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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
Outboard engine vs. Inboard/Outboard…
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Date:
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7/26/2010 7:03:49 PM
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on a PONTOON only. I see both aroundLM. I would like your input on the Pro and Con of each setup on a Pontoon boat, say a 24' with typical equipment/weight/etc.
Noise Level- seems to me an OB is louder??
Cost up Front-??
Fuel Economy-?? Maintenance requirements?? Winterizing needs??? Performance??? Repairs???
This proposed boat would be used mainly in a "crawl" mode, motoring around the hood looking at the sights and then going fast as possible back home when the T'Storm rolls in behind us. Or when the kids are here pulling various dangerous devices behind with my Grandchildren on them.
Serious question about I/O vs. OB. Lots of moolah involved.
Mack
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| Name: |
Maverick
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| Subject: |
Outboard engine vs. Inboard/Outboard…
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Date:
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7/26/2010 7:53:50 PM
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I/O
- Louder
- Not as fuel efficient
- Has to be winterized
- Fuel tank off to side usually
- But know if you buy the toon with the 496 HO and captain call exhaust, then that is a different story - LOL.
Outboard (4 stoke I assume)
- Quieter
- Better MPG
- Not required to be winterized
- Fuel tank usually in center
Actually had an I/O outboard and while I liked it immensely, after having the 4 stroke outboard for over a year, love the outboard.
I would have to say cost of maintenance is similar as still need to perform routine maintenance on both engines -- oil changes, impellers, plugs, starters, etc etc. For example my winterization and 100 hour service last year was like $200.00 on Yamaha 250 outboard.
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| Name: |
Nancy Christine II
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| Subject: |
Outboard engine vs. Inboard/Outboard…
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Date:
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7/26/2010 10:05:46 PM
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The IO is harder to work on. I have done a few. I much rather work off the back than down in a tin hole. If you drop someting down in there it's gone unless a magnet can reach it and it's steel that it!
Also if you have a problem, Just hang your spare engine on the back and send the main one to CAT and keep cruzin and never miss a lick!!
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| Name: |
houseboat
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| Subject: |
Outboard engine vs. Inboard/Outboard…
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Date:
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7/27/2010 8:51:26 AM
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This is just my personal opinion, but I would always pick an I/O over an outboard unless it was not a Mercruiser. I would probably even pick a Volvo Penta I/O over an outboard.
If I were buying one brand new I might consider an outboard but buying used it is a no brainer.
Also,outboards are too expensive, compare a 135 outboard to a 135 I/O.
Just my opinion!
Houseboat
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| Name: |
greycove
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| Subject: |
Outboard engine vs. Inboard/Outboard…
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Date:
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7/27/2010 12:28:54 PM
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Comments above are very helpful. One strong I/O argument in the past was you don't have to buy outboard engine oil. That is a mute point now with 4-strokes. Weight is a big issue for me since I winch my boat under a shed. Don't think my setup now would handle a heavier I/O engine.
Wondered about speed of the two types engines with equal HP?
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| Name: |
CAT BOAT
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| Subject: |
Outboard engine vs. Inboard/Outboard…
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Date:
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7/27/2010 3:30:47 PM
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My .02 worth. We see lots of pontoon boats, both I/O and OB. First, my opinion on the OBs are as follows. IMHO there are too many different makes, Merc. Evinrude, Suzuki, Honda, etc. AND there are too many variations among those models AND outside of normal mechanical operating mechanics they each have there own unique characteristics and you can't find ANYONE that can do EVERYTHING to all of them! Now, you just think about what I just typed, really think about it for a moment. Now, lets look at IO'S. Generally, they are all the same. They are all 4 stroke models. You can buy parts for them from just about any parts house and MOST (Merc/Volvo, etc) are based from General Motors platforms. Matter of fact, Mercury my still assemble the engines for GM Corvettes to this day! My opinion is, when you buy an outboard, you get just that. If you buy an I/O you can add to the power if you want, prop choices are endless, and so on. One last thing to think about!!! Very important! If you are gonna settle for less than 200hp don't even think about an I/O. And if you buy an I/0 get at least a 4.3 v6. Prefferably larger because that storm is coming, and those kids are gonna tell you to speed up when they tube and ski. Oh yea, the fuel consumption. The more overpowered you are, the less fuel you will burn.
