A little off track, but I'm finding less mechanics willing to wrench on IOs. My go-to guy just retired and his nephew who took over the shop has decided to do outboards only.

Back on topic: I inquired with my boating friends if they were interested in going to the Cleveland Boat show and they said they weren't interested. Had heard it was just a bunch of punetoons and outboards.

We are beach goers and like to play at the back of the boats. So not much love for the OBs. Which I never realized were so friging big until those pics.

My mechanic just attended a Mercruiser course and apparently the new outboards can be fully service in the water.

Yep, first time attending the Cleveland show. Was amazed their were NO I/O boats, and only one cabin cruzer. Didn't expect any go fast boats, but wanted to at least look at some high dollar cabin crusers with all the new bells and whistles. Shows where the market is going. Day boats. Boat for the day and go back to the condo at night.

I too was at thx Cleveland show. Seemed like it was all outboards and center consoles. I did buy a couple of nice inflatable fenders.

Padraig
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Unfortunately you're right, it's a basic shift in demand and the manufactures have responded to their customer needs. Is what it is.

Always funny though - when we are leaving our local lunch spot I'll have 10-20 people with their phones out videoing depending on how busy lunch is. No one is videoing the OB boats. The sex appeal is still there across all demographics for the BBC's but ownership is so much easier on the OB Boats..... Maybe one day the pendulum will swing back but it's hard to imagine at this point...

Bring on summer - I can't wait to fire up my motors!!!!

I find myself identifying as a Mercruiser outboard. I too can be fully serviced in the water. hahahaha

You're really just hoping for access to your lower unit.

For that to happen Merc and others will need to put engineering into I/O's. The reason Outboards keep getting better is that where the resources go. Its not like the motor knows where it is at bilge or strapped on the back.

Exactly!

I was a huge follower of Formula One motorcycle road racing when they were powered by 500 cc 2 stroke motors.

For a 2 stroke guy like me, those motors and their technology were Nirvana!

When they changed the rules (per the mfgs), they instantly stopped any/all R&D on the 2 strokes.

All their funding went to the new “diesels” as Kenny Roberts famously called them…, and their performance went through the roof.

That change happened/started because the mfgs were sick of dumping all that money into products they didn’t even sell.

Their 4 stroke race bikes were based on street bikes they sold.

So if 90% + of Mercs biz is OB’s, guess where their funding goes.

I struggle to wrap my head around a $60 - $100K OB, let alone 3 or 4 of them but, my Fla friends w/inside sources say, Merc is buried in orders and a yr out!

Mercury and Yamaha need to educate the techs, there is a shortage now and the existing guys are getting older/won't want to "learn" the new stuff. I'd be stunned if anyone in the whole Bahamas chain of islands could work on the new M/Ys.

The weight/fuel burn is always going to be a battle for any of the new motors. In some boats, smaller triples is faster/more efficient than two big twins (pair of Yamaha 425s vs. triple 300s). To me a center console's attraction is shade and simplicity. Start adding multiple complicated motors and suddenly its not simple anymore. I could careless if a CC goes 90 mph with 4 motors especially when odds are one will be tilted up at some point. Sure its nice to know you are getting home on 2 out of 3 or whatever.

Here is a quad engine cat, lost steering and then the motors turned inward towards each other.............note the lack of simplicity, not the 1600/1800 HP on the transom that caused the trouble