Moved to ICW - best drivetrain for new boat?

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OldMariner32

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We sold our place at the lake and moved near the ICW. I'm shopping for a boat under 25'. Outboards seem like a simple choice because they are easily flushed. FWC inboards are surprisingly rare on the market here. There are a lot of IOs. Should I steer clear of RWC inboard and IOs? If not, should they/can they be flushed regularly? Please help me narrow down my choices.
 
Not too many inboards under 25... Sterndrives are ok and can be flushed although you still have the possible corrosion issues on the drive

Outboard have come a long way and it s hard to beat a pair of Yamahas for reliability performance smoothness etc. that's why you see so many of them and so few Sterndrive boats being sold these days
 
I/O would be my last choice. Unless you're a serious skier or wakeboarder, perhaps an outboard would be the best choice for a boat that size?
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

Not too many inboards under 25... Sterndrives are ok and can be flushed although you still have the possible corrosion issues on the drive

Outboard have come a long way and it s hard to beat a pair of Yamahas for reliability performance smoothness etc. that's why you see so many of them and so few Sterndrive boats being sold these days

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True about the inboards, but the Lewis family in Currituck, NC makes a 23' with inboard tunnel drive and a local has a Chris Craft Catalina 251 for sale that is RWC.
 
I'd agree with outboards...
 
quote:
Originally posted by OldMariner32

...I'm shopping for a boat under 25'....

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What do you want to do? IMO, That will drive the engine choice. Don't see too many OB wakeboarders. There was a company named Shamrock. Don't know if they are still in business. They made a beast of a 25' straight shaft IB that was nice to cruise and fish from. Full Keel and protected prop.
 
quote:
Originally posted by KiDa

quote:
Originally posted by OldMariner32

...I'm shopping for a boat under 25'....

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What do you want to do? IMO, That will drive the engine choice. Don't see too many OB wakeboarders. There was a company named Shamrock. Don't know if they are still in business. They made a beast of a 25' straight shaft IB that was nice to cruise and fish from. Full Keel and protected prop.

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Our area of the ICW is strung with restaurants one can access by boat. Our friends have a "secret" spot where we meet on an ICW beach and hang out. When it is just myself and the dog, I do photography of shorebirds and the beach lifestyle. No fishing. Probably some tubing if one of our adult kids were to go out with us.
 
Thanks for all the feedback folks. Looks like the outboards have it. That eliminates a couple of my alternatives.
 
Inboard in your area will limit where you can go or from beaching the boat. It seems taken me a long time to warm up to outboards but I think that now they are the way to go for most small boats
 
Inboard in your area will limit where you can go or from beaching the boat. It has taken me a long time to warm up to outboards but I think that now they are the way to go for most small boats
 
are you leaving the boat in the water, or on a trailer? I would not go with an I/O for a boat left in the water. in general, I hate my bravo 3 like poison. But it does move the boat pretty fast, is easy / cheap to find used or new replacements for motor or drive, and pretty good for shallow water boating. But I still hate the freaking thing.

If I every get another boat, will look hard at mastercraft and the like, for the inboard. and still have some interest in the yamaha jet boats.
 
Outboard. Take it from a sterndrive owner.
 
quote:
Originally posted by alk

If I every get another boat, will look hard at mastercraft and the like, for the inboard. and still have some interest in the yamaha jet boats.

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I'd be leery of a MasteCraft / ProCraft on the ICW, as their freeboard is nearly non-existent. (Great boat for protected waters, though!)
 
Right now our top contenders are a Sea Pro 210 walkaround or a Striper 1850 walkaround. I want to be able to work all the way around the boat with my camera gear, but need some shelter for my grandbaby from the Carolina sun. I'm thinking the walkaround works for the baby and the boss and gives me almost the same convenience as a center console.
 
post links to the boats you are considerieng
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

post links to the boats you are considerieng

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http://raleigh.craigslist.org/boa/5607703689.html
00101_7VgcKaURRDp_600x450.jpg


http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2001/Sea-Pro-210-Walk-Around-2947569/Wilmington/NC/United-States
5674332_20160317093433722_1_XLARGE.jpg%26w%3D924%26h%3D693%26t%3D1458236577000.jpg


http://www.collinsboating.com/pre_owned_detail.asp?veh=4393117
vp4393117_2_large.jpg
 
quote:
Originally posted by alk

are you leaving the boat in the water, or on a trailer? I would not go with an I/O for a boat left in the water. in general, I hate my bravo 3 like poison. But it does move the boat pretty fast, is easy / cheap to find used or new replacements for motor or drive, and pretty good for shallow water boating. But I still hate the freaking thing.

If I every get another boat, will look hard at mastercraft and the like, for the inboard. and still have some interest in the yamaha jet boats.

Click to expand...


We plan to trailer for nine months and leave it in a wet slip at the local marina the other three months.
 
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