IPS is 20 years old! Would you?

[PowerYachtBlog]

That said, personally (and it is personal preferences at the end of the day) I don't like the look of outboard powered boats

I don't like the noise at speed, = much less with four stroke engines

I don't like the weight of the engines being so high and so far back, = agreed

I don't like the cluttered transom (forget a decent bathing platform) and most of all, = fair point

I don't like the petrol exhaust fumes. I don't know why this always seems to be a problem with outboards yet less so with inboards, exhaust routing perhaps. = much less with four strokes

Oh, and the fuel costs if you're a regular user = it is on average 30/40% more on same boats outboards vs stern drives. Some say you can offset stern drives cost in like 20 hours

 

[Bouba]

I think that, when new to boating, outboards do strike people as odd...because while an inboard resembles a car...ie a total package....an outboard can look like an after thought. Personally I think they can look good...in fact multiple outboards can look amazing...and very aggressive.
As for swim platforms...nowadays there are full platforms on the stern...as well as fold down platforms on the sides.
As for the smell of petrol... I especially, can say in all honesty...diesel doesn’t smell that great either.
As for the running cost....yes, at speed they can drink a lot...and petrol in this part of the world is ridiculously expensive...even more than diesel which contains more energy

 

[petem]

Unfortunately a lot of people don't bother to maintain their boats, and have avoidable problems as a result.

Out of interest, how much is a new outboard engine for your boat? I can buy a brand new engine for my boat for £5,000 and a brand new outdrive for £2,000 - that is around 200 HP for £7,000 new. What does an equivalent outboard cost? £ 20,000? And yes, your outboard can fail, just like any other marine engine.

What engine/drives are they for £7k?

 

[Grubble]

What engine/drives are they for £7k?

What engine and out drive is that for £7k?

New Honda bf 150 is around £13k if you look around. I'd be interested in a whole life cost comparison over a 5,000 hour cycle. (Which is what commercial users of that size engine clock up before being sold on).

Mercruiser V6/Alpha 1 Gen 2 outdrive. Depending on whether it is carb or fuel injected, power output is 200+HP. Even comparing it to a 150HP outboard, that is half the price and obviously a 200HP outboard is more money still.

Service costs are insignificant as part of the overall cost of owning a boat, especially if you have it in a marina. Properly maintained legs don't fall apart every year and don't need thousands spending on them. Badly maintained engines/outboards/legs do fail in expensive ways, so comparing the costs of a badly maintained XXX and saying my well maintained YYY is much cheaper, is a false comparison.

I think an awful lot of this is man maths - trying to justify why it was better to spend more money on the more expensive boat - "well you have to understand dear, that if you do the whole life comparison over, say, a 5,000 hour cycle, me spending £40k on a new boat, was actually saving us money in the long run, and anyway the kids can pay for their own education."

 

[Bouba]

Mercruiser V6/Alpha 1 Gen 2 outdrive. Depending on whether it is carb or fuel injected, power output is 200+HP. Even comparing it to a 150HP outboard, that is half the price and obviously a 200HP outboard is more money still.

Service costs are insignificant as part of the overall cost of owning a boat, especially if you have it in a marina. Properly maintained legs don't fall apart every year and don't need thousands spending on them. Badly maintained engines/outboards/legs do fail in expensive ways, so comparing the costs of a badly maintained XXX and saying my well maintained YYY is much cheaper, is a false comparison.

I think an awful lot of this is man maths - trying to justify why it was better to spend more money on the more expensive boat - "well you have to understand dear, that if you do the whole life comparison over, say, a 5,000 hour cycle, me spending £40k on a new boat, was actually saving us money in the long run, and anyway the kids can pay for their own education."

Don’t denigrate man maths….it’s the only reason we are all on this forum

 

[ari]

it is on average 30/40% more on same boats outboards vs stern drives. Some say you can offset stern drives cost in like 20 hours

I don't know what it costs in the Med, but in the UK you're looking at triple the cost (not fuel used, cost) to run a petrol boat compared to an identical diesel boat. So my typically circa £1,500-£2,000/year fuel cost would be getting on for £6,000! Of course people using their boats much less would be far less affected, hence my comment that it's a personal preference thing.

Ref your comment that diesel fumes don't smell great either, you're quite right, however you just don't seem to smell them with a diesel boat, at least with outdrives, which is what I'm used to. You do always seem to smell petrol outboard fumes. No idea why, just an observation (I'm guessing it's exhaust routing and the fact that diesel outdrives exhaust underwater).

Anyway, back to 20 year old IPS drives...

