As long as you have enough of them...

It has been interesting to watch the reactions of people who had a clear preferance to the I/O package after they have a 'back to back' ride in the two versions. People have changed their minds from I/O to O/B, but never from O/B to I/O.

The new DFI stuff that all the manufactures are making is awesome. Big block (for O/Bs) make big torque, highly efficient and for the most part on pump gas.

Its a Yamaha!...would you have it any other way? :D

i have both ,and the aggravation and repair/ maintenance on my outboards isnt even comparable to the I/O's, my outboards run hard ,great mileage and are not trying to destroy themselves by leaning on the throttle, i can have a powerhead on the bench in 20 minutes, a lower off in 10 min and a whole moter exchanged in less than an hour, i would still be unhooking crap laying upsidown in a bilge doing the contortonist routine for double that time ,just to get it out and then the money/time really starts to flow..
go with 300 XS mercury ,youll love and not regret it !

My order of preferance from least to most:

I/O
OB
Diesel w/surface drives

I don't miss yanking drives off the transom at all, nor working in the bilge.

I have had both, enjoy sound of big blocks and torque,. But really enjoy ease of use and maintainance of O/B's and shallow water capablities

Also like being able to use the O/B in colder months when you don' thave to worry about draining water to prevent freezeing ( I know most don't boat in cold weather I do:crazy: )

Also more cockpit space, funner to drive .....if you know how

Besides talking about shock factor wow, you pull up to a dock with quads and the sound of the big block will be a mere annoyance.

and for you non "weed wacker lovers"

Has any one read the Article on Don Aronow in this months Extreme Boats. Offshore racing with Outboards was were it began. :boat:

There is a thread in the banana boat section here on OSO, that talks about an article in this month's issue of Motorboating magazine....check it out you may be surprised.

For me it depends on the size and type boat.....

Small cat, 30ft or less I'd go OB.

Anything over 30ft, except for a fishing boat, I'd go I/O.

For a smaller boat, the OB also gives you more room in the cockpit.

My .02.

[QUOTE=marylandmark;2238472]Think you might be in the wrong thread Charlie?

Then check out www.bananaboatco.com and look under the media section, Motorboating magazine, September 2007.