Draft (depth to bottom of screw) in an inboard?

DanB · Newbie Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 36 City: New Durham

May be getting a boat and putting it on a local lake. The area where the boat will be is in a shallow cove, and I'm worried about screwing up an inboard. Maybe an i/o is the only way to go here?!?

I can measure the depth this weekend. How deep is the average inboard (water to bottom of prop)?

Thanks!

chaz28o · Posted: Jun 30, 2004 9:19 am Post subject:

Typical inboards draft in about 2' of water (or less)

A wakeboard boat will draft a minimum of 2' and most are around 28"

An I/O will draft even deeper

T&T · Outlaw Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 192 City: Denver

Hell yes. My I/O skeg sits at about 3.5' to 4' below the water. A shallow ski boat is much better off in shallow water.
The good part of the I/O is that i can raise the outdrive above the bottom of the hull, but you can't run it that way.

DanB · Newbie Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 36 City: New Durham

But you can raise the I/O a decent amount when putting into a cove, no? Wouldn't it be higher (less deep) than the fixed inboard? Also, what would hurt the wallet harder when hitting bottom @ 2-5 MPH: a slightly raised i/o skeg/prop, or the inboard prop (bent shaft???)

churchy · Posted: Jun 30, 2004 10:34 am Post subject:

Go inboard.

T&T · Outlaw Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 192 City: Denver

YEP, you can raise the inboard a little (usually about 20 degrees from vertical) and still run at full speed, any higher and you shouldn't engage the prop because the CV joints could blow out. I have run it in idle with the outdrive all the way up, but it isn't good at all, and if you try to give it any throttle, it makes a mess and will thrust the back of the boat down.
If you are just idling the boat and coasting into the cove, I would agree with you about the I/O, but any power or speed, you are much better off with an inboard.

NAW · Posted: Jun 30, 2004 11:42 am Post subject:

T&T · Outlaw Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 192 City: Denver

DanB · Newbie Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 36 City: New Durham

Would only need to raise the outdrive while coasting slowly into a small cove. Would definitely have enough control to reach the dock safely. The question remains... what gives me the most room between bottom of prop (or skeg), and the lake bottom? A fixed Inboard prop/rudder, or a raised outboard prop/skeg???

Thanks for all your help!

T&T · Outlaw Joined: 07 May 2003 Posts: 192 City: Denver

It doesn't have an easy answer because it depends on the boat, but heres a quick generalized answer:
Raised outboard prop/skeg would be safest.

Keep in mind that with a deep-V hull the boat would sit lower in the water, so a shallow hull would be your best bet regardless of the drive.
Measure the total depth, because you may be able to get by with an inboard if that is what you desire.

Partyb · Posted: Jul 01, 2004 2:33 pm Post subject:

Yea, good point, the hull is the bigger issue. Inboard tow boats don't draw much water b/c basically the hulls are flat bottomed, as compared to your typical I/O boat (v hull)