Respectfully,
Steve
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
So Cat??
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Date:
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7/27/2010 6:47:02 PM
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You sold me on the I/O. Now, can you put me onto a used 24' pontoon, with at least 225Hp I/O, pristeen condition, trailer, and all the bells and whistles for about,,,,, somewhere,,,, Maybe about ,,, Ugh,,,,
Something less than a house payment??
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| Name: |
CAT BOAT
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| Subject: |
So Cat??
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Date:
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7/27/2010 10:04:18 PM
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Yes sir. Being as I know where you live, that will be easy. :o
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| Name: |
BamaDave
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| Subject: |
V-6 in a Pontoon?
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Date:
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7/28/2010 12:19:44 AM
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Hmmm, I didn't know you could buy toons with with something larger than an inline 4 cylinder. The i/o pontoon's I have ever seen were a nightmare to do anything on them. I got tired of standing on my head to do simple repairs on mine and traded up to a deck boat. I can open the engine compartment, sit on the floor with my feet in the bilge and get to just about everything on the engine without stretching.
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| Name: |
Ulysses E. McGill
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| Subject: |
So Cat??
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Date:
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7/28/2010 2:22:04 AM (updated 7/28/2010 2:47:01 AM)
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I would ride around in both first before deciding. My I/O was MUCH noisier than my new outboard and was a big reason I began looking for a new pontoon. At moderate speeds, it was hard to talk and it was very annoying on those slow cruises. At higher speeds, ear plugs were almost necessary. On the newer Outboard models, you can't even hear the engine at slow cruise. Now I can cruise fast or slow and still talk with my passengers.
I see and agree with what Cat's sayin' from a parts standpoint, but for me the advantages of my outboard outweigh those issues....and I haven't seen Steve turning away work on the outboards yet, so I still think he will fix em for us when needed (LOL).
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I got my outboard tritoon in November after owning an I/O for a few years (I had always thought an I/O was better) ....The I/O was OK, but I will never own an I/O pontoon again.
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| Name: |
NautiqueFrk
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| Subject: |
So Cat??
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Date:
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7/28/2010 8:06:01 PM
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My two cents worth, I bought a 90 Yamaha 4 stroke, in the last year. The engine warranty was for 3 years bumper to bumper, due to low sells, Yamaha took the protection out for another 3 years. Hard to beat if you ask me. I would look and see what the dealers were offering. I have owned several IO's in the past, as far as I am concerned, they are a nightmare, way to many parts to keep serviceable. Just how fast do you want to go, in a craft designed to go slow.
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| Name: |
Ulysses E. McGill
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| Subject: |
good point (sorta)
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Date:
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7/28/2010 11:36:34 PM (updated 7/28/2010 11:44:00 PM)
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I got a 5 year warranty on my e-tech....5 or 6 years of coverage is hard to beat. Any bugs should be worked out by then ( I hope) and if properly cared for the motor should last a long time (again, I hope).
as far as the "sorta" part of this comment goes, my craft was designed to go both fast and slow and does both quite well.
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| Name: |
250 SEL
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| Subject: |
Outboard engine vs. Inboard/Outboard…
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Date:
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7/29/2010 8:25:11 AM
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I have a 2009 Harris 250 SEL.(25 FT).It has a Merc. 350 Mag. 300 H.P. I purchased it last summer at Blue Creek.I test drove Both I/Os and outboards. Adavanages of I/O much smother ride most likley due to weight.Disadavanges Noise,Gas milage,Can't pick up with lift,harder to work on and must winterize and summerize If I had it to do over I would get the Outboard for the above reasons as well as mines cruiseing speed is about 25MPH and that uses alot of gas...
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and it made me think of some other things from when I was shopping last fall.
