Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

If you have had enough with standing on your head to change a starter or being a contorsionist to work on your engine. Changing a fly wheel out ect....

Would you change to a NEW model outboard? They have obviously come a long way with them as far as technology.

After what I'm going through with getting my boat running, I was thinking about the next boat being a couple of twin outboards. The question would be:

1. Cost of repairs compared to inboards.
2. Maintenance
3. Fuel consumption comparison.
4. Insurance
5. Parts cost.


I was looking for some feed back. LORD knows I like the rumble of a big block!! But,, its starting to be a pain in the ARSE with working it on it. I know now why the marine mechanics charge so much these days. They spent a a couple of weeks in gymnastics class!!! :D

Any feed back would appreciated!!! :D

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

My next boat will absolutely be eggbeater-powered. Something along the lines of a Concept or Renegade.

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

My dad runs a 225 Yamaha 4 stroke on his fishing boat,has 1600 hours on it and has never missed a beat,quiet and only burns 7 gallons an hour at cruise ,13 wideopen never has had a wrench on it.

Sheriff here has acouple with 5000 hours on them and still going.

I think the labor on an outboard would be less because everything is so accessible and its not all corroded from sitting in a salty bilge.Under the hoods of my dads 4 year old never rinsed or corrosion sprayed Yamahas look like new.

Plus you don't have all the issues like exhaust manifolds and risers and wet starters and etc etc..

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

Help any? (Keep in mind, answers apply to performance boats. No idea about fishing or wakeboarding. :cool: )

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

They can be very similar, the Merc 525 weighs about the same as twin Merc 250xs outboards with about the same power. Both run pump gas and similar fuel consumption. And very user friendly.
Depends were you go, some people like the look of twins with the techno look of the hydraulic steering and all that hardware exposed. Others like the clean line of the big block.
Then there is ride, one has that low drown that makes "you da man". The outboard has a unique harmonic when running. The outboard is more spunky, I can do wheelies with my stuff. But in difficult water the lower and forward balance make the I/O easier.
All the stuff is really good today, can't go wrong either way.

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

[QUOTE=X-Rated30]
1. Cost of repairs compared to inboards.
-- Labor is cheaper and easier to find. Can change a powerhead with help from a friend in 3 or 4 hours. Try that with a big block.

I've seen powerheads changed in 20 minutes in the pits at Formula 1 races :cool: I have changed with little experience in 1-2 hours!!

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

I just got back from Lake Powell a few days ago. We boated around for two days with a 225hp Mercury 2 stroke outboard on a 20 foot boat. Heee heee heeee... we only burned 18 gallons in two days of boating. Talk about cheap. Of course it wasn't non stop boating.... but enough to impress us with the economy of the thing.

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

We went to the"Darkside" 18months ago, Merc 250 Efi's. The boat is a Renegade setup to run not fish. Fuel consumption is no worse than an IO. I love the ease of maintenance, nobody has to climb all over your interior of your boat to service. 100 hour service $250 for oil in lowers, water separator & fuel filter. Nothing else to service. I run the Smartcraft system & would find it hard to go back to IO boat again. You can also trim the motor up real high when you get into shallow water, added bonus in Fl. I love the sound of a BB, however it is nice to enter a Marina or residential area without pissing everyone off.

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

1. Cost of repairs compared to inboards. Havent had any yet.
2. Maintenance changed lower gear oil.
3. Fuel consumption comparison. a little better with the ob
4. Insurance cheeper w ob
5. Parts cost none so far w ob just over 200 hrs all Ive done is take the hood off of one to see what it looks like.:D

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

If I were to go OB I wouldn't buy something with Merc. Welfare Motors.

Turn the key, pull the pin and pray! :eek:

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

I've Had My Yam 250 Efi For 6 Years. Never Let Me Down Once.

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

I just put my first Merc 300xs Optimax on a new 21ft Liberator cat. It only had 1 hour on it when I gave it to the customer and it still ran 99.5 mph. He told me the other day that he ran 190 miles on 33 gallons of gas. I'm rigging a new 30ft Liberator with twin 300xs motors now. I think it will get 3 mpg. Not bad for a 100 mph boat.

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

Yamaha...dont they make stereos?? Jack it up, trim it out.....6,000 r's.....now we can break it!!

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

[QUOTE=dkwestern] :D LOL!!! Dude -- I am so far from being an F-1 mechanic, I am flattered you even mention it. I can pick up a screwdriver and begin to bleed immediately!!! :D :D :D

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

I have had both, the maint on the ob is almost non existent if you keep the water out of your fuel.

No tuneups etc, just change your water pump and gear oil yearly.

I think merc will be coming out with a 300+ HP verado next year, also the verado has power steering.

CM

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

Neither am I (I've changed powerheads twice lifetime), I'm just saying they can be changed in an hour or 2 and your back on the water.

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

WHAT DID YOUR LITTLE MISHAP COST IN THE BIG OL PIG? NOTE TO SELF---NO OIL PRESSURE ALARM-----STOP :evilb: :evilb:

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

I had both. The only thing I didn't like about outboards was if you are a gear-head always wanting to tweak and modify there isn't much you can do to the outboard and there isn't much in the way of aftermarket parts. With a sterndrive the sky's the limit! and you can always look forward to increasing HP with various modifications...

There IS one modification for outboards that I found and fell in love with on my Talon, and that was NITROUS OXIDE!! :D :evilb:

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

I had a pair of Evinrude outboards on a C.C. for 12 years and they were great. The only issue was the lack of parts and mechanics to work on them if you couldn't do your own work. It seemed all the outboard mechanics only wanted to work on the smaller horsepower engines.

Are parts more available these daays ?

Also for the two-strokes don't foget oil costs.

I'd love to go back to a pair of beaters on a C.C.

ed

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

Hope they get the 300HP out sooner over latter cause I want another 22 Whaler and with twin 150's had decent performance and thinking lighter with one engine same HP will equal better speed!!!!! But the not so good thing on the horizon catalytic converters and OB's are a hard combo to put together: :(

http://www.epa.gov/oms/regs/nonroad/.../420f06057.htm

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

was also looking for a concept or renegade , but i fell into a new 24 checkmate with a 225 xs opti . fuel economy and worry free operation have me hooked. good bye big bock and bravo's

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

I have a 115 Yamaha EFI 4 stroke, it is so quiet if it were not for the pisser you would not know it was running, every person who has ever heard it is amazed. There is no dougt the OB is a dream compared to a BB packed in a hole. I learned to put a starter on with one hand, starting the bolt while holding it up. This is an art that only a nice boating day can bring out. And I sware it would have been faster to pull the motor if I had a fork lift, 4 bolts and you can just hang it in your face. I will stick with OBs, I too have only removed the cover to change the oil.

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

A 30 AMT with twin Merc 250 OPTI's gets 4mpg at 80 mph, all day long.

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

This thread has had some great input on it!! I luv it!!

I'm looking low maintenance and dependability and easy to work on!! :evilb: :D

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

I have a 43 ft Black Thunder with custom 600 cu in EFI engines and a Concept 23 SF with a 225 Optimax. One hard weekend on the BT will equal a full season on the Concept. My wife loves both boats but would take the Concept over the BT in a heart beat. I had the Concept built with Livorsi gages and controls, trim tabs, jack plate ect. It is just as much fun @ 50 with 4 people as the BT @ 75. Joe Murray

Re: Pro's and CON's of NEW model outboards compared to inboards.
 

Nothing rumbles like a big block, but I will always buy an outboard!