 

[rafiki_]

Unburnt petrol fumes are highly carcinogenic. Diesel pungent, but not harmful.

 

[Bouba]

Unburnt petrol fumes are highly carcinogenic.

How come you never bring up that point in the ten thousand electric car threads

 

[Sticky Fingers]

He’s a diesel car driver…

 

[rafiki_]

How come you never bring up that point in the ten thousand electric car threads

This is a forum for motorboats. I can’t see the relevance of your post?

 

[marcochi76]

I've been looking with interest at the latest proposals with outboards in the 40feet range but they are not very frequent.
Also, it looks to me that they have always lost the chance to redesign the boat and use in an innovative manner the space previously used by the engines. It is always simply used as a storage area. So no additional real volume gain.
Also, the dingy in the Med is vital. where do you put it on an outboard boat???
the lack of a bathing platform is no more a pb as all new boats offer opening platforms on the sides.

but more than that, I think that fuel consumption get crazy with outboard when you navigate in rough sea conditions where you are below the speed of best efficiency. you miss the strong torque of the diesel that allows you to stay on plane even when loosing speed on a huge wave.

 

[marcochi76]

I shall correct my previous statement.
Rio Daytona 50 (and similar De Antonio yachts) seems to provide an interesting layout:
-the outboards are hidden below the sunpads
-you can thus have a plaform for a dingy on the back

But I wonder about all that weight on the back of the boat. We should consider that the hull (providing lifting effect) terminates approximately in correspondance to the beginning of the sunpad.

 

[Portofino]

^ Alter the trim to re gig boat running attitude .

 

[Portofino]

Back on topic .

NO .

All age does is magnify the already substantial maintenance pitfalls .

There becomes a point age wise esp especially with easily done due diligence that aged IPS boats resale price will reflect the maintenance liabilities.

But then there’s a secondary factor to toss in to the desirability equation = reliability. In terms of a busy working couple timing holidays around school time in a “ it must work turn key “ kinda way .
Bad choice buying IPS .
You can’t get that instant zero issues with what’s proposed older IPS . In fact the lack of use ( like most mobo s kept on foreign berths ) just accelerates issues like weepy seals , stuck solinoids , dodgy connectors and every other mega electrotwackery IPS component . Damp + salt air …..you know the rest !

A lot of broken hearts ruined holidays awaiting repairs / parts etc stuck in a marina .
Not necessarily your “home “ worse if stick away eg home is CdA and the thing goes bang mid August in Corsica / Sardinia / Tuscany coast .

How ever having said that there’s a fool born every minute…..so they will find a home on the used mkt .

 

[roa312]

I shall correct my previous statement.
Rio Daytona 50 (and similar De Antonio yachts) seems to provide an interesting layout:
-the outboards are hidden below the sunpads
-you can thus have a plaform for a dingy on the back

But I wonder about all that weight on the back of the boat. We should consider that the hull (providing lifting effect) terminates approximately in correspondance to the beginning of the sunpad.

I believe several US builders of center consoles / open cruisers are willing to build similar layouts, but most US customers seem to prefer versions without a bathing platform, as it can obstruct fishing gear and tackle - or so I’ve been told.
To my knowledge, having the outboards positioned as far aft as possible isn’t a bad thing. And on a boat of this size, I don’t think the added weight of a bathing platform would significantly affect its handling.

 

[Bouba]

The swim platform in the rear is only important for Med berthing....otherwise a side platform is adequate for bathing

 

[stelican]

The swim platform in the rear is only important for Med berthing....otherwise a side platform is adequate for bathing

Haven't seen a side platform with a ladder yet.

 

[julians]

Haven't seen a side platform with a ladder yet.

I presume he means a side platform, as in to the side of the outboard engine, not one of those folding down sides as seen on saxdors and others.

Side platform (either side of the outboard) are fine in my experience, but as ever it's just a personal choice, I can see why someone might prioritise a full width platform.

 

[roa312]

Haven't seen a side platform with a ladder yet.

Whether you mean the rear platforms to the side of the outboards or removable ladders on the side dropdown platform - both can definitely be spec'ed on new boats. I've seen plenty of boats having this option in boat shows - similar to the Jeanneau Cap Camarat models below:

 

[stelican]

Whether you mean the rear platforms to the side of the outboards or removable ladders on the side dropdown platform - both can definitely be spec'ed on new boats. I've seen plenty of boats having this option in boat shows - similar to the Jeanneau Cap Camarat models below:

Now I have seen one, No two, Must get out more.
Anyone got any Boatshow tickets