outdrive costs

[gordhouse]

I am looking around at motor boats up to about 24 feet.

Searching mainly boats with outboards as I have the impression that outdrives are more expensive to maintain and the larger petrol engines can be more unreliable.

How does the cost and reliability compare.

There appears to be lots around so they can't be all bad !

I'm looking for a cuddy type boat from around 2004 for two adults overnight.

Any thoughts and recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Reality61]

This market is dominated by the American boat, there are various Bayliner, Crownline, Four winds, Sea Ray, Regal, Monteray, Rinker and top of the pack Cobalt, probably in that order. Each has its own following and it is down to personal taste. These will probably be trailerable as well in this size. Cuddies tend to end up as a half way house and stuff gets dumped in the cabin.
A small towable cruiser Sealine S23 or S25 will give you more accommodation and a single deisel, and a great boat for our waters. In most casses the difference will be the cruiser has hot and cold water, proper fridge, and proper head. Cuddies tend to have generally a porta potti, exept some of the Monteray, Regal and Cobalt. There are a few that now that have big outboards on them but some of these can be expensive to maintain as they are like your car and need software to do servicing and that means main dealer pricing.
The outdrive servicing is about an average of I would say £500- £600. The main engine will be petrol inboard, mercruiser occassionally Volvo. It depends on how much you want to allow for running cost the bigger the engine the more fuel you use.
A new boat similiar to the Sealine 23 or 25 is a Salpa 23 has a lot of stuff but is entry level, it all comes down to Budget. If you do buy used or brockerage please have an engine survey its probably at least half of the cost of the boat and you dont want an expensive bill to start off with.
Good luck half of the fun is looking but unfortunately there is not the perfