Aside from wake, difference between I/O and inboard

bluefish86

Aside from the obvious difference in wake size, why would someone want to buy an inboard over an I/O or vice-versa? I've never driven or even been in an inboard. I've only ever used I/Os, and I'm getting curious.

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

one ride will set you free. hole shot performance, handling and simplicity are the ones that come off the top of my head.

srh00z · Outlaw Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Posts: 128 City: Birmingham

I have an I/O and am working a deal on an inboard currently. I can tell you this, in my experience an inboard will give you a more uniform pull, and they tend to handle better (the steering wheel is much easier in an inboard), and inboards also hold their speed better. The downsides to inboards are the price, the ride in rough water, etc.

DRAGON88 · Posted: Mar 07, 2004 5:14 pm Post subject:

Seing as my family has owned both...

Point #1 quality generally Inboards are much higher quality, in terms of a 19 ft Nauti to a 19 foot Bayliner (note price difference)

Point#2 lay out, allot of people like the layout of a V-drive over an I/O...

Point #3 water access, there is no prop in the way, generally inboards sit a little lower in the water.

Point #4 which is the most obvious, the wake (as you pointed out) that I would say is the number 1 reason.

Cbrown · Soul Rider Joined: 23 Oct 2003 Posts: 301 City: Memphis

making the switch as we speak from i/o to inboard, i would say the biggest difference is the handling. the inboard was more responsive, better turning, acceleration, and also the consistency of speed. this was in a v-drive so the handling in a d-drive would be even better.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

All the handling comments are at speed. In close quarter docking situations the I/O is easier to handle and requires less skill.

Inboards
Pro- better handling at speed, consistant speeds, better hole shot, very little bow rise, prop is under the boat (safer imo)
Cons- handling at low speeds, handling while in reverse (next to none), fixed running gear prevents shallow water activity, slow top end

I/O's
Pro- can trim up in shallow water, outdrive will kick up if you hit something, faster top end, can trim to conditions, handling while in reverse
Cons- plane speeds are right around wakeboard speeds, prop protrudes behind the boat (unsafe imo), inconsistant speed control

finkle · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 4067

DRAGON88 · Posted: Mar 07, 2004 11:52 pm Post subject:

I had an I/O too, it was a pretty nice searay. You get what you pay for. I still stand by my comment of higher quality, compare almost ANY I/O to a MC Nauti or Bu, it is rather apparant that the interior and build quality is not on the same par as thoes big 3.

as for point #2 notice how i said allot (not every one) of people liked the interor layout better than that of an I/O compared to a V-drive I have yet to see/ be in an I/O with the exact same seating of a v-drive...

Dave Sunseri · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 5:52 am Post subject: VS

My Father owns a 2000 26 foot cobalt and i have a 1994 mastercraft. The interrior on the cobalt is as nice or nicer than any wakeboard boat. The main thing is handling, wake, style, and prop safety. IMO I would much rather get banged around in the mastercraft than cruise around in the cobalt and not feel anything but that is just me....

ElmoG · Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 20

Have to chime in here...

The layout of a vdrive (prior to doing it for wake) was to emulate the layout of an I/O. The layout is the *same*. Some folks wanted the performance of an inboard without an engine in the middle of the boat so they made the v-drive *like* and I/O by moving the engine to rear.

Quality is quality. Bayliner and Nautique is hardly an 'apples to apples' comparison.

What this thread points out is that in terms of wakeboarding, it gets a bit more difficult to define the advantages of an inboard to an I/O. When talking about skiing, you can cite the tracking, pull etc that are requirements of a good slalom run but the question is, could a quality built, weighted I/O possibly perform as a good wakeboard boat? I am not sure the final answer is made yet. Currently I do not believe there is an I/O hull that will produce a great wake weighted but I wonder if a radically new hull paired with an I/O drivetrain could possibly work in tournament wakeboarding?

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

I/Os can sway when a rider cuts hard against the boat, they can porpoise, and I think are generally more difficult to control for wakeboard pulls. Hole shot is really oversold for wakebarding - how fast you get up has almost nothing to do with how well you will wakeboard once you are riding. IOs are way easier to dock and trailer because of a steerable reverse, handle chop, faster top end with same HP, and are generally less expensive than similar size/year/condition inboards. Wakes behind an I/O can be decent - never like a SAN VLX etc, but can be as big or sometimes better than similarly weighted nonwake specific direct drives like Outbacks Brendala F3s etc.

Bayliner Nauti comparision is ridiculous.

Really depends on what you want to use the boat for as both have their advantages. I see way more I/Os on the lake than inboards but then I do not see too many inverts being thrown behind I/Os either. I just traded my I/O for a v-drive.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Leggester · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 8:17 am Post subject:

Wow, a lot of disinformation here.

