Any preference to V-Drives vs. Stern on the South Shore. I've only been boating down here half a season and haven't run aground yet, but it seems to be pretty common. Any of you with larger boats have some thoughts. Right now my Four Winns is 28'10" LOA and when moving up need to make that decision. Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, but it's basically why I stopped inquiring about the boat - figure it will cost a lot more if I bend a shaft vs. tilt up and up to push off some sand.
2006 340 sundancer
- Thread starter Dani-Lu
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I have twin I-Os in my 310 Searay, if you are in 28-34ft range in express cruiser I would go with I-Os on the south shore.
Ive had a few people come look at my searay, and they all love the I-Os, the maintenance scares them though...
Ive had a few people come look at my searay, and they all love the I-Os, the maintenance scares them though...
Thanks - that's sorta what I am thinking...I'd ideally like the next boat to be 31-35ft with I/O's because of the shallow bottom. I understand about the maintenance. I assume it'll be about double what I pay now for the single I/O. Are the inboards that much less in maintenance costs?
My boat is up for sale, and ive heard that question from a few people. What are the costs difference in maintenance? The way I look at is, I rather have something that needs to be maintained, then something that doesnt need to be maintained. I pull the drives off every winter, with an inboard, there is nothing really to pull off. When the drive is off I can see what is needed and I do preventative maintenance.
Much easier and much more cost effective to do preventative maintenance then not.
Much easier and much more cost effective to do preventative maintenance then not.
Forgive me, i am not trying to debate i/o versus inboard, but having trouble making sense of this post. How can not having the extra cost of having to remove i/o's every season and the associated maintenance be better than not having to deal with the additional issues and costs when ownining inboards? Not following the logic - please expand.
Pulling, the drives, I can see what needs to be replaced. With inboards, you have straight and v drives. With both, you have to worry about leaky shafts and repacking them. With that, you generally do not take them apart during the winter. You only really mess with them when there is a problem. My above post was about preventative maintenance.
when I pull the drives, I can see the bellows, the intermediaries, I can take the drive apart. What does it cost me? Just my time and parts.
when I pull the drives, I can see the bellows, the intermediaries, I can take the drive apart. What does it cost me? Just my time and parts.
Thanks Dave. Looking forward to more cabin room. Gonna miss the 290 AJ it was a great boat.
On the IO vs Inboard discussion I can speak to Bravo III outdrives after 9 seasons on the south shore boating. The annual cost is higher to maintain the outdrives if you're not handy and hire the work out. If you're handy (it's not too hard) you can cut your annual cost from several thousand dollars to a few hundred dollars plus some time and sweat. I never did mind the boat work which amounted to about 3 days spring and fall and $400 in Mercury parts. Got me out of the house and in the Marina.
We're moving up from 29 to 34 and from what I can tell outdrives are few and far between at least for Searay 340s which is what we're looking at.
All in all I prefer outdrives for the southshore because I can do the work, they perform better, better fuel economy, better speed, more manuverable etc.. BUT I'm going to end up with inboards. I'm sure they come with their own annual maintenance needs. Guess I'm gonna get an education on outboards.
On the IO vs Inboard discussion I can speak to Bravo III outdrives after 9 seasons on the south shore boating. The annual cost is higher to maintain the outdrives if you're not handy and hire the work out. If you're handy (it's not too hard) you can cut your annual cost from several thousand dollars to a few hundred dollars plus some time and sweat. I never did mind the boat work which amounted to about 3 days spring and fall and $400 in Mercury parts. Got me out of the house and in the Marina.
We're moving up from 29 to 34 and from what I can tell outdrives are few and far between at least for Searay 340s which is what we're looking at.
All in all I prefer outdrives for the southshore because I can do the work, they perform better, better fuel economy, better speed, more manuverable etc.. BUT I'm going to end up with inboards. I'm sure they come with their own annual maintenance needs. Guess I'm gonna get an education on outboards.
Im going to disagree. My Sundancer with twin alphas, are counter roatating, and have 4 bladed props. It handles EXACTLY like an inboard. I can manuever the boat with the throttles and not once touch the wheel.
I added the 4 bladed props to help grip and push the water for docking and manuevering in close close quarters.
Before anyone asks, yes, I have run boats with inboards before.
I added the 4 bladed props to help grip and push the water for docking and manuevering in close close quarters.
Before anyone asks, yes, I have run boats with inboards before.
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I went from gas inboards to diesel inboards and now BIII IOs. Granted, I don't have a lot of time running the current boat yet but so far I agree with Andy. Never touched the wheel with my gas inboards but did need throttle sometimes. Never touched anything but shifters with the diesels. I find myself using the wheel on the IOs as my slip is interior and a little tight for maneuvering. Inboards would be my preference overall.
jcirrinc - Don't sweat the inboard issue. A number of ROs here run the sand box with inboards without issues. You just need to be careful about sticking to the channels and above all, not following a copper hulled Regal named "Current Sea". (Sorry Dave)
jcirrinc - Don't sweat the inboard issue. A number of ROs here run the sand box with inboards without issues. You just need to be careful about sticking to the channels and above all, not following a copper hulled Regal named "Current Sea". (Sorry Dave)
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BC, I believe yes and yes. The issue is pivot point. Still getting used to it so admittedly not a lot of practice. Hoping to be out Sat.
Its fun working with twin I-Os. My little cousin likes the sound of an inboard pushing the water out when docking. You know the sound when you put the boat in gear for a second. So I raise the drives on the searay and it makes the same noise, and it makes his day.
The duo props will help with performance, but will also help you back straight down. Twin I-Os can be handled like inboards or like a single IO. Whatever works best for you is what you should do.
I operate mine like I have twin inboards and people tell me how foolish I am. I dont know, maybe I am foolish.
Just spend a little bit at an empty marina, and youll get the feel for it in no time.
I know you are a seasoned boater, but if you need a hand getting used to IOs, let me know
The duo props will help with performance, but will also help you back straight down. Twin I-Os can be handled like inboards or like a single IO. Whatever works best for you is what you should do.
I operate mine like I have twin inboards and people tell me how foolish I am. I dont know, maybe I am foolish.
Just spend a little bit at an empty marina, and youll get the feel for it in no time.
I know you are a seasoned boater, but if you need a hand getting used to IOs, let me know
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I have owned single screw outdrives, single outboards, twin duo-props, gas inboards and diesel inboards.
While the twin duo-props were easier to operate than the single OD, there was no comparison to twin inboards. The "pivot point" makes all the difference in the world.
Maintenance on an OD is much higher than on inboards, OD's have much more area to corrode, and you can't check fluid level while boat is in the water. Pulling an OD off every year to surface it is a PIA.
While the twin duo-props were easier to operate than the single OD, there was no comparison to twin inboards. The "pivot point" makes all the difference in the world.
Maintenance on an OD is much higher than on inboards, OD's have much more area to corrode, and you can't check fluid level while boat is in the water. Pulling an OD off every year to surface it is a PIA.
I had the 290 Amberjack, duo props counter rotating, I sucked at docking that boat. My 34C Silverton (although a sail in the wind) was much easier to dock and that boat had prop pockets.
Joe,
winterizing with inboards is soooooooooo much easier than an I/O and is far less expensive. Don't sweat the additional draw or not being able to trim the motors up, my Silveton (34C) drew 39 inches and that was no problem in our sandbox. I/O for sure on speed and efficiency.
Joe,
winterizing with inboards is soooooooooo much easier than an I/O and is far less expensive. Don't sweat the additional draw or not being able to trim the motors up, my Silveton (34C) drew 39 inches and that was no problem in our sandbox. I/O for sure on speed and efficiency.
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I had a 34' boat with I/O's, so you can go up to 34' with I/O's.
I have seen even bigger with I/O.
My 34' Cruisers was alot faster and more economical than the same boat with inboards.
I met a guy with same boat with inboards.
For manueverability, you know, this is really tough as every boat with different power packages handles different. It's all a matter of getting used to it. Plus no 2 boats pivot the same, handle the wind the same, track the same, etc.
For maintenance, hands down the inboards are way to go. In fact if inboards cost me an extra $1000 in fuel, it's worth it. I/O's are bitch to remove, take off props, paint, drive fluid, etc. Then throw in the potential issue with corrosion and dealing with that if you are in a marina with a issue or have a leaky neighbor!
I like Inboards!
I have seen even bigger with I/O.
My 34' Cruisers was alot faster and more economical than the same boat with inboards.
I met a guy with same boat with inboards.
For manueverability, you know, this is really tough as every boat with different power packages handles different. It's all a matter of getting used to it. Plus no 2 boats pivot the same, handle the wind the same, track the same, etc.
For maintenance, hands down the inboards are way to go. In fact if inboards cost me an extra $1000 in fuel, it's worth it. I/O's are bitch to remove, take off props, paint, drive fluid, etc. Then throw in the potential issue with corrosion and dealing with that if you are in a marina with a issue or have a leaky neighbor!
I like Inboards!