Are Inboard gas obsolete?
- Thread starter pdecat
- Start date
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- Feb 1, 2007
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- 25075
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- 1,698
Bye bye IO and good riddance
Hello outboards
Good-bye to The Zeus & POD drives, which were just killed by the Mercury 600 HP outboard
Seems the trend has been away from larger RV's on the water (like mine) to smaller day boats with outboards
Center consoles are all the rage
Long term trends will be centered around the newest technology outboards and the boat designs will logically follow
Simplicity and reliability rule with the younger crowd
They will be unlikely to be capable or INTERESTED in maintaining the many systems aboard one of the RV style boats, thus conributing to the demise of that sector of production.
Still, I personally favor the space, and creature comforts the RV on the water
I like my ice maker, 2 fridges, microwave, coffeemaker, stand up shower, hot water, flus toilet, HVAC and diesel gen set
I do wonder if the desire and interest for these comforts will return, but the market isn't playing to this segment any longer because there likely is less demand.
Look what happened to what once was a very popular vessel - the SeaRay Sundancer series
RWS
Hello outboards
Good-bye to The Zeus & POD drives, which were just killed by the Mercury 600 HP outboard
Seems the trend has been away from larger RV's on the water (like mine) to smaller day boats with outboards
Center consoles are all the rage
Long term trends will be centered around the newest technology outboards and the boat designs will logically follow
Simplicity and reliability rule with the younger crowd
They will be unlikely to be capable or INTERESTED in maintaining the many systems aboard one of the RV style boats, thus conributing to the demise of that sector of production.
Still, I personally favor the space, and creature comforts the RV on the water
I like my ice maker, 2 fridges, microwave, coffeemaker, stand up shower, hot water, flus toilet, HVAC and diesel gen set
I do wonder if the desire and interest for these comforts will return, but the market isn't playing to this segment any longer because there likely is less demand.
Look what happened to what once was a very popular vessel - the SeaRay Sundancer series
RWS
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2004
- RO Number
- 13137
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- 651
I'm not sure you want to put "Simplicity and reliability" in the same sentence as "Boat", "Twin Turbo" and "Gearbox".
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2007
- RO Number
- 25075
- Messages
- 1,698
Pdecat is correct
The expanding market is for smaller boats, trailerable boats and one hell of a lot of center consoles and pontoon boats
Take a look at other really popular on line forums and thats all you can see
There are no posts like Pascal's fantastic on-line posted VIDEO TRIPS, no OVER THE TOP ELECTRONICS UPGRADES like Billy's (BillyK - Billy3 I can t remember, too many Billy's) or Bob Benton's nicely done DETRAILLED REPOWER TO DIESELS THREAD, let alone the famous Carver era TROJAN UPGRADES thread.
It is mission critical for us to attract the kind of boater who can't find what he wants on other Forums and build our BoaterEd Brand through search engines so that it is picked up and seen by newcomers who see a value and want to become a part of the treasure trove of information found here.
RWS
The expanding market is for smaller boats, trailerable boats and one hell of a lot of center consoles and pontoon boats
Take a look at other really popular on line forums and thats all you can see
There are no posts like Pascal's fantastic on-line posted VIDEO TRIPS, no OVER THE TOP ELECTRONICS UPGRADES like Billy's (BillyK - Billy3 I can t remember, too many Billy's) or Bob Benton's nicely done DETRAILLED REPOWER TO DIESELS THREAD, let alone the famous Carver era TROJAN UPGRADES thread.
It is mission critical for us to attract the kind of boater who can't find what he wants on other Forums and build our BoaterEd Brand through search engines so that it is picked up and seen by newcomers who see a value and want to become a part of the treasure trove of information found here.
RWS
One active forum is about trawlers. The boats are bigger than usual here a everyone seems to want a trawler and to do the loop. Since many of these boats are older people tend to do more work themselves and have more general questions and be involved in their boats.
GeorgeKohler
Member
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- Feb 3, 2015
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- 33821
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- 159
Outboards greatly reduce the enjoyment of the swim platform, IMHO.
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2002
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- 850
I have mixed feelings about this, yes outboards if bought NEW, reduce maintenance costs greatly but sooner or later the piper has to be paid, cyl heads/blocks start corroding, mid sections on certain outboards corrode and now you are not replacing a gas long block for $5000 you are into it for the whole thing (3x as much). Gas inboards are good for older guys who grew up with Chevrolet small blocks and know how to work on them. So the younger crowd will love their outboards till they get the bill for replacing one. Here in salt water they are good for about 10-15 years and after that on borrowed time. On the other hand I feel that gas inboards were ruined by the insistence of the EPA that they must have cat converter exhaust. And outboards do not have such a requirement. That for me is a deal breaker, I will not own a boat where the normal exhaust replacement at 5-7 seasons results in a parts only bill of 4500-6000, yes that is what they cost, look it up in a Merc or Volvo parts catalog. So if I get another boat it will either be outboard powered and nearly new, or the last year I could get an I/O without Cat Converter exhaust. Right now I don't have a really good reason to get rid of my old boat, as I can keep it going for minimal investment.