Brad Christy

Techman,

Have they really? When I see a CC with five 450s being passed by an inboard with two 1075s, it's really hard not to wonder which one is actually consuming more fuel. And there's no way you're gong to convince me that the maintenance on five OBs is less than on two blower motors. Ain't gonna happen.

It's not about cost, efficiency or capability. It's about which one is easier to sell to buyers. It's really obvious that open bows are easier to sell to doe-eyed now boaters. Salesmen tell them they can fit more people on the boat and it's easier to get them in and out at the docks. It's way easier than telling them they will have to learn how to dock a boat properly. They also neglect to tell them that their guests will be less comfortable and the ride will be considerably rougher for those up front. In short, salesmen lie. The profits from five 450s is considerably higher than it is for 1100 QC4Vs, simply on sheer quantities alone. And most consumers aren't willing to do their research first. They just nod their heads and sign the check.

THAT..... Is why OBs are winning the game ATM.

Thanks. Brad.

techman

Hi Brad,

Salesmen trickery is not why outboards are outselling IO's. Yes, most salesmen lie. But pick any boat manufacturer out there and see how many still offer an inboard option.

Can you really blame engine manufacturers for being in the profit business? There isn't a conspiracy against IO's it's just simple math.

Peace!!

Brad Christy

Techman,

I don't disagree with that. MFRs will follow the profit. As a full-throated capitalist, I wholly align with that. But the notion that consumers are choosing OBs over IBs because of maintenance, efficiency or upfront cost only signals a sales force' willingness to lie and consumers gullibility.

Thanks. Brad.

Knot 4 Me

I don't see folks stroking a check for a new quad or quint 450/500 CC as being new/gullible boaters. More times than not they have been there, done that with big blown inboard powered boats, are a bit longer in the teeth, and their boating priorities have changed. They know what they want.

techman

Let's hope the educated buyers come back in droves at some point. The Mercury racing catalog on the IO side has some pretty sweet stuff.

Things would be vastly different if your choices were only one or two engines per boat. Remember when a 8'6" beam was the sweet spot?

Next up....Midnight express offers at 40' beam goliath with a 20 outboard option! It will be parked in the cruise ship terminal.

precisiondetails

Just on our small Poker Run 2 weeks ago- we had 3 OB prop shafts break. All on OB cats.

Meanwhile all M6 & M8 drives are all completely fine.

Wildman_grafix

I am stealing this one.

Plowtownmissile

Dan, that was pure gold 😂

I understand why the dolled up fishing boats have outboards. Center consoles were made for outboards and need a lot of them to push those oversized turds so let's leave them out of the equation. Let's leave that discussion to the owners over on thehulltruth

Outboard cats though... two 500Rs are $140k and two 520EFI/XRs are $80k. For the leftover $60k you can buy two new spare 520EFI crate engines, 5 spare drives, or a **** load of fuel. On top of that, the boat will be better balanced, have a usable transom, not have two ugly eggbeaters clipped on the back, and sound 1000x better. If you boat in saltwater, put a couple freshwater flush kits on it to flush after a run. It doesn't take that long to hook up a hose and do it.

Wildman_grafix

You still have to flush OB's. Just a small point.

Brad Christy

Knot,

There are certainly those out there. But, mostly, what I’ve seen are a bunch of 30 somethings who have discovered a liking of boating and a depth to their credit that makes it all possible. Overwhelmingly, the age of the two demographics shows the older crowd likes loud inboards with real HP, and the younger crowd likes the quiet OBs in double triplicate to make up for a lack in individual HP. What I’ve noticed is that the older crowd seems to have the resources to just let somebody else shoulder the headaches of maintaining their beasts, and the younger crowd is gullible enough to believe maintaining five OBs is easier and cheaper than maintaining two IBs.

All good, though. Just as with the first rule in a gunfight is to have a gun, the first rule in being a boater is HAVING a boat. We have a friend with a pontoon. And while we give him crap for owning a complete waste of mineral resources, we certainly appreciate he brought a place to hang the grill.

Thanks. Brad.