Ride and handling are also greatly influenced by whats under the boat such as # of toons, shape of the toons, and performance packages attached to the toons. My experience is a loaded up pontoon will usually have less bounce than a lighter one with all other things being equal (which is probably what you felt when you did a test drive). The performance packages that Premier, Bennington, and Manitou (there may be others but those are what I tested with such packages) have developed are amazing when it comes to ride and handling. I also test drove a new Harris because other than being loud and slow I liked my old one. Also, I really like the Harris interior......but the handling was not competitive with the other brands I listed above. My guess is that all manufacturers will have a high performance package within the next few years. I think Manitou set the standard, Premier and Bennington reacted, and other companies will also want to compete in the high performance market.
If looking at pontoons (new or used), I personally would only consider tritoons that at least have lifting strakes.... and as I stated above, I personally will never go the I/O route again for the reasons you mentioned.
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| Name: |
houseboat
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| Subject: |
Outboard engine vs. Inboard/Outboard…
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Date:
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7/30/2010 8:57:45 AM
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Good morning, I just wanted to say that my comments were not necessarily pertaining to pontoon boats but any boat that has an option of an outboard or I/O. I agreee that an outboard may be the best option for a pontoon boat due to the design of the boat, if you can call it that. Ha
When I was about eleven, my daddy made me a boat (floating devise) out of half a 55 gal. barrel cut from top to bottom with a five gallon bucket on each corner to make it stable. Would you call that a boat??? Ha
If any of you pontoon boat fans have an outboard motor that needs a home, I have a pontoon platform with fiberglass pontoons in good shape. You can put your own seats, rails and console on it because it don't have any.
Have a good day!
Houseboat
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| Name: |
Psycho
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| Subject: |
Another good point
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Date:
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7/30/2010 12:55:35 PM
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I've always liked inboards a lot better myself...but never had one in a pontoon. I never would have guessed they
they would have been louder than a outboard. I guess the sound travels through all the aluminum that the boat
is made of. That will make me rethink what I buy next time I get a pontoon. Personally, I have never seen a
pontoon go ov 25 mph, no matter the size of the engine....then I look on youtube and see em running 50 to 60
mph. Now thats a fast pontoon !! I've got a question if anyone knows the answer. I read that a 3rd pontoon will
give a pontoon boat more top speed because it lifts it out of the water more at higher speeds. Anyone know if
this is true or not?
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| Name: |
Ulysses E. McGill
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| Subject: |
Another good point
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Date:
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7/30/2010 2:27:06 PM (updated 7/30/2010 2:42:03 PM)
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I do think the metal is a big factor in the noise. As for speed, yes a center toon makes a difference. As I stated above, lifting strakes and the shape of the center toon also make a big difference in speed, handling, and ride.....a lot of engineering goes into some of the newer designs. I ended up buying a 2010 Bennington with their elliptical sports package and it will run mid 50's with a 250HP motor. It also turns and handles like my ski boat and rides very nice (better than any fiberglass boat I've ever owned).... even on a busy Lake Martin day.
BTW, I had to be convinced too. I've owned over 20 watercraft in the last 30 years and this new boat is only the third outboard. I had a 80's vintage pontoon and a bass boat with outboard motors....the outboard motor and the boat have come a looooong way in performance.
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| Name: |
Psycho
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| Subject: |
Another good point
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Date:
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7/31/2010 3:37:52 PM
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Thanks for the info. Who says you cant teach a old dog new tricks?
I just learned that I dont know as much about pontoon boats as I thought I did.
I Checked out the benningtons on the internet. Nice boats...And a 55 mph pontoon
is great!
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
Appreciate Your Opinions>>>
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Date:
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8/2/2010 7:19:27 PM
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It was a good discussion on engines, wasn't it?? Yep. I learned some good stuff.
However, I've been looking at prices on new and even used pontoons, and I (We) have decided that our old 1996 Harris FloteDek is not so bad if I add a bimini top and polish. Just stay out of big rough waters.
Man, oh man!! Boats are expensive toys!!!
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