Inboard or outboard for saltwater?

[bassquatch]

Just a curiosity more than anything else. What does everyone prefer or what have you had the most success with in saltwater an inboard or an outboard?

Just a general question but let's see if I can nail down a couple parameters?

1) Boat mainly used for recreational fishing (weekends).
2) You would have easy access to fresh water for flushing.  Would be stored out of the water.
3) You are not mechanically inclined to repair either aside from general upkeep like plugs, flush, additives, etc...
4) Potential cost of repairs should there be an issue (i.e. is one easier/cheaper to work on than the other)

Again, this is just something I am curious about because I started looking at some boats and they are literally 50/50 outboard to inboard and it got me thinking about the potential differences. I have always run outboards but only in fresh water. Two of the boats where I work have inboards and also only see fresh water, however one of them has seemed a bit finicky.

Thanks for playing along 

[lokidog]

I would personally never own an inboard unless it was an air cooled deisel in a larger boat. 

From my observations out here, inboards can be a PITA to work on depending on the design (one neighbor had to lift the engine to change the oil filter    ), inboards seem to be a lot heavier than outboards needing more power to move them, outdrives fail more than lower units, basic maintenance on an outboard is easy, access to the engine is easier also, inboards take up deck space.  If you have a buddy that knows how to work on car engines, it might be cheaper than an outboard mechanic, those access issues are still tough though.  It is easier to replace an outboard than an inboard, if needed, though maybe more expensive upfront.

More people with boats to 24 feet seem to have outboards around the island. 

 

[WoolyRunner]

 

[PolarBear]

I would personally never own an inboard unless it was an air cooled deisel in a larger boat. 

From my observations out here, inboards can be a PITA to work on depending on the design (one neighbor had to lift the engine to change the oil filter    ), inboards seem to be a lot heavier than outboards needing more power to move them, outdrives fail more than lower units, basic maintenance on an outboard is easy, access to the engine is easier also, inboards take up deck space.  If you have a buddy that knows how to work on car engines, it might be cheaper than an outboard mechanic, those access issues are still tough though.  It is easier to replace an outboard than an inboard, if needed, though maybe more expensive upfront.

More people with boats to 24 feet seem to have outboards around the island. 

 

Same here!  I have owned every type of motor configuration that you could think of in a boat and I will NEVER have another gas powered inboard, period! The best thing I ever did to a boat was dump my gas 351 Clevelands and switch to twin 416 Yanmar diesels.  I went from burning 36 gallons per hour to 4-8! A big, heavy boat should have diesels and everything else, an outboard is far and above the best option!  I have run outboards in saltwater for 40 years and as long as you give them a good flushing and scrub down, they will last for years.  Heck, I am still running a 1978 Johnson 70hp on my work boat that has been under the salt several times and still is more reliable than any gas i/o that I have ever owned.

[RadSav]

If you are talking inboards with outdrive then I agree 100% with Lokidog.  Shorter than 30' and the inboards just take too much room.  Combined with the trouble in getting around to work on them and the outdrive failure rate they aren't worth it IMO.  Well, it might be worth it in salt water if your only outboard option was a Mercury 

Now if you are talking diesel in a boat large enough to have a level deck, prop shaft and rudders then that is a different story.  Though I would never even remotely be interested in an air cooled diesel.

[RadSav]

My Yanmars were raw water cooled and were awesome!

   IMO raw water is the only way to go with diesel. 

I've run Volvo, Cat and Jimmy all raw intake.  Never run a Yanmar.  I've heard they are great when running twins!  Guys I know that have run them say the harmonic wave is almost nonexistent.  On a long day running for tuna that would sure be nice!!

[PolarBear]

Yeah, I could get those thing to sing in tune together so easily.  It was really nice on long trips.  I was on a boat in Alaska with twin Detroits and after a couple of hours your head was pounding from the constant whaaah, whaaah, whaaah....

[RadSav]

Yeah, I could get those thing to sing in tune together so easily.  It was really nice on long trips.  I was on a boat in Alaska with twin Detroits and after a couple of hours your head was pounding from the constant whaaah, whaaah, whaaah....

Spent most of my time on a 42' pop can running twin 3208 cats.  Synchro went out the first couple of weeks (probably from working too dang hard) .  Ran it for three years tuning by hand and ear.  One heck of a boat, but I never did get used to that whaaah, whaah.  The Volvo twins weren't too bad...and fast too! 

I designed a 26' sport can about 20 some odd years ago.  When I get rich I plan on building her.  When I do she will have twin outboards and triple fuel tanks.  I've been eyeballing the Yamaha, but who knows what the market will have by the time I can afford to build it.

[MADMAX]

Been pretty happy with 4 stroke outboards
just watch using ethanol gas

[Magnum_Willys]

My john deere tractor has a yanmar 36 hp .  I wouldnt want to relax fishing behind that stinky diesel.  How are those big outboards smell and smokewise? 

[Gobble Doc]

just watch using ethanol gas

I make sure to use fresh non-ethanol gas. 

[JimmyHoffa]

For salt, I would go twin or more over any other item on my checklist.  But personal pref is diesel inboards with red gears.  So easy to work on, especially in seas.  Can't stand having to hang off the transom trying to work on outboards.

[jeffro]

I run a '89 trophy 2452 sport hardtop with a '95 Yamaha V-Max 250
My friend runs a '92 ish 2454? Alaska bulkhead with an inboard 5.7l.
Not only can I blow his door off out of the hole, top speed and deck space,
I get way better economy, easy decision on this sized boat.
Even if I went to the 28' version I'd still run outboards, but it would be twins.

[bassquatch]

Great stuff! 

I'm more familiar with outboards and that's the way I would go but it's just been bugging me why so many of the ones I look at have inboards? You would think if they were that much of a pain sales would suffer and manufacturers would make adjustments?

Thanks for the replies, pretty much solidified my thought process. For the record this was in regards to the Trophy models. I started out shopping for a new or used larger bass boat as that's what I spend 80% of my fishing time doing throughout the year. I'm just not sure how much we would use the Trophy? Especially with fisheries that can just close any time of year and our schedules only jive on Sunday's most the time?! Hmmm....more research, more pondering in order.

At least if we do pull the trigger on the Trophy I know which way to go on the motor 

[lokidog]

just watch using ethanol gas

I make sure to use fresh non-ethanol gas.

I've never had issues with the ethanol in either my older 2 strokes (other than eating a fuel hose or two) or the newer four strokes, but then gas only lasts a short time when you cover 3500 miles a year....   

Lots of inboards because they are cheaper than used outboards since fewer people want them.    

If you are going to use your boat for mostly small water fishing, I would not go with a trophy.  On mine, the slow speed maneuverability sucks and unless you get the walk-around cuddy, access to the bow is a pain.  My 20 footer also weighs about 3500# whereas an aluminum boat is a lot lighter and needs a lot less power to push around or tow behind the truck.  Just some more food for thought.