Is the future of < 40 foot boats just outboards

D

ddurand

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The big yachts will most like keep diesel inboards. But one notch smaller that use to have big block V8 gas engines are those now mainly outboards? Two or three or four per boat.

What is the future for Mercury and VP? The marina where I have my boat in rack storage will only work on outboards. Another boat sales & service place will not accept any more I/O service requests this summer. Only outboard.

I do not see many Mercury outboards. My old favorite Johnson was put out to pasture along with Evinrude.

For me with a 27 Chaparral with a VP outdrive I think it will force me to do more work myself. I have a trailer and can haul it places if service is needed that I cannot do. I think I will buy a stand to help me pull the outdrive by myself and a VP scanner to scan for engine codes.
 
I think that is the future. With the V8 auto engine dying, todays four stroke outboards offer many advantages. One of which is easier maintenance.
 
Yea the stern drive is dying and probably also has inboards except for specific application like ski boats. Outboards have become so reliable, smooth and quiet… Even traditional stern drive builders like Formula and Sea Ray are going this way

Another specie going endangered is the small express cruiser around 30’. Fewer and fewer are selling being pushed aside but center console style boats.
 
Interestingly Seven Marine has ended production, meanwhile Mercury comes up with a 600HP V-12.
 
Long blocks for boat engines will likely go away as Detroit changes to electric. Boat manufacturers know this is coming toward the industry.
 
But given the long lifespan of boats, boats with I/O will be around for many years.

The marine mechanics that work on I/O seemed to have left already.
 
ddurand said:
But given the long lifespan of boats, boats with I/O will be around for many years.

The marine mechanics that work on I/O seemed to have left already.
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I am hearing that as well, especially carbed engines.
 
I was reading more about this and it's more than just boats going from I/O to outboards. It's what kind of boats people are buying. The numbers show a big decline in runabouts and small cruisers. Pontoon boats and center console have become more popular. Outboards are more easily maintained in salt water. And can be tilted all the way out of the water. And easier to winterize. But they do need to be flushed after every use religiously.

Inboards became slightly more popular while I/O became significantly less popular.

Also for fresh water where water sports and swimming are the plan for the day then there will be a lot of activity around the swim platform so an I/O might be preferable as outboard would be in the way.
 
You don’t think watersports, swimming, snorkeling or just hanging on floats behind the boats is a popular activity in salt water? That’s what a majority of boaters do down here and outboards are extremely popular having almost completely replaced I/Os
 
PascalG said:
You don’t think watersports, swimming, snorkeling or just hanging on floats behind the boats is a popular activity in salt water? That’s what a majority of boaters do down here and outboards are extremely popular having almost completely replaced I/Os
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Not to mention you'd have a very hard time finding anyone to work on an IO anymore...
 
Brian N said:
Not to mention you'd have a very hard time finding anyone to work on an IO anymore...
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Yes. But power boats lats 20+ years so there are a lot of boats out there with I/O power. There must still be Mercruiser and Volvo Penta authorized dealers that would be expected to work on I/O.

For me I will just do more of the work myself on my Volvo Penta.
 
PascalG said:
You don’t think watersports, swimming, snorkeling or just hanging on floats behind the boats is a popular activity in salt water? That’s what a majority of boaters do down here and outboards are extremely popular having almost completely replaced I/Os
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The point was if you are in fresh water and do a lot of watersports and swimming off the swim platform then an I/O may still be a good choice.

In saltwater the maintenance issues of an I/O outweigh the benefit of a clear swim platform.
 
I like having a clear swimplatform but a well designed outboard boat has plenty of space to get in and out of the water, many have side doors too. Not a big factor. Even in fresh water I would not go for a stern drive if for no other reason than safety.
 
many factors drive this industry.

at the end of the day it's WHAT the consumer will buy, and HOW MUCH he will pay.

Pricing aside, I do wonder however, if there is an actual DISCONNECT between what is being offered and what people want.

The LATEST/GREATEST doesnt always end up that way.

Anyone recall the excitement over the introduction of POD drives?

Me, I'm happy with my easy to maintain, low tech, non HDPI CATS, with conventional Twin Disc Vee Drives.

I'm getting just a hair under 1 NMPG in a 45' boat that fits under my bridge.

Will be at FLIBS to see what there is to see and will likely walk away scratching my head.
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BEST !

RWS
 
Well at Lake Norman and I think this is the case with most freshwater lakes, I would say the majority of boats now are wake boats and large bowriders with inboard and sterndrive engines. Pontoon boats are (a very close) second and center consoles/bass boats and cruisers make up the rest. 20yrs ago when I bought my Sundancer, the 30ft cruiser ruled - more SeaRay 310 and 340's on that lake than anything. Now I might see one a month.

I just bought a new(er) boat (Cobalt R5) of which they make an outboard version, but I didn't even look at them and I think the dealer at my marina has sold 1 or two at the most. Intersting they started selling Mercrury outboards this year because they have trouble getting Yamahas. I see more and more outboard bowriders on the lake, but I would not say they are overtaking the sterndrives. Salt water / coastal hands down I would be buying an outboard powered boat - but for the freshwater lakes and the way we use the boat, I like the swimdeck area being free of a big motor. Based on what Mercury and Volvo are doing with their sterndrive motors - Mercruiser in particular is now building their own motors - they do not think the sterndrive is dead. It's got a new sibling, but there is still plenty of demand for the sterndrive.
 
Volvo Penta has a somewhat new I/O that seems to be geared for salt water use. An aluminum engine with closed cooling. Unsure why with closed cooling they went with an aluminum engine. They have a super paint protection on the outdrive, an electronic anti-galvanic system and several sensors in the outdrive to detect water in the oil and water in the bellows.

This seems a follow-on to the OXI versions of their outdrives from several years ago.

But the big maintenance hit would be the cost of new risers and heat exchanger when needed.
 
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