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outboard VS I/O vs jet drive

ok chime in - i threw in jet drive for those who like em --i do not know if this was done if it was


  • Total voters
    44

dlcss396

Member
ok chime in - i threw in jet drive for those who like em --i do not know if this was done if it was i couldn't find it
 
ok chime in - i threw in jet drive for those who like em --i do not know if this was done if it was i couldn't find it
 
I voted 'outboard' because I prefer highest top speeds with smallest hulls, BUT when it comes to skiing/tubing/watersports I like my I/O better..............

I'm more like 60% outboard/40% I/O bias...
 
outboard

i have had all three
for water skiing i will take an outboard anyday over stern drive

mostly for slalom though

stern drives are fine for tubing and wakeboarding

wakes just to darn big for slalom

daren
 
My first boat was a 79 marktwain 17 1/2 foot with a 79 200 black max hanging off it and yes it would pull 6 skiers. I could only get 68 mph before the dancing would make you shit your pants.

My 76 455 jetmate with those nasty headers hanging out the top and a rooster tail really turns heads.

But I will never give up the ride from my I/O Convincor

I love the V8 sound, and a outboard will never have that, but I never under estimate the speed or quick throttle response of a outboard.

mkhammer I think SCT,s boat will run 90 mph and pull ten skiers with his wimpy outboard or is that 2 wimpy outboards :D
 
I love the sound and feel of a Chevy 350 ... pure power. However, I will say I envy the Outboard owners for their reliability and relative ease to work on.
 
Welp, I saw this E-tec powered boat pull 43 skiers at once. Yes 43 skiers
not sure of the top speed but, what dose it matter it had three 225 HO's

20twin.jpg
 
ive had both also. I love the ride of my current boat much more fits my life style now.

But the outboard was a lot easier to deal with and less worries and I am really talking about the bs you deal with as far as the outdrive goes on an IO. (gimble, bellows.............and on and on)
 
Yes I agree a outboard is much easier to deal with. Then second place I would go with a Jet drive, and a I/O is the hardest to deal with. This is the way I feel and I own all three.
 
I've owned all three in various configurations. I did like my jetboats for fun. Water near me is notorious for shallows and underwater obstructions. My jetboats were always a safe bet. If you didn't see anything sticking above the water you were pretty safe. My I/O's always had nice engine hatches that doubled as sundecks. The outboard I own now gives me maximum cockpit space and the ability to run in some pretty shallow water. I voted for as long as it's fast. I'm always in search of a few mph's !!!
 
I have a buddy with a 4winns I/O (very different from most checkmate I/O's) and we go back an forth on it. The deciding factor for me is that I know of no other boats with as much interior space as a starliner/pulsare that can be easily towed with a mid-sized truck.. or lumina if you live in NJ (sorry hobbie, I'm still amazed that you do that!). I'd guess I'm around 3000 lbs with trailer. That 4winns has way less space inside and is over 50% heavier! It slows down an F150 a fair bit.

OB:
interior space
towing weight to boat size
slalom skiing
simple routine maint.-- I winterized mine in about 20 min! No gimbal, bellows, oil to pump out
can run shallow

I/O:
fuel economy
no oil to mix
sun deck
generally deeper hulls and better wakeboarding wakes.
probably generally cheaper when something major goes
 
I have a buddy with a 4winns I/O (very different from most checkmate I/O's) and we go back an forth on it. The deciding factor for me is that I know of no other boats with as much interior space as a starliner/pulsare that can be easily towed with a mid-sized truck.. or lumina if you live in NJ (sorry hobbie, I'm still amazed that you do that!). I'd guess I'm around 3000 lbs with trailer. That 4winns has way less space inside and is over 50% heavier! It slows down an F150 a fair bit.

OB:
interior space
towing weight to boat size
slalom skiing
simple routine maint.-- I winterized mine in about 20 min! No gimbal, bellows, oil to pump out
can run shallow

I/O:
fuel economy
no oil to mix
sun deck
generally deeper hulls and better wakeboarding wakes.
probably generally cheaper when something major goes

I disagree with some points....

  • Fuel economy on new O/B's is as good, probably better than an I/O.
  • I don't mix oil, it is injected and I have only filled the tank 3 times since July 4th and 1-1/2 times was during break-in(40+ hours). I would rather add oil to a tank, then have to change motor oil any day of the week!
  • Rebuilding a marine motor is expensive either way. Weed-wacker or car motor don't matter. IMO
I love I/O's, but I must call it how I see it/know it...not starting a war.:popcorn:
 
I had both too.And The outboard is much easier,you can work on the engine at a full 360 degrees,,Many hot dayssweating my A off, in the doghouse twisting my body everywhich way trying to get to a bolt or something,getting a head rush and wanting to puke..working on I/O sux..
 
Well, I have had both an I/O and an outboard. I have had the out board off the boat, and I have taken the I/O V8 out and the alpha outdrive off multiple times. I think they are an equal pain in the a$$. The outboard was a bit easier to winterize though.
 
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