Can you switch from inboard to outboard?

jjuriga

jjuriga

Junior Member
That is my question... Can you switch from inboard to outboard? It may be a stupid question, but I was wondering if it was possible and/or worth it in any way.
 
jjuriga said:
That is my question... Can you switch from inboard to outboard? It may be a stupid question, but I was wondering if it was possible and/or worth it in any way.
Click to expand...

Quick answer... Yes, you can.

Easiest way would be to hang a bracket on the stern and mount the outboard to it. Several people here have done that exact same conversion and have loved the results. As to whether it's worth it or not, that depends what you are looking for. Outboards drink more fuel, so from an economy standpoint not really. But no outboard ever sank a boat because of a hole in a bellows, and the cost of outdrive repairs is legendary. My personal opinion is yes, it's well worth it.
 
Yea man, thanks for your insight... you make interesting points. I don't necessarily want to do it, just wondering. I have a chevy 305 now - are you telling me that an outboard motor will use more gas than this 5L? (I really dont know... new to all this!) Cant be as loud though, right?

Destroyer said:
Quick answer... Yes, you can.

Easiest way would be to hang a bracket on the stern and mount the outboard to it. Several people here have done that exact same conversion and have loved the results. As to whether it's worth it or not, that depends what you are looking for. Outboards drink more fuel, so from an economy standpoint not really. But no outboard ever sank a boat because of a hole in a bellows, and the cost of outdrive repairs is legendary. My personal opinion is yes, it's well worth it.
Click to expand...
 
The newer 4 strokes are pretty quiet, but your I/O is a pretty quiet combo. If you go with an older 2 stroke it WILL be ALOT louder. I know my old school 225 EVINRUDE was deafining and impossible to talk over when on plane, but it was slightly built. And yes, your I/O is pretty dang efficient. I still don't know where the misconception came from that an I/O drank alot of fuel compared to an outboard. Even with the extra drag of the outdrive arrangement going through 2 90 degree power changes VS 1 for an outboard, they still manage to stay pretty close to 1 GPH for every 11HP of output. Whereas an old school 2 stroke outboard was around 1GPH for every 9HP produced at cruise(this went way down at idle or at WOT where an I/O stayed pretty flat). The BIG drawback to I/O's is if you keep one in the water. You have all that outdrive and bellows in the water corroding or rotting over time, and if any of it lets go you can loose your boat.

For a trailered or lift kept boat, I see no problems with an I/O. Outboards do also have the 4 bolt tuneup advantage where if your engine quits unbolt 4 bolts and bolt a new one on. And outboards can be alot easier to work on compared to there I/O counterparts. A good example is I'm helping my neighbor out with his 27 SEARAY, and we had to pull the port engine to change out the oil pump and fuel pump because the fuel pump let go and filled the engine with fuel(it dropped oil pressure and the old pump would only make 25 PSI on the priming tool, new pump and it has 50 again).

I know I'm in the minority as I don't mind I/O's, but I can work on them. I know if you have to pay somebody to work on them, then an outboard can be ALOT cheaper to maintain and own in the long run.
 
jjuriga said:
Yea man, thanks for your insight... you make interesting points. I don't necessarily want to do it, just wondering. I have a chevy 305 now - are you telling me that an outboard motor will use more gas than this 5L? (I really dont know... new to all this!) Cant be as loud though, right?
Click to expand...

Your I/O really shouldn't be loud. In the water your exhaust is under water and should muffle the sound. Running on dry land is a different story. Oh, and DO NOT FORGET... your outdrive has a RUBBER impeller for it's water pump circulation. Running the engine on dry land without hooking up a set of water supplying earmuffs to the outdrive WILL completely destroy the impeller in as little as 20 seconds. NEVER run the engine without water being hooked up to the outdrive.
 
If the inside of your motor box isn't insulated then it will be noisy but it easy to insulate the box with spray on foam or place sound absorbsion panels in it.
 
It's funny you mention working on the IO engine... I am attempting to get a new starter in as we speak. Not much room to work in, for sure!


THEFERMANATOR said:
The newer 4 strokes are pretty quiet, but your I/O is a pretty quiet combo. If you go with an older 2 stroke it WILL be ALOT louder. I know my old school 225 EVINRUDE was deafining and impossible to talk over when on plane, but it was slightly built. And yes, your I/O is pretty dang efficient. I still don't know where the misconception came from that an I/O drank alot of fuel compared to an outboard. Even with the extra drag of the outdrive arrangement going through 2 90 degree power changes VS 1 for an outboard, they still manage to stay pretty close to 1 GPH for every 11HP of output. Whereas an old school 2 stroke outboard was around 1GPH for every 9HP produced at cruise(this went way down at idle or at WOT where an I/O stayed pretty flat). The BIG drawback to I/O's is if you keep one in the water. You have all that outdrive and bellows in the water corroding or rotting over time, and if any of it lets go you can loose your boat.

For a trailered or lift kept boat, I see no problems with an I/O. Outboards do also have the 4 bolt tuneup advantage where if your engine quits unbolt 4 bolts and bolt a new one on. And outboards can be alot easier to work on compared to there I/O counterparts. A good example is I'm helping my neighbor out with his 27 SEARAY, and we had to pull the port engine to change out the oil pump and fuel pump because the fuel pump let go and filled the engine with fuel(it dropped oil pressure and the old pump would only make 25 PSI on the priming tool, new pump and it has 50 again).

I know I'm in the minority as I don't mind I/O's, but I can work on them. I know if you have to pay somebody to work on them, then an outboard can be ALOT cheaper to maintain and own in the long run.
Click to expand...
 
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