Inboard or outboard

H

haldane

New Member
Hi all:
I've been considering buying a boat for some time and I've come down to the size - which would be 19'.
Now, the first question comes up - inboard or outboard?
Most of the boats I've come across are inboard. I used to work on engines back when and I'm familiar with all that. It seems to me that the only drawback to inboards is that they're hard to work on because of the lack of space around them. Also, if going for a higher powered engine, say a 290 hp or so V8, they're a LOT cheaper.

I'd appreciate any input.
Thanks
 
nathan

nathan

Active Member
the inboards are harder to work on due to space but are pretty much car engines. the outboards are easier to work on because they are easier to get to. they are more like motorcycle motors. they can be more expensive to fix depending on what goes wrong. but you can get an outboard to push a boat just as fast as the inboards. I believe there is less power loss. If I sell my boats I plan to look for and outboard boat first. there is also the fact the outboards can be pulled completely out of the water unlike the inboards, comes in handy in low water. I would drive both to see which you like better because the do drive diffent.
 
Chris

Chris

Administrator
Staff member
There are pros and cons to each, I guess at the end of the day you have to look at how you use the boat and decide which one fits your needs better.

I like outboards as I can use them earlier and later in the year without as much worrying about freezing issues. They also have a great power to weight ratio.

-Chris
 
V

Valkyrider

New Member
You will not have a lot of room in a 19ft boat and an inboard makes it even smaller. Go with a good 4 stroke outboard.
 
H

haldane

New Member
Thanks for the reply Val.
I hate to admit it, but I didn't think of the inboard engine taking up room in the back, even though it's sitting low in the hull. I was thinking more in terms of losing the transom with the outboard hanging off it.
 
V

Valkyrider

New Member
The outboard is easy to fish around and the 4 stroke is quite. Put a Porta-bracket on the back and then the outboard. Gives you a lot better control which you will enjoy. Will enable you to get on plane in shawoller water. seaarch for portabracket.
 
H

haldane

New Member
Hey Val,
I went to the site and took a look at the Porta-bracket and like the idea behind it.
As you apparently have one on your boat, I'd like to ask who installed it?
It seems like the kind of thing that would not be easy to install. To put it another way, it seems like the kind of thing that would be easy to screw up.
 
V

Valkyrider

New Member
Porta Bracket

My neighbor has one and I helped him install his. It is no harder than installing an engine on the back of a boat. You have a template that you follow. The hydraulic pump is the same pump that mercrusier uses for their inboard tilt and trim engines. They are the best and all parts can be replaced but after 5 years my neighbor has not had any problems even in salt water. I am going to installl one on my boat later this year. I have a 25 foot fountain CC sith a single engine with a standard Jack plate. I absolutley do not like the standard one. It is better than not having one though. What I am really looking for is a 27' Rambo so that I can put the twin porta bracket on it with twin 150 Suzuki 4 strokes. With the porta bracket the 27; Rambo will get on plane in 2' of water. Not bad.
Porta brakets are easy to install. They do not flop around and can only be moved by using hydraulic pressure.
 
H

haldane

New Member
Val:
Even though I've never owned a boat, I've always thought that just hanging an outboard on the stern is something that will end up being something that effects handling in a most negative way.
Will definitely keep these brackets in mind with whatever I end up with.

Onto something else, which is another conundrum of sorts - which engine brand to go with?
I've heard guys say that love this brand & hate that one. You mention that you have a Suzuki/'s. Why Suzuki?
 
V

Valkyrider

New Member
I have always had Evinrudes and mercury's up until now. I bought a 20' keyhopper and it had a 140 zuke on it. It runs so quite at 40 mph that you can talk in a normal voice and carry on a conversation. When you start checking them out you find out that they have a different gear ratio than all the other brands. It means that they can swing a larger prop. My 140 gets 5 miles to the gallon at 35mph, which I feel is really good. It has not given me any problems and always cranks every time I turn the key on. I would buy another one. I have also been around Yamaha 4 strokes and I also like them. The new Mercury's are OK but people have had problems with them. My neighbor has a 60 4 stroke mercury and he would trade it tomorrow if he could. Met a guy in Guam last year and he had twin 90 4 stroke merc's and both of them already had new powerheads installed by the factory.
On another note when you put a jackplate on a boat it makes it run faster and smoother due to making the boat longer. That is why you see motors out on platforms on a lot of boats.
 
H

haldane

New Member
Val:
Thanks much for the replies. From the info that I picked up here & there, I got the impression that Merc's were the be all to end all!
 
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