Which is better? I/O or outboard

[Dave's ZT260]

I tried to stay out of this, but enough is enough. Speed costs money. If you’re short of it go outboard. If you can afford an I/O you can and will go faster.

Show me a 1000HP outboard and I'll shut up. The fastest boats have always been I/O's. Yes bang for the buck outboards rule, but that’s where it ends.

I dare anyone with a checkmate outboard to prove me wrong. ie. Race me!!!

 

[Chris]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JUPITER PULSARE:
FIRST OF ALL MX-13, CALLING AN I/O A "PIG" ON THIS SITE CAN GET YOU ALL KINDS OF FLACK AND HAVING AN I/O DOES NOT MEAN THE BOAT WOULD BE SLOW. THE FASTEST OFFSHORE BOATS IN THE WORLD RUN I/O'S. AS FAR AS WHICH ONE IS BETTER IS PERSONAL CHOICE. THEY BOTH HAVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. CHRIS SHOULD SET UP A VOTE JUST LIKE THE "BOAT OF THE MONTH" THREAD. COULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS!!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>You guys can start polls anytime you like. Just click "new" and then pick poll. You can put up to five choices to vote on. Give it a go if you like.

 

[Brian]

ZT260 you know if i could get two outboards on the back of the enchanter I give ya a hell of a run, I still give ya a run in a 1/4. Just had to get ya cranked up.

Brian

 

[Dave's ZT260]

Brian,
We should try the 1/4 mile run. My boat is so fast out of the hole its amazing. I tried to pull a water skier last week, I gave her 1/3 throttle and she pulled my brother right over the ski with a 3 blade. Now I have a 4 blade bravo and the acceleration will tear your arms off. So, are you going to be out this weekend?

Just to set the record strait, I have owned 3 outboards. The main reasons I went I/O was the size limitation on outboard hulls, and therefore speed limitation. If I lived on a smaller lake I might go back to outboards. They do love smooth water, and there cheaper to run by comparison.

 

[MX-13]

Hi-performance o/b will always be faster. If you took a poll of all the o/b and i/o speeds in the world, you would see that. Its not that i/o's can't reach these speeds, its just it costs so much more compared to i/o's. Just go check out scream and fly and I think you'll see what I mean. Guys over there are running superboats, challengers, etc and running over 80 mph for under 20 grand. Try and do that with an i/o.

 

[Dave's ZT260]

Is there a mental block going on here???

Hi performance O/B will NEVER be faster. You are limited to the amount of HP you can have. Your statement will only be true if it is as follows- "Hi performance O/B will always be faster if you’re limited to a 20 grand budget" Some people will argue this point as well. Not me...

 

[DONCONVINCER]

To prove a point.. Watch some of the off shore races. Those outboard guys have 2 & 3 & 4 engines hanging on the back and get eaten up by the I/O guys.. And as for the ability to change drive height.. have you ever seen a surface drive.. BIG BUCKS but it can be done....

Another example.. Drag Boats.. Outboard could never compete with those guys

Different class for different intrest..

 

[jkeiper]

Personally, I like the outboard best. Although I wouldn't be against having an I/O. I like the outboard cause I can stand next to it and work on it, not on my head. I also like hopping up the 2 strokes. While I like the sound of my open exaust outboard, I also like the sound of a big V8 with above water exaust and that is the only way I would have one.

One advantage I have found on the I/O is, it seems to be easier to find a compromise between a prop that will pull like hell out of the hole and still give you good top end. They just seem to have more bottom end torque. I guess the old saying of "There is no replacement for displacement" holds true when talking about torque. Just my .10 worth.

Jim

 

[JUPITER PULSARE]

THE ONLY WAY I KNOW TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IS TO OWN ONE OF EACH!!!!!!!!

IF I HAD $$$$ I WOULD HANG A 300X ON THE BACK OF MY PULSARE AND THEN I WOULD HUNT DOWN A NICE 25' TALON TO DROP A KEITH EIKERT 675HP INTO.

 

[Dave's ZT260]

If you’re talking about which is better suited for a specific application, owning both would be helpful. If you’re talking about which is faster, there is no need to own both.

