I am looking for a small (less than 20 ft) boat and due to limitations on my lake, if it's an I/O it can't be a V8, if outboard, 115HP max. What are the advantages of each? Keep in mind this isn't going to be a new boat, probably 10-15 years old, but newer than most of my cars.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

In the size you are considering, an I/O makes no sense whatsoever. If you could even find such an item, the engine will consume all the space in the cockpit. Maintenance on the I/O tends to be higher than the outboard and, unless you are prepared to remove the outdrive yourself, the entire boat must go in for service.

I have an I/O on a 27' SeaRay and it makes some sense on that size craft where the engine sits entirely below the main deck. Naturally, servicing it.......especially the starter.........is a real PITA.

There seem to be a bunch of Searay's and Bayliners in the 20foot-ish size and more than 1/2 are I/O's around here, but I had always been told that outboards weigh less and make more sense on smaller boats. I have never owned a power boat before and appreciate your input.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

I'd do an outboard in that size. I can't imagine trying to service an engine buried in the bilge of a small boat. Unless you want to call the boat "Skinned Knuckles".

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Thank You!
Fred
2009 ML350
2004 SL600
2004 SL500
1996 SL600
2002 SLK32
2005 CLK320 cabrio
2003 ML350
1997 C280 Sport

I'd do an IO. Unless you buy a 4 stroke outboards are loud and annoying.

Bayliner sells a very nice 18ft bowrider with a 135hp Merc 4 cylinder with an Alpha 1 drive on the back. Brand new for about $10k with a trailer. The engine is about as difficult to work on as your average 240D, and parts are dirt cheap.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

only thing i know is if i were buying a boat to use for skiing it would be a jet drive instead of a prop.

my uncle had a beautiful io ski boat with a 350 chebby motor. the gearbox was a little fuzzy. my uncle ended up backing over his granddaughter by accident cause it wasnt out of gear when he thought it was. she nearly died of blood loss and now has huge scars all over her thighs.

a very beautiful young lady too.

my uncle mourned the accident til the day he died and never hardly used the boat after that. his whole family used it extensively every summer before and it ruined their whole summer routine cause some refused to ever use the boat again and others wanted to.

also if in the south the manatees will appreciate a jet drive too.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Nah. Many of the new 2-strokes have through the prop exhaust and aren't much louder than the 4 strokes. The two strokes are as efficient as the fours now, but I have a 135 Johnson 4 stroke that I have had zero problems with, so I have no desire to switch back.

For a boat the size St. Louis wants, an I/O would be too heavy and slow. A used I/O will just be inheriting someone else's problems--these boats are bought by weekenders that trash them. The interiors and seats, ect....are junk in all but the high end ones and the outdrives are a constant set of hydraulic problems.

I had a Ski Nautique (inboard) w/ a 350 in high school, but that was a different animal.

My very limited experience is that we spent a hell of a lot more maintaining and repairing an I/O than we did on any outboards.

B

Hmmm, ....

I know folks who fish on the river down on this end. They catch gigantic catfish and gar. I've been swimming in it down near Buris just for the hell of it when we landed on the river one hot summer day (I've always had a problem with an airplane "landing" on water. It just doesn't sound right).

Holy cow, I wouldn't dip my little toe in the river, any of the rivers around here, unless I wanted it to fall off later.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

I wouldn't make a daily habit of swimming in it. But by almost all measures the Mississippi River is cleaner now than it has been in 40 years.