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?

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?

jamesgangnc wrote:
Do you mean outboards verses inboard/outboards verses inboards?

Yes, I meant inboard/outboard....sorry. I would be scared to use a true
inboard around here because of all the stumps here in these East
Texas/West Louisiana lakes. I am also considering jet drive if anyone
has comments about that. Thanks for your responses so far guys. What
about fuel economy on 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke?

"Archie Bunker" wrote in message
oups.com...

jamesgangnc wrote:
Do you mean outboards verses inboard/outboards verses inboards?

Yes, I meant inboard/outboard....sorry. I would be scared to use a true
inboard around here because of all the stumps here in these East
Texas/West Louisiana lakes. I am also considering jet drive if anyone
has comments about that. Thanks for your responses so far guys. What
about fuel economy on 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke?


You might go to www.riverjetmagazine.com forums for jet drive questions.
These are mostly aluminum boats. More expensive than Mastercrafts in lots
of cases.

Jet drives do handle shallow water better than anything else but they
use a lot of gas.

Calif Bill wrote:
"Archie Bunker" wrote in message
oups.com...

jamesgangnc wrote:
Do you mean outboards verses inboard/outboards verses inboards?

Yes, I meant inboard/outboard....sorry. I would be scared to use a true
inboard around here because of all the stumps here in these East
Texas/West Louisiana lakes. I am also considering jet drive if anyone
has comments about that. Thanks for your responses so far guys. What
about fuel economy on 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke?


You might go to www.riverjetmagazine.com forums for jet drive questions.
These are mostly aluminum boats. More expensive than Mastercrafts in lots
of cases.

"jamesgangnc" wrote in message
ups.com...
Jet drives do handle shallow water better than anything else but they
use a lot of gas.

Calif Bill wrote:
"Archie Bunker" wrote in message
oups.com...

jamesgangnc wrote:
Do you mean outboards verses inboard/outboards verses inboards?

Yes, I meant inboard/outboard....sorry. I would be scared to use a true
inboard around here because of all the stumps here in these East
Texas/West Louisiana lakes. I am also considering jet drive if anyone
has comments about that. Thanks for your responses so far guys. What
about fuel economy on 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke?


You might go to www.riverjetmagazine.com forums for jet drive questions.
These are mostly aluminum boats. More expensive than Mastercrafts in
lots
of cases.


The newer Hamilton 212's are about 95% the efficiency of a prop boat. My
Kodiak 3 stage is about 85%. Overall in the total cost of a boat is
negligible.

Bottom line you will have, by far, the most choices in the category of
conventional trailer boats with i/os. If you do not want a real
inboard ski boat then I'd look in this category. If you are staying in
protected water I would also go with a bowrider.

Calif Bill wrote:
"jamesgangnc" wrote in message
ups.com...
Jet drives do handle shallow water better than anything else but they
use a lot of gas.

Calif Bill wrote:
"Archie Bunker" wrote in message
oups.com...

jamesgangnc wrote:
Do you mean outboards verses inboard/outboards verses inboards?

Yes, I meant inboard/outboard....sorry. I would be scared to use a true
inboard around here because of all the stumps here in these East
Texas/West Louisiana lakes. I am also considering jet drive if anyone
has comments about that. Thanks for your responses so far guys. What
about fuel economy on 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke?


You might go to www.riverjetmagazine.com forums for jet drive questions.
These are mostly aluminum boats. More expensive than Mastercrafts in
lots
of cases.


The newer Hamilton 212's are about 95% the efficiency of a prop boat. My
Kodiak 3 stage is about 85%. Overall in the total cost of a boat is
negligible.

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?

OT: Just bught a new boat ... went with I/O ... again. Reason ... that
tried and true 4.3L Volvo Penta (which meets current emmisions) costs a
lot less than the equivalent outboard ... a lot less. And the boat ...
170 Seaswirl (2006) bowrider ... balances very nicely with that I/O ...
and goes like a bat :-).

Bottom line you will have, by far, the most choices in the category of
conventional trailer boats with i/os. If you do not want a real
inboard ski boat then I'd look in this category. If you are staying in
protected water I would also go with a bowrider.

If he's outgrowing the boat then a bowrider probably isn't what he's after.

What're the limiting factors of your current boat? What extras are you
looking for? That might help better determine what alternatives to
consider.

The usual issues apply, I/O and outboards can be trimmed up but I/O's have
maintenance issues if you're leaving them in the water. Inboards are the
best for maintenance if it's in the water all the time but don't have the
shallower drafts of I/O's. Jet drives have efficiency issues, especially as
you into larger boats.

But it raises the question of what is it you want out of the boat ABOVE the
waterline?

" If he's outgrowing the boat then a bowrider probably isn't what he's
after."

I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion? Sounds like he is
boating on local lakes and that probably means trailering. If he gets
a cuddy he's got no space forward of the driver for passengers. You
think people like to ride in the cabin of a cuddy day boating on a
lake?


Bill Kearney wrote:
Bottom line you will have, by far, the most choices in the category of
conventional trailer boats with i/os. If you do not want a real
inboard ski boat then I'd look in this category. If you are staying in
protected water I would also go with a bowrider.

If he's outgrowing the boat then a bowrider probably isn't what he's after.

What're the limiting factors of your current boat? What extras are you
looking for? That might help better determine what alternatives to
consider.

The usual issues apply, I/O and outboards can be trimmed up but I/O's have
maintenance issues if you're leaving them in the water. Inboards are the
best for maintenance if it's in the water all the time but don't have the
shallower drafts of I/O's. Jet drives have efficiency issues, especially as
you into larger boats.

But it raises the question of what is it you want out of the boat ABOVE the
waterline?