Do you mean outboards verses inboard/outboards verses inboards?

Imho, if you are truely into water sports and you trailer your boat
then an outboard is the least desirable. Outboards have superior
weight to power rations but sit on the transom of your boat right where
you will be putting people in and out of the water.

If water skiing and/or wakeboarding is particularly importatnt to you
then a true inboard ski boat is the best choice. Top end ski boats are
expensive. If price was no object I would look at the mastercraft
V-drives. But there are a number of good alternatives these days that
are not so pricey.

An inboard/outboard is a good economical choice for an all around
trailered family recreational boat. The volume that these are produced
in makes them attractive cost wise.

Archie Bunker wrote:
Our family is rapidly outgrowing the boat. Its time for a bigger one.
On a pleasure boat, mainly used for tubing, hydrosliding etc., what are
the disadvantages and advantages of outboards compared to inboards as
far as performance, handling, fuel economy, reliability, longevity?