What are the pros and cons of an outboard motor, verses an inboard/outboard?
It all depends on the style boat you have. If you want a good mid sized boat for fishing, like a center console or a walk around style boat, I would run with an outboard engine because they are just more practical. They maneuver easy, they are lighter an an I/O, they are generally better on fuel than an I/O, especially an Optimax, you can look back and tell where your engine is trimmed, they are easier to work on than an I/O and less expensive to maintain.
An I/O is a good application for a larger power boat, or a speed boat. You can get I/Os with much higher horsepower than an outboard, they are also pretty easy to maneuver as well, they make that lovely V8 rumble with a nice through hull exhaust system, etc etc.
As a technician though, I hate working on I/Os because no boat manufacturer these days designs an engine compartment that makes it easy to work on them. The only boat that I have ever seen with good room in the compartment to work on an I/O is MINE.... a 24ft Formula 242Ls.
I have literally had to pull the entire engine out of a boat just to change a starter motor... many times.
I drop more 4 letter words when I'm working on I/Os than the Bloods and Crips in a street brawl.
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