Than there are two types in inboards. One where the engine sit about
amidship, it's coupled to a transmission of sorts. It is how you get into
forward, neutral or reverse, close but not exactly like your car, most don't
have multiple forward speeds. Out of the transmission the prop shaft is
attached and than goes through the hull to the prop. One benefit of this
arrangement is a good weight distribution. The downside is that it takes up
more cabin room. The other type is know as V-drive. Here the engine goes aft
close to the transom with the rear of the engine facing forward. The engine
is coupled to a transmission that is built in a v configuration rather than
straight through, the output shaft where the prop shaft attaches now faces
to the rear of the boat and passes through the hull. This seems to be a
popular setup because it allows for more interior room. My personal
preference is for the straight drive setup.
Paul

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

"HugYourPug" wrote in message
...
What are the relative merits of each. I have been looking at some boats
and the
inboards seem to offer a lot more boat for the money, but a lot of
people
buy
outboards, so there must be some merit there. Fishing, cruising and
skiing
are
the objective.

You only mention "inboard" and "outboard" but not "inboard/outboard'
You may already know the following, but I was confused on it when
I first started with boats...:

INBOARD - The engine is in / built into the boat and a
shaft goes through a stuffing box through the hull and
a prop is turned under the boat on the end of this shaft.

OUTBOARD: A single piece that has the engine and
prop all in one unit. This unit is mounted on the transom
of the boat.

INBOARD/OUTBOARD: The engine is mounted
in the boat simmilar to the "true" inboard. But instead
of a shaft going through the hull to run the prop under
the boat, the engine is coupled to an "outdrive" that
comes out of the transome of the boat. This outdrive
looks much like the prop housing on an outboard engine.