![]() Purpose of your Pontoon Boatįirstly, consider what you want to do with your pontoon boat. Tips for Choosing the Right Pontoon Boat Outboard Motor 1. Not to mention this outboard motor’s legendary reputation for having a 97% reliability rate allowing you to be able to do your boating activities miles offshore without fear of breaking down. To help with your next decision, read Do You Need a Surveyor?Įditor’s note: This article was originally published in December of 2010, and was last updated in June of 2022.Integrated digital electrical steering gives them low response times making your pontoon highly responsive. If you’re buying used as opposed to new, you’ll have some additional things to keep in mind such as the condition of the powerplant – be it an inboard or outboard. Diesels do tend to have better efficiency, however, so the have an edge when considering operational costs. Note also that diesel inboards cost significantly more than gasoline inboards. In some cases outboards will be less expensive but in others, inboards may cost less. This factor will depend to a great degree on what type of boat you’re looking at, and the types of engines the manufacturer builds with. Diesel engines still hold a reliability (and longevity) edge, but when it comes to gasoline inboards, their reliability is very similar to that of the outboards. ![]() Today’s outboards are, however, far more reliable than they were just a decade or two ago. There was a time when inboard engines and diesels in particular held a hands-down advantage over outboards when it comes to reliability. If you plan to keep your boat for years on end or if you’re buying used, it’s also important to remember that in the case of a complete engine failure it’s much easier to repower a boat with a fresh outboard engine than it is to replace an inboard. Since owner maintenance has been whittled down to just a few simple tasks, it’s more or less become a wash in the inboard versus outboard debate. But beyond that, you’ll need to call in a pro. Freshwater flushes, oil changes, and changing fuel filters can all still be done by any competent DIY boater. In the modern age, most boat owners will be taking care of the most basic maintenance chores, only. Modern computer-controlled engines of all types are complex enough that most boat owners address only the simplest of chores. Inboard engines coupled with stern drives also provides the ability to trim the drive unit up, but the only time that inboards are really ideal in shallow draft situations is when you have jet drives.įor a complete rundown on the different types of drive systems available with inboard engines and the strengths and weaknesses of each, see Inboard Drive Comparison: Stern Drive, Forward Drive, and Jet Drive. ![]() If you plan to go gunk-holing or would like to drive the boat up on a beach, outboard are great since you can kick up the engine. And in the 30 to 50 foot range there’s generally a mix. Below 30 or so feet, particularly if you have draft limitations or expect to keep the boat on a trailer, outboards have long been the favored choice. With modern monster-sized motors like the Mercury Marine Verado V-12 600-hp outboard, builders are placing outboards on larger and larger boats. Up to now, from 40 feet and up inboards have been the usual choice. Will you opt for an inboard, or go the outboard route? Photos via Sea Ray Boats and Walstrom Marine Harbor Springs.
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