Elmo has most of it though.

Look into a 90 Beechcraft 22 sport cuddy with a 5.7 motor. Puts most V-drives to shame from the hole shot. Steep, quick wicked wake.

I/Os porpoise! Bwahahahahahahaha! Trim it down dummy.

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

Trim it down and the wake gets washy, but hey if you like a washy wake with no lip go for it.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

Leggester · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 11:00 am Post subject:

Giggles Chavez. I am continually amazed that folks with a 3 liter motor in their I/O try to compare it against a 5.7 or 5.8 motor - of any boat!

As far as the prop goes - I've never really cared. I like I/Os better for a multipurpose boat.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I had a tough time deciding between an i/o and an inboard. I went with the inboard, but sometimes I think I could have saved 10-15 grand and got an i/o.

Of course, I haven't had the new inboard in the water yet......

ElmoG · Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 20

I'll even go out on a limb here and mention one more thing.

Obviously the transom on a Nautique or any other 'low draft' inboard simply could not accomodate an out-drive but when MC was teasing us with the new X-Star prior to production, I wondered to myself, "Maybe MC will throw the industry on its ear and come out with an out-drive wakeboard boat." If you look at the transom on that boat, it looks like it actually *could* accomodate a stern drive installation. The literal million dollar question is how different would that boat be with a simple drive-train change???

MissJade · Soul Rider Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 486 City: Austin, TX

It all comes down to why you are buying a boat. We can go back and forth between the mechanics of why one is better than another, but it comes down to it's purpose. If you are a leisure wakeboarder and looking for a boat to spend some time in party coves and wakeboard behind on weekends, then an I/O might be a great choice for you. They are cheaper and you CAN wakeboard. However, if you are really serious about improving your wakeboarding, than a wakeboard-specific boat is something that you'd want to seriously consider. We all know the pros of a wakeboard-specific boat, it just comes down to whether you want to spend the moey for it and how that relates to the reason you want to buy a boat. If $$ is an issue and you would like some wakeboard specific features, then consider looking into used boats or boats like Moombas. You can analyze it to death, but in the end, it still comes down to one thing : what will you do with your boat?

Randy · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 3:57 pm Post subject:

I've ridden behind a few inboards and I think that the wake is alot narrower at the same line lenght than an I/O. I think that getting into the flats is much easier behind an inboard, because it seems that the wake is narrower.

The comment about throwing inverts behind an I/O is not true. I think that technique is the key to learining new tricks.. but the boat can help. I primarily ride behind a 86 19foot glastron that i'm using to learn a tantrum.

I've also ridden behind a 20 foot Larson with a Boss tower w. a 600lb fatsack in the bow that thew a mean wake. I'm not saying that Inboards aren't great, but I think that the larger I/Os (20-22 ft w/towers) are a good alternative to a person who is price concious.

But I have ridden only behind two Inboards, a dd Moomba and an X10. So I don't have the whole story.

NHeckerson · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 104 City: Manhattan

Here is Cobalt's attempt at an inboard. I saw one in person as Cobalt is built here in Kansas. The interior was nice, but I wouldn't say it blew everyone else away like Chavez suggested. Cobalt's are very nice boats, but you pay more than a SAN for a comparable Cobalt. This 1998 is listed for $25,000.

wakebrdgod1 · Newbie Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 22

Is this a boat maker comparison, or an I/O v. inboard discussion? I don't want to get into whether CC or Cobalt makes a better boat, but one thing is for sure, inboards are way better for 2 main reasons.
First, in function, and second, in appeal.
First of all, with a normal sized rider, an I/O gets pulled all over the place b/c there are usually no tracking fins and less hull is in the water. If anyone has pulled tubers behind an I/O, you know what I mean. Next, steering is easier in an inboard b/c of rack and pinion steering as opposed to cables. Lastly, torque is what seperates I/o engines from inboard motors. Holding 22mph in an inboard with a boat load of weight and people is not too hard. The same cannot be said for an I/O.
Lastly, again, resale value. There are plenty of 10 year old inboards worth tons of money and 20 year old boats worth 10K! I/Os aren't close.

Second, are we really honestly comparing the looks of ANY I/O to a decked out Wakesetter, Xstar or SAN? I doubt that would be fair.

Steve · Criminal Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 63 City: Denton

I'm confused as to why a inboard drivetrain should cost more than a i/o (sterndrive). The motors are the same so shouldn't the only difference be the v-drive assembly versus the outdrive. The Mercruiser Alpha1 lower unit on my old boat (454 Magnum motor) sure seemed more complex than a v-drive. Is it something with how the stern of the boat has to be made/reinforced to take the stress applied to it by the lower unit? I'm actually in the process of making the switch from i/o to inboard.

bluefish86 · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: have to go with the inboard fans

NHeckerson · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 104 City: Manhattan

Most of the extra cost come from the better materials used in inboards. Companies like Cobalt that build their boats with top notch materials have prices as high or higher than inboard boats.

bluefish, a good slalom skier would pull an i/o right out of line. In the open water you wouldn't notice, but in the course you can. I could pull an i/o way out of line with ease.

Randy · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 7:50 pm Post subject:

The price is also about supply and demand. As far as I know I/O manufacturers mass produce their products. Inboard manufacturers either produce by order, or produce in relatively low numbers. When you produce less, they will cost the consumer more. Simple economics.

Just like cars, when you go to buy a high end, usually custom made vehicle, your probably not going to talk the dealer down as much as if your were buying a ford/chevy/dodge. And the same goes with resale value. High end-relatively low production vehicles will command a premium when they are resold (given they are taken care of). A vehicle from one of the big three will not usually be able to command a high price used.

wakebrdgod1 · Newbie Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 22

Bluefish, you started off this whole forum saying that you've never driven an inboard. Maybe I should have qualified my statements by saying once you drive an inboard, you will understand the difference. Someone who has never driven a boat before might think that sea doos pull great, but comparatively speaking, does it really? No. If you pull your slalom skiers through a course, you have to see the boat get pulled left and right (if as you say, they are expert skiers). That is why the pylon is mounted directly in the middle of the boat in an inboard. As far as rack and pinion steering goes, that must be a very recent development for the I/O world as it has only been a few (5) years since rack and pinion were the industry standard in inboards. As has been attested by others in this forum, if the boat is purely for wakeboarding, skiing, or other stuff (like wakesurfing), inboards are, in my humble opinion, the only way to go.

Randy · Posted: Mar 08, 2004 7:52 pm Post subject:

finkle · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 4067

yeah, I pull this thing around like a john boat. But the beam is so wide that when I pull it side to side, the boat just smothers the buoys anyway.

landon · Newbie Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 41

I owned a sea ray my friends have a CC and VLX and there was no comparison. My sea ray always seemed like a toy after I starting riding behind their boats. I could pull my sea ray off line fairly easy. I upgraded to a D-drive this year and love it. I ride better behind it.

NHeckerson · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 104 City: Manhattan

Randy, a good skier is putting enough force on the boat, that even a 22 foot Larson will get pulled around. It has a lot to do with the rear two eye and no tracking fins. A slalom skier in a course is putting way more pull on the boat than most wakeboarders ever experience. Imagine Darin Shapiro cutting at the wake and double that at least. That is the pull coming from the skier. I'm not talking recreational level slalom skiers most are familiar with, I'm talking high caliber national level competitors.

ElmoG · Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 20

It is true you can get a boat big enough that there is no way a hard slalom skiier can pull it out of track but then the *wake* is such that you can't ski the course anyway. The point was to make a boat with no wake that still can't be pulled out of the course.

This was my whole point regarding the I/O X-Star. Inboards have a designed advantage in the course but this may not be true where wake is a desired outcome.

Leggester · Posted: Mar 09, 2004 7:36 am Post subject:

There is no arguing that a ski boat of about 19' is best in the course. Then again, not many here have been through a course, I'd bet.

Wake boarding is more of a cruising sport.

Elmo and Jade have it right. I chose my boat based on boating style and experience. Just listen to all the bitches at Cent and Cal and Tige because watercomes over the bow.

There is neither advantage nor disadvantage to either style of boat. It works for your boating style or it doesn't.

What pisses me off is when folks are comparing a 3.0 liter to a 5.7 liter. That's just dumb.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

NHeckerson, my old I/O was 25 feet and weighed in around 5000 lbs. I assure you that NO slalom skier can pull that boat off line. Also, I never did take pics of the wake (so I can't show you what I am talking about), but when properly trimmed it did not whitewash the peak - it was huge but maybe a bit wide.

Also, Cobalt is a better boat for more than the appearance of the interior. There are little things here and there like thickness of materials, extra sticthing in places, and better pieces and parts in general.

Whoever said I/O are mass produced with lesser quality materials is just plain wrong. There are a few brands that mass produce but there are many many others that are hand laid using only the best materials. That being said, Bayliner (#1 boat mfg in the world - production) mass produces their boats but give you a LIFETIME hull warranty. There may be some give-ups in fit and finish, but I would challenge you to find a boat that gives you all that the Bayliners do, and has the lifetime hull warranty, for a similar price. It won't be easy to do.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Chavez, how do you like your sea-ray?