 

[Craig]

I currently lean towards the OB's. Although I am condsdering getting into a 240 I/O. Wife wants something with a little more freeboard and room to haul stuff. If I get one, I'll never get it to 85mph without sticking major $$$ into it. Pound for pound with same HP, OB's are faster. That is a fact. (Note, I did not say OB's are faster, I said lb for lb). I agree it takes less money to make an OB faster. I disagree on sound 1 mile away. You Will hear my 300 comming/going from a mile away.

I can't really agree that ob's are cheaper to run...Last July I ran $650 in gas through my 300 promax. I have buddies with 27' I/O's with 500HP's and they get better gas milage than I do.

ZT260, Checkmate doesn't make an OB hull that I could power sufficiently (or safely) to beat your ZT260. But give me, let's say, an Allsion or STV and it could beat your I/O with probably only a 280hp 2.5.

-Craig

 

[DONCONVINCER]

Big outboards are loud but, there's nothing like the roar of a V8. Now those 2.5's & 3.0's do have a deep sound and have a real neat poppy idle

My Dad lives on the bay in Ocean City,MD. Most of the outboards you see are 200's or less with no mods, anything bigger is rare. You can sit out on his dock, when you hear the guys roar out of the canal with the V8's it sounds so good.....

Just my personal opinion

 

[F150GT]

I like O/B for 21' and less calm water lake boats, the HP to weight ratio and required HP to make them fast is idealy suited for O/B. On larger hulls were HP to weight is not as critical and massive HP is required the I/O will allways prevail. You just cant get 500 reliable HP from a single O/B not to mention 1000+HP. How about 4 300x on the back to match ZT260 new monster.(so much for the budget)

 

[bdusted440]

I have one of each and they both have advantages and disadvantages.Outboards running at full throtle and dancing on the edge of controll is a total rush but the ride rough and use alot of gas and oil.My i/o rides nice has good top end for what it is and uses less gas.They both sound good. Both run close in speed.It just depends on what you are using it for and more importantly where you are using it big water=i/o. small shallow lakes and rivers =outboard.Thats my 2c anyway.And the old adage is true THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT. CHECKMATES RULE

 

[Dave's ZT260]

I don't know what you’re going to put (4) 300X's on back of, but I want to see it. That would move!!!

I'm not sure about gas economy on outboards but I get 2+ gallons per mile at WOT @ $7 a gallon (110 octane). Works out to about $10+ a minute, I'm starting to feel sick.. But I don't care when I'm running hard!!!

 

[DONCONVINCER]

Do you think 4 300's will fit on a 103 beam ?? Maybe Kip can have a Convincor 270 custom built
Shucks..It's to wide.. Maybe 4 2.5's ??

What a rig !!!

 

[JUPITER PULSARE]

CAN ANY OF YOU BOYS SAY "PERSUADER CAT WITH TWIN 300X'S"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NICE TO DREAM EH????

 

[JW]

There is an STV owned by Raceman on Scream and fly recorded at 134+ mph with a single 2.5 outboard. Helmut has had his STV Euro over 130 with a similar motor while testing the Brucato PCU mod. Both boats cost under $35k if bought new.

To get an I/O over 130 mph you've got to spend huge dollars. HUGE. The engine cost alone would be over the cost of the entire boat/motor/trailer package of the fast outboards. So for the money, outboards will always greatly outperform I/O's in the speed race on calm water. Simply a matter of physics: Weight.

Get into big water, then the big I/O boats rule. You won't see those STV's running 130+ in 4 footers. There are less non-race I/O boats breaking 130 mph than there are O/B boats I'll bet.

 

[pulse 171]

Outboard, outboard outboard, Its all Ive had and all Ive wanted. Ill be the first to admit im a little intimidated by i/os b/cIve never owned one. I like winterizing and working on my outboard myself and im not very mechanical. Ive been waiting for the new 24 o/b to come out. All ive heard is rumors, seen no pics, or heard any pricing. Traditionally I only buy used boats but that seams like the boat for me. Im surprised checkmate doesnt make bigger boats rigged w/ outboards.

 

[cooperider]

There are all kinds of pics of the new 24 here.
Check out They are working hard at the factory on the land and Trail website (the Checkmate tour) and also in, would like your opinion on