Outboard cost vs Diesel Sterndrive cost

[Hot Property]

5k is really a rare number in 4st outboards.

Average hours before full outboard change is 1500 hours. Those that stretch it do 2k or a bit more. I know many diesels with 5k or more.

Commercially run outboards last a long time.

Anecdotal evidence:-

Guy on the fuel pontoon at Yarmouth was chatting about Honda's and I said I knew a chap in Lymington who was a dealer who saw them with 5,000 hours on.

"That's nothing" the guy said. He used to work for a company that ran a catamaran with thwin 150 VTEC s

They clocked up 13,000 hours apparently.

So, as with all engines, if they are looked after properly they can last a long time.

Here's a 5,000 HR one for sale

2011 150HP HONDA BF150A 4 STROKE OUTBOARD ENGINES AVAILABLE Fully Serviced in Long or Extra Long Shaft Fully Serviced High Hours

 

[Hot Property]

You have to take in consideration ,of danger of outboard prop also the lack of decent bathing platform .

As opposed to twin props on a stern drive?

 

[julians]

Horses for courses - you wouldnt buy a petrol boat (outboard or otherwise) if you couldnt easily get petrol .

Outboards do bring some compromises that arent there with other forms of propulsion- the loss of part ,but not all, of the bathing platform is one of them, but you gain in other ways. I think for small to medium (<35 foot?) sized sports boats outboards are the best choice for me and my location, but accept there are scenarios where they wouldnt be the best choice.

After years of having a (clattery ) diesel - I'm liking the smooth quiet nature of a petrol v8, but if my next boat was only available in a diesel it wouldnt stop me from buying it.

Buy the best boat for you not the drivetrain. Its rare that the same boat is available in all the different drivetrain options, and if it is then (as jrudge says) it will be compromised in other ways, as it will have been designed primarily for one drive train type, with the others added as a compromise

 

[Hot Property]

Horses for courses - you wouldnt buy a petrol boat (outboard or otherwise) if you couldnt easily get petrol .

Outboards do bring some compromises that arent there with other forms of propulsion- the loss of part ,but not all, of the bathing platform is one of them, but you gain in other ways. I think for small to medium (<35 foot?) sized sports boats outboards are the best choice for me and my location, but accept there are scenarios where they wouldnt be the best choice.

After years of having a (clattery ) diesel - I'm liking the smooth quiet nature of a petrol v8, but if my next boat was only available in a diesel it wouldnt stop me from buying it.

Buy the best boat for you not the drivetrain. Its rare that the same boat is available in all the different drivetrain options, and if it is then (as jrudge says) it will be compromised in other ways, as it will have been designed primarily for one drive train type, with the others added as a compromise

I agree with most of what you said, but you really are buying an engine with a boat attached - that's where most cash will be spent if it goes wrong..

The simplicity of outboards isn't lost on boat makers or owners, you can get 40ft outboard powered boats now which makes it perverse that petrol availability is limited.

Outboards growing popularity may be the rise of dry stack type boating, where fuel costs are irrelevant. A blast down to the Hut to spend £££££ for lunch far outweighs fuel costs....

 

[Alicatt]

5k is really a rare number in 4st outboards.

Average hours before full outboard change is 1500 hours. Those that stretch it do 2k or a bit more. I know many diesels with 5k or more.

Was looking at the hour meter and the log on our boat over the weekend: 8558.2nm on the log and 3300hours on the hour meter for a twin diseasel inboard shaft drive of 47 years young, that works out at about 2.6knots average over those hours, however the log did not work when we bought the boat and no idea how long the log has not worked, the hour meter does work.

 

[Bouba]

I think that overall (and depending how you count it) the running costs should be about the same.....however...nothing works on a sample size of one....if you are unlucky that one of the motors has problems then it will change the equation....just as if you get lucky and one of them performs faultlessly (another thumbs up for choosing a Honda )

 

[Grubble]

As ever with these kind of theoretical what flavour ice cream is the best debates, they ignore the reality of boat buying. The best boat to buy is the one that is available for sale, close enough to where you live, in the budget you have to spend, that meets your needs in terms of size and layout. The type of engine and drive might be the most important thing to some people, to others it is a secondary consideration.

It's the same tedious discussion when it comes to tent boats versus floating caravans. There is no "best" boat.

 

[Bouba]

You have to take in consideration ,of danger of outboard prop also the lack of decent bathing platform .

This is especially true in the Med.....where you may want to use the boat for swimming and moor it Med style. But the OP is in the Hamble....so fuel supply might be a more pressing issue. Boats are like horses....it depends on your courses

 

[Seastoke]

This is especially true in the Med.....where you may want to use the boat for swimming and moor it Med style. But the OP is in the Hamble....so fuel supply might be a more pressing issue. Boats are like horses....it depends on your courses

You told me you did the course , How to save fuel and keep your boat moored right in a marina.

 

[Bouba]

You told me you did the course , How to save fuel and keep your boat moored right in a marina.

I was out on the water yesterday ....unfortunately (but good for the environment) it’s been the wettest March on record.....I’m not hardy like you hard drinking English sailors.....so I sit, tied up, waiting for a break in the weather....which I’ll probably waste getting the boat out of the water for it’s annual anti foul

 

[Seastoke]

I was out on the water yesterday ....unfortunately (but good for the environment) it’s been the wettest March on record.....I’m not hardy like you hard drinking English sailors.....so I sit, tied up, waiting for a break in the weather....which I’ll probably waste getting the boat out of the water for it’s annual anti foul

I only drink beer as i have an allergy to water.

 

[Bouba]

I only drink beer as i have an allergy to water.

Do you know that you were voted...’the forumite that anyone would least like to meet’....and that was by people who already met you

 

[Seastoke]

Do you know that you were voted...’the forumite that anyone would least like to meet’....and that was by people who already met you

I don’t want to meet anyone again , after meeting you, just leave the money behind the bar.

 

[Boathook]

I was out on the water yesterday ....unfortunately (but good for the environment) it’s been the wettest March on record.....I’m not hardy like you hard drinking English sailors.....so I sit, tied up, waiting for a break in the weather....which I’ll probably waste getting the boat out of the water for it’s annual anti foul

When is your boat being lifted out and for how long. Just wanting to know when the good weather will hopefully arrive in the UK apart for today and tomorrow !

 

[Bouba]

When is your boat being lifted out and for how long. Just wanting to know when the good weather will hopefully arrive in the UK apart for today and tomorrow !

I’m constantly checking....it’s been so windy and the river is so wild....that I’m not sure if the yard has a backlog of boats to lift.
At the moment, rest assured, you are not missing any good boaty weather.....unless you are a racing yottie....I actually want good weather for my time on land...who wants to work in the cold, wind and rain ?
I will keep you updated

 

[Bouba]

Without wanting to start any arguments … I was wondering whether a petrol outboard (around 300hp) would cost more or less than a VP D4 260 in a typical 50 hour season on an 8m sports boat. (Thinking Finnmaster T8 vs Leader 8) Servicing costs for the outboard would be less but fuel costs must be more as petrol is more pricy and drinks more? Ignoring different price, depreciation or which boat is ‘better’

I don’t think we can let you get away with the parameters of your argument.....we have to include out hatred of outdrives....and vent our spleens....or where’s fun
But with a choice of outboards vs sterndrives....I would give the edge to outboards....and if, like my neighbors boat, which has three big outboards plus a full-size swim platform that goes up and down hydraulically (so it becomes a de facto passerelle) then most definitely I’d go for the outboards.
All in all...I would not use running costs as a parameter for choosing the propulsion. There is so much else that goes into a boat budget....and service costs and fuel are but a part

 

[thejonesey]

Thanks very much everyone. I appreciate that it is a theoretical situation but the discussion has proven that there probably isn’t a right answer when weighed up against other factors. As people say, horses for courses etc.
It is interesting that manufacturers are shifting to OBs but probably for a cost/ease of build reasons.
We currently own a shaft drive but I will need to downsize when I retire hence the question. Hopefully we will be able to keep boating because whatever way you slice it, it ain’t cheap!

 

[Bouba]

Thanks very much everyone. I appreciate that it is a theoretical situation but the discussion has proven that there probably isn’t a right answer when weighed up against other factors. As people say, horses for courses etc.
It is interesting that manufacturers are shifting to OBs but probably for a cost/ease of build reasons.
We currently own a shaft drive but I will need to downsize when I retire hence the question. Hopefully we will be able to keep boating because whatever way you slice it, it ain’t cheap!

There is a cost/ease of build.....if you go to a boat show, there is a price sticker on the boat....if you make an enquiry...the salesman will say, ‘would sir like an engine with that ?’
But also there is more internal volume, ease of installation, infinite choice of how many motors and how much total power, ease of ownership, tow ability etc etc

 

[Bouba]

When is your boat being lifted out and for how long. Just wanting to know when the good weather will hopefully arrive in the UK apart for today and tomorrow !

I went down to the yard this afternoon and booked the boat to be lifted next Tuesday morning....hopefully it will be back in the water by the end of next week

 

[oldgit]

As ever with these kind of theoretical what flavour ice cream is the best debates, they ignore the reality of boat buying. The best boat to buy is the one that is available for sale, close enough to where you live, in the budget you have to spend, that meets your needs in terms of size and layout. The type of engine and drive might be the most important thing to some people, to others it is a secondary consideration.

It's the same tedious discussion when it comes to tent boats versus floating caravans. There is no "best" boat.

Depends wether you have weather where you boat. ?