptre with a bravo 3 drive. I love the ride. I also agree on the sound. It starts immediately and purrs like a kitten. I grew up on a twin sceptre and they ride totally different. The IO with the enclosed transom rides deeper and the weight of the twin OB always seemed heavy in the rear (bc it is). If you put twins on one they better be on a floating bracket. I wouldn’t give my boat up for another boat and it’s a nick nackers dream. Always something to tinker with. I could literally tinker for days. 8-5pm!! Ha. Check a zinc here, tighten a belt here. spray it down with corossionx and stay on the maintenance. Paint on a Yanmar sucks real bad and they like to corrode. Keep ospho around and a primer and paint and it will last a long time. Mine has 388 hours on it, cruises 32 mph at 3150 rpms with a max rpm at 3800. It will touch 43 mph trimmed out nicely. I get 3.8 mpg at cruise. Very efficient and not noisy. Buy the onboard!!!!

[bgreene]

Maybe the type of use is also a factor......
Example.......if you fish and make a lot of repeated drifts, seems the " on /off" of the outboard better suited ? I'm not expert on diesels, but mostly they're started and only shut at end of day. Long runs.....the diesel.

Odor and fumes would likely be a bit more noticeable with the diesel.
Those 4 stroke 250 Yami's are so quiet, on friends boat we sometimes forget they're on.

As the guys who know these boats also report - ride with the diesel, inboard gasers, and then I/0's probably the best.