20ft OB vs Jet IO
 

Besides the obvious, what's the differences between an early 80s 20ft w/ OB and one w/ IO jet drive?
Also, what are your opinions...
just try to get edumacated.

The jet's bottom at the transom would be different than the O/B and sterndrive boats since it would be cut to accept the intake. I wonder if anyone has a photo.

How about handling characteristics?
How's the maintenance on a jet? Reliability?

No idea, I've never owned one.

Don't know about the jet but I had an 81 super pacer with a 275 Merc outboard for 8 years and man did I LOVE that boat. Mine had the motor mounted directly on the transom, boat was very stable at 70 and handled well. Only issue I had with the setup was when you trimmed it too much it would start to chime-walk at around 73mph. I always wanted to put a jack-plate setup on it to fix that problem but never had the extra funds. I would recommend these boats to anyone looking for that style of boat. I ran mine mostly on lakes and rivers but always enjoyed taking it out on the Long Island sound as it handled the rough water well for a boat of this size. Never would have sold it but the wife and family wanted a bowrider and I got over-ruled but I have no doubt there will be a Sutphen again in my future and it will be an outboard again. That's my two cents....