Sonic/ in/out board or outboard motors?

[bert4332]

Hi I am a total newbie to both this forum and boating in general. I've always wanted to get into it and I'm finally taking the jump. This forum is awesome for information. I've narrowed my boat choice to a Sonic. There only a few available in my size and price range, I will be boating mainly in Lake Lewisville, and Texoma in Texas. The two boats, one a 32 ft with outboards and the other a 28 with in/out boards.

My question is of maintenance, considering I'll be on a lake, does it really make difference which motors I run? I'm pretty decent on car engines and feel a little more comfortable on the in/out, since I know absolutely nothing of the workings of outboards. Or overtime I could do the some of the general maint. on the outboards.

Any advice is highly appreciated.

thanx

[GO4BROKE]

I prefer IO's. But both types of motors work well. You will have to deal with 2 cycle oil with the outboards, and you won't get that nice v8 roar. I'm thinking of buying a small boat with an outboard because the winterization is easier and I could do more late season boating, we had boats on the bay New Years Day this year.

[Sydwayz]

What is the age of these boats and specs? The 32-OB will is a rare boat indeed, and may be one that you end up keeping for a while.

The 28 w/ twin I/O is a nice boat, but its just a hair bigger than the 26 Sonic, and by today's length and HP standards, most 28 footers are single I/O.

My thought is that you may be better off starting in a single engine 26' Sonic or the like. You are going to have a lot of headaches and more maintenance with two motors, which may affect your enjoyment, rather than just going something of the same size range with a stock single engine like 454 or 502 Mag, or maybe even 496.

[bert4332]

The 28 has twin Merc 454s I/O is a 1992 and is MD. The other is a 1989 28 with a single 502 and is located in upstate NY. The last is a 1988 29 with twin O/B 1991 Johnson 315s, but it's located in Galveston, therefore saving me the transportation cost and I can find a good reputation surveryor. I just got off the phone with the owner, he indicated the engines are bored out 500 over and they are running at out 350hp each.

Since the OBs have already been bored, do they last? Is the maint. overly involved?

Thanx for the reponses

[TexomaPowerboater]

Originally Posted by bert4332

The 28 has twin Merc 454s I/O is a 1992 and is MD. The other is a 1989 28 with a single 502 and is located in upstate NY. The last is a 1988 29 with twin O/B 1991 Johnson 315s, but it's located in Galveston, therefore saving me the transportation cost and I can find a good reputation surveryor. I just got off the phone with the owner, he indicated the engines are bored out 500 over and they are running at out 350hp each.

Since the OBs have already been bored, do they last? Is the maint. overly involved?

Thanx for the reponses

The owner of that 29 Sonic in Glaveston with twin Johnson's called me the other day to ask if I would consider trading (mines for sale here on OSO). I said no, but it looks like he is really wanting it sold. He's a nice guy and it sounded like he was into the racing circuit for a while. He said it was only 1 of 60 ever built. Its been for sale for over a year, but if I wanted a good deep v OB boat, I would buy it.

MD, NY, Galveston - sounds like those boats may all have had quite a bit of saltwater use. I don't recommend you buy a used saltwater boat to drive on lakes, especially a 88-92 model. It will cost you big money in the long run.

I think if you know how to work on the IO go with it. The egg beaters are more maintenance free from what I am told. But I don't think there is that much of a difference in maintenance cost as long as the motors are stock. The sound of the big blocks is half of what got me into this. You will turn more heads in a boat with a big block than you will with the same boat with egg beaters. Resale is also an issue. I have noticed that boats with outboards don't sell very fast and sell for a lot less (unless its a good catamaran).

You also get more cockpit space with the outboards. I have seen some with so much extra cockpit space that they put in an extra row of bolsters. I also understand that they are faster because of less weight.

If this is your first performance boat you may want to start out a little smaller at first..... And it just so happens I have a great entry level performance boat for sale in Denison, TX (24 python listed here on OSO in Misc V)

Words of wisdom that can save you a lot of money in the long run on your first boat purchase:

1) If it sounds to good to be true it probobly is
2) You get what you pay for

Give me a hollar next time you head up to Texoma. I'll be there just about every weekend.

[bert4332]

From a learning experience, why would saltwater to lake be a problem?

[tripps]

My buddy has a 31 or 33 with twin v8 obs its great,lotsa room not loud,just fun!!! tripps

[dreamer]

whats ur budget? lots a boats out there right now

[hpoffshore]

Upstate NY is probably fresh-water, and Chesapeake Bay is only brackish...way different than the ocean.

[bert4332]

I kinda have my heart set on a Sonic, but not too many out there. 20-30K otd w/shipping. I'm not really into a screaming loud boat, infact just the opposite. I was looking at a 31 stinger from OSO but it was very tricked out, and very loud.