03
Jun
On todays larger center consoles its not uncommon to see three or four motors adorning their transoms. At cruising speed the outboard manages 50 mpg 25 percent better than the sterndrive and 52 percent better than the jet.
The Good and the Bad.
Which is better inboard or outboard engines. The placement of the engine depends on which type you choose. Where the engine is located is a major difference between an inboard and an outboard motor. Outboards are positioned up out of the water hence the name and take up space off of the stern.
About 90 of the engine itself is always above water. The difference is actually within the words. An inboard engine sits within the structure of the boat and is not visible whereas the outboard engine sits outside the structure of the boat and is clearly visible at all times.
Similar boats with outboards will likely get half that range. Of course outboard-powered boats can add more fuel capacity to help increase range but that has its trade-offs. Engine Longevity While outboard motors have increased their lifespan with most expecting 2500-3000 hours.
Diesel inboards should at least double that if maintained to the same standards. An inboard motor often has a separate rudder that steers the boat. A big difference between these two motor types is their mechanical properties.
Inboard motors are close siblings to the engine youll find in a car. It has more horsepower a higher torque and can typically accelerate faster. Which is better inboard or outboard engines.
Inboardoutboards are just marinized automobile engines stuck in a boat. Outboards provide more room in the boat because they are installed on the transom outside the boat. Four-stroke outboards offer much better fuel economy less GPH more MPG than IO motors.
Drifting on the high seas with an inboard for example to many is better because of the centered weight reducing the boat motion. Outboard loyalists will suggest an engine mounted at the back of the boat is best for control and speed. Comparing the benefits of both motors.
The Benefits of Outboard vs Inboard Motors. There are a variety of reasons to go with both outboard and inboard motors and neither type of motor is inherently better than the other. The motor that you should use will depend on the type and purpose of the boat being used and personal priorities.
The Good and the Bad. Comparing comparable horsepower engines. Inboard engines are considerably more fuel efficient than outboards.
Inboard engines are predominantly marine versions of automobile engines and they have benefited from the ongoing engineering efforts that the auto companies have applied to their engines in order to meet CAFE requirements. Inboard motors generally last longer than their outboard counterparts. You can squeeze roughly 1500 hours out of an inboard before necessary maintenance.
Outboards on the other hand last about 750 hours on average. So the inboard option means less maintenance nearly half even though they cost more initially. Inboard engine boats are better suited for performing water sports.
As well as powering large vessels that require a lot of horsepower to move the boat. Outboard engine boats are better suited for shallow water salt water and pontoon boats. Though they have a superior power to weight ratio outboards lack the total torque to drive heavier boats.
Enthusiasts get around this to an extent by adding a second motor. On todays larger center consoles its not uncommon to see three or four motors adorning their transoms. Key Factors When Deciding Between Inboard and Outboard Motors.
They are powerful quiet have outboard convenience and are now available in high power versions 200 HP. However they are very expensive and heavier than 2 cycle engines. Inboards probably have the best combination of engine placement inside where its accessable farther forward for good weight placement and weight they can be lighter than IOs.
As for an outboard they can be trimmed or lifted out of the water. Comparing apples to apples inboard engines are much heavier than their outboard counter parts. Given the additional weight inboards can suffer from performance problems and diminished fuel economy specifically in gas powered engines.
Purists cringe when outboards power a classic boat. We pit outboard versus inboard to find out how they compare and examine the. The advantages of a sterndrive over an outboard engine are sterndrives have more horsepower and allow for a more attractive transom as the engine is hidden beneath the boat.
They are also easier to fish on. The advantages a sterndrive has over an inboard are sterndrives have no need for a prop shaft or rudder system making it easy to trailer and operate in shallow water. Inboard Vs Outboard Motor What Are The Differences And Which Is Better Inboard versus outboard motors which option is best for you blog nautical ventures inboard vs outboard engines outboard vs inboard choosing the right boat motor discover boating lesson 8 inboard versus outboard motors which option is best for you.
Outboard engines are not cheap. They do cost significantly more than comparable inboards. Again the advantages of outboards may be worth it.
For example swapping out an outboard engine is a lot easier than swapping an inboard. Keep in mind that if you replace an outboard engine you are replacing the lower unit as well. Automotive engines with sterndrives became the obvious answer.
Even the first Volvo stern drive was rated at 80 HP and with the growing automotive engine power sterndrives became the go-to product. If you had the budget you wanted a sterndrive. Outboards were not thought to be in the same league as the more powerful inboard outboards.
That the outboard proved most efficient is obvious with just 150 hp it can match or exceed the performance of engines making more than 200 hp as our performance charts show. At cruising speed the outboard manages 50 mpg 25 percent better than the sterndrive and 52 percent better than the jet. Inboard motor may have more pros but in some cases the outboard motor is better.
For smaller boats the outboard motor is better. It can deliver the speed you need. It will keep the engine out of water when you trim it.
Also it will not cost you a fortune.