[Capt. Debbie]

Capt.

Having been involved in hundreds a breakdowns, here are some observations- good and bad.

#1- Diesels are the way to go. But they are MUCH more expensive. Initial buyers in that size boat cheap down and get undersized diesels if at all. Like twin 200 hp's on a 36'. That boat will barely do in the mid 20 mph's. Also given you're looking used, you can only buy what's there. As such, diesels in that size used boat population are rare- maybe one in 50 have them at all.

#2 - I/O lower units fail regularly. Maybe not every year or two, but the nature of the lower unit with all that stuff swiveling around with exhaust gas, gears, and spent water make for a shorter 1/2 live. A good I/O run, from what I've seen is about four years before failure.

#3- I/O's are WAY more manueverable in tight circumstances like docking. Like an outboard you can point the props at where you want to go.

#4- You can efficiently use the I/O trim-tilt to trim a boat up instead of using the power robbing trim tabs that work by causing drag. It's more fuel efficient to trim drives than use the tabs.

#5- I/O/ can be tilted up should you run aground or run into thin water. With straight inboards that's not an option and you have MUCH more gear underneath should you ground hard. The struts, stuffing box and rudders can be bent or seriously compromised (i.e taking on water). on a hard grounding.

#6- The straight inboards do not have any lower units, but do have gearboxes and have a stuffing boxes where the shafts exit the hull. Some of the newer (more expensive0 like Cabo's) inboards have a special sealing system where if you are towed the drag against the props of being towed breaches the seals and you begin to take on water. They require you to lock down the shaft.

#7- You will have much more maintenance with I/O's than inboards because of the way they operate. A newer Mercrusier high end Bravo Drive (duo props) could be cost to $10,000 should you have to replace the unit with new. Most people rebuild though.

BOTTOM LINE-
BUT for higher maintenance, the I/O is the superior unit for versatility to the straight inboard. INboard is much more simple and does not have the stress of a gimballed prop hooked up to 350 or 375 hp motors.

NOW look at the new digitital propulsion systems hawked. The new Azimuth style(i.e. joy stick steering) drives are variations on the I/O mounted moved to the boat's bottom instead of the transom. Those even have forward facing props and can not be raised. You want to run aground with those babies, you have have a single shot pistol handy to eat the gun when you get that repair bill. LOL

I hope that helps some?

Capt. Frank