Winterization kinda falls in the maintenance category, so lets compare that next. If your starter goes out in your car, you can crawl under it to get access to the starter. Keep in mind that a sterndrive engine is generally a marinized vehicle engine. Seeing what you’re doing is about impossible. If I was only a foot tall, it may not be so bad, but for normal humans, accessing this is tough. It is all the way at the back and under the engine. Replacing a starter in a sterndrive is not fun at all. When an engine component fails, accessing it may be difficult in a sterndrive. That’s just the routine maintenance, but don’t forget about repairs. Maintaining a sterndrive engine is going to be more expensive, purely from the added labor of accessing the engines components.
You can access every side of an outboard engine without interference. It’s going to be much easier to work on and maintain a motor that is literally hanging right out in the open. Bowriders can provide all the watersports activities with almost any size sterndrive engine (but an 8 cylinder always gets the job done with ease).Īgain we are going to have to side with the outboard in the maintenance category. Family fun doesn’t require massive horsepower. With that said, we need to remember what most bowriders are used for.
#STERNDRIVE VS INBOARD INSTALL#
So from the standpoint of pure horsepower in a bowrider, there is no denying that you can install multiple outboards and make the single sterndrive engine look stupid. Generally a bowrider with an I/O would max out a two engines. Something else to consider in the power category, is that you can multiply your horsepower by adding multiple outboards across the boat’s transom. Not only can modern day outboards produce very similar horsepower to sterndrives, but the outboard is going to weigh hundreds of pounds less! So when we consider “power to weight ratio”, the outboard drive system is going to win that battle. Back then, you could produce a great deal more horsepower from a sterndrive engine. So lets start digging in to this.Ībout a decade ago, there was no competition between the horsepower of an outboard and the horsepower of a sterndrive engine.
#STERNDRIVE VS INBOARD PRO#
Remember that for each con we expose, there will be a pro in another category. In order to discern whether or not having an outboard motor is better or worse for a bowrider boat, we need to consider multiple scenarios and boating conditions.
Pros And Cons Of An Outboard On A Bowrider However, since outboard technology has come so far in recent years, let’s see if this is still the best option. While most bowriders are used for family fun, the sterndrive also known as I/O (Inboard/Outboard) is usually the preferred way to go. However the sterndrive will consume more fuel than the outboard. A sterndrive usually provides for a more quiet ride, more power and a sundeck over the engine bay. However if you want easier engine maintenance, then an outboard is better. Each have their advantages, so this article will help you make the best decision for you.Īn outboard doesn’t allow for the convenience of a large swim deck. There are several things to consider in order to make the choice for your drive system on your bowrider.