Center Console I/O
 

Has anyone else ever wondered why all the center consoles are outboard only?

Many CC are strictly pleasure boats so why outboard only still?

I know there is one or two manufactures that make them but with all the alternative (vs the 2+3) layouts one would think that it would be a good seller?

They have a bigger fishing following than pleasure following. And fighting a fish over a hatch sucks! I love my center console as a pleasure boat but the fishing market seems to drive the design.

I've owned both and fighting a fish over big multi outboards and a splash well isn't that simple either. The outboards still win regarding maintenance.
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I've seen 33 Powerplay CC's running i/o power. Actually ran into a guy that had 540's in it. Sounded mean and ran good.

In the evolution of CC's many of the older boats were available with I/O's and inboards ie Mako, Auqasport, Chris Craft, Dusky, SeaCraft, etc, etc. and 24' or 25' CC was a monster of a boat in the 70's, very BIG!

You're probably not old enough to remember when a 115hp Merc was big - an I/O was available in the 200+hp range so if you wanted speed and reliability you did not go with an outboard, they were not easy to fix and maintain like a car engine.

We had a 1969 222 Aquasport CC with twin 55hp 3 Cyl Evinudes on it and that was like crazy big and fast for it's time!

Sure does seem like the o/b's ran them out of town. I had a short list, (Albemarle 242, or a Silverhawk 24)....longlist- (31 Jersey Devil D6 400)
But for now, I'm building my own.