Ski Boat folks: Inboard vs Outboard

Hey guys! Question for you looking for some insight regarding your boat preferences...
I've currently got a '92 Maxum 1900 XR ski boat. 20ft, 150HP Mercury outboard. My father in law taught me pretty much everything I know about ski boats and he swears outboards are the ONLY way to go, he has a '87 Bayliner with a 85HP Force engine. My current boat needs some work so I'm tossing around the idea of selling it and getting a new boat. And I really like the idea of an inboard type motor/drive instead of the outboard.

So my question is this, who has had both? Which do you prefer? I'm told outboards are lower maintenance, easier to work on, etc. But I don't do the work myself anyway so I’m thinking that shouldn’t even be a consideration... I like the idea of the full ski step across the back and I prefer the looks of the inboard type boats too...

Thoughts??

 

No boaters around huh??

 

Outboard for sure.

Easier to service, easier to replace.

 

Unless you’re going with something like a new master craft purpose built ski boat you’re having someone else work on, I’d probably pick an outboard setup.

newer outboards are fairly easy to service if you plan to DIY as far as changing engine oil and fuel filters are concerned, an I/O I wouldn’t want to mess with personally.

 

Well I’m not looking to spend $100k on a new boat, but I still don’t plan to do the maintenance/repairs myself. I’m fully capable of it (used to wrench for a living), I just don’t want to anymore lol.

I’m thinking my best bet (and probably the easiest to sell to the wife) is gonna be to just fix up my current boat a bit. It needs a new steering cable, motor needs fresh paint, interior upholstery done, and some gel coat repair.

 

in my opinion inboard is the only way to go. Not inboard/outboard or straight out board. But then again i am an an old school barefooter. I own to me what is the last barefoot boat made to me, 1990 barefoot Natique. Inboards are way easier to work on and less complicated.

 

outboard they look sexy ass hell

 

Peeps with outboards tow skiers and tubes all the time. The new Yamaha engines are gangsta.

 

I've got both now a Yamaha outboard on a bass boat and a straight inboard in a barefoot natique. I have lived on a lake for 30 years inboard is the way to go. As far as working on them, inboards use to be much easier to work on and lasted longer, hell its a car motor with 1:1 transmission vs a two stroke engine. In today's world their still easier to work on but not so much as they use to be. Outboard 4 strokes are way more complicated that outboards use to be.

 

Inboards were ski boats in the old days because they didn't make much wake and the added bonus of safety and ingress/egress from rear.

Now they ballast them for wakes. Go figure. If skiing, get a inboard, if tubing, boarding, sliding, surfing. Get a Outboard. Personally, I liked wakeboarding behind a heavy deep V like a Scarab before it planes and trim adjusted to suit.

 

A well maintained IO will last thirty years or more. Outboards (at least original 2 stroke) require more frequent rings and seals due to design. As with every engine, (boat or vehicle) You will eventually need a trustworthy mechanic. I have owned both. All depends on your budget, operational requirements and personal preference. We used the 18' jet boat for river trips and the bass boat for fishing. But now, run a bout, for just training grandkids.

 

What do you mean when You say "skiboat"? A skiboat should be a inboard with direct drive. If there is a lower unit hanging off the back of the boat that is a inboard/outboard. I personally would want a inboard for skiing and water sports(love my friends malibu response), but realistically a outboard is more of a all arounder.

 

My "ski boat" is an I/O. It's not hard to work on, I've been into the outdrive and motor. For Water Sports I think Inboard is definitely the way to go, safety and not knocking boards and crap off the outdrive/outboard when jumping in and out.

With that said, my boat is a 1986 and plagued with issues right now so I am actively looking for a "do it all" boat... Want something to fish out of one day, and take a group of 5-6 people out wake boarding the next. I was looking into a 2000 Malibu Sportster LX but it has 2200 hours on the 5.7 and they want 14,900 for it...

 

That seems like a ton of hrs. I check out tow boats quite a bit, and never see hrs like that.

I fish off my buddies Malibu every so often because thats the option. Its not great to do, and always worried about the draft along shore lines.

 

Agreed. I think that's why no one is biting. I came across a 98' Tige PRE2200i with 640 hrs on it... its already pending before I can comm with the seller.

There IS a 2007 Tahoe (I know..) Q4 with low hours, garage kept, clean as hell with the 4.3. I may go look at that. it's a fish/ski platform. Jack of all, not good at anything lol

 

I love driving a inboard boat. My buddies that I take out all the time is a Malibu Response, a full on ski boat. Never driven a boat that handles as well, smooth riding, or the power out of the hole. I could never own one though as a only boat. With the tracking fins and inboard prop, you can't beach the thing on a island, or sandbar, the thing sucks to fish from as I can't trim up in shallows.

The Tahoe is the best option no question for what you want. I personally prefer a outboard to a i/o, but thats personal. My buddy just bought a 23' sea ray with the new v6 mercruiser and it moves nicely.

 

I've never owned an outboard, but I've been on a few. I have no real reason to be turned off by them other than I am. lol. I dig outboards on things like bass boats, skiffs, center consoles etc. For some reason I can't bring myself to have an OB Ski boat/openbow

 

I have a direct drive ski boat and a fishing boat with a Yamaha F200. For me, the direct drive is a big safety feature on the ski boat. You would need to be under the boat to come in contact with the prop. Safty wins in my book over easy of service. If you are taking the boat to someone to do the work call a local shop and ask them how many hours it takes to do a 100-hour service on each type of motor.- then ask what a foot is worth.
A full teak swim step should not be underrated.