New Used Boat

Here's my thoughts..... please correct me if your thoughts differ!

V-drives
pros - more cabin room than inboards, slightly less than inboard/outdrives
simpler (cheaper to maintain, less to break) than outdrives

con - same depth required as inboards

outdrives
pros - more manuverability
can get into shallower areas by trimming up the drive

con - cost to repair or maintain (bellows, u-joint, etc)
usually all aluminum, so be VERY carefull of corrosion

inboards
pro - simplist drive system (lower overall cost), and means more reliable?

con - usually need more draft than outdrives
takes more cabin room than v-drive or outdrive

Is there a normal "hours" limit to an outdrive?? Will an outdrive last as long or longer than the engine?

I'm GUESSING that the inefficiency of the outdrive gearing (two 90's), is offset by the better ability to trim the prop, so the overall efficiency of an outdrive compared to a v-drive or inboard is very similar... but is that true... does anyone have a good data or links where they are compared on an efficiency (MPG) basis?

QUOTE(Suck My Wake @ Aug 14 2009, 06:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Someone can qualify this statement for me, but if you have the same boat with the same powerplants, wont the outdrive boat be slightly faster and slightly more efficient?

Since you are comparing v-drives to outdrives I assume you are looking at a somewhat "newer" boat.
That is correct. The outdrive boat will be a bit faster and more fuel effiicient.

I just went through the decision between I/O's and V-Drives back in April. Did a lot of research and talked to many different people. I ultimately decided v-drives would be the best way to go. So far, no regrets. I know a handful of people ay my marina with the exact same boat as I have but with the stern drives, and every one of them has told me they wish they had the v-drives. One guy just dropped $9K on outdrive repairs.

If we were in saltwater the choice would be simple, v-drives. One of the only reasons stern drives are even considered in this area is because it's a freshwater environment.

My dad caught a line around a shaft and ended up spending over $10k in repairs. You can spend plenty of money on inboards! He also had an original prop (1969) crack due to fatigue a few years earlier.

I will agree that inboards are typically more reliable, though. I like I/O's for our lake, though. More efficient, more adjustable. And an outdrive sized properly for the application should last quite a while. A small block with a bravo behind it should live nearly forever, as long as you don't blow out the seals with fishing line and you keep up on the maintenance. Bellows, u-joints, and gimbal bearings are wear items, they will each need replacement every 2 - 10 years. If you're the guy who leaves his outdrive up all the way idling in and out of the moot, you will need u-joints every 2 years. If you actually know how to treat your equipment, you can probably get 10 years out of them. On the same token, if your inboard boat is sitting on it's props at muscamoot every weekend, you might need prop and shaft work every year.

I prefer inboards to v-drives as well. If you're going to take the efficiency hit with inboards you might as well put them forward to minimize bow rise when coming on plane and simplify the mechanicals. Problem with that is it takes more space. you can't really fit a mid-cabin in an express cruiser unless you go v drives or i/o's, but a straight inboard boat comes up on plane a lot easier with less bow rise and will typically run better just off-plane if you need to run through some heavy seas.

Another advantage to I/O's - they have a skeg. That skeg has saved my prop a couple of times. And when you do hit something (it ain't if, but when) the outdrive can often be replaced in it's entirety for what it will cost to replace an inboard prop, fix a strut, and straighten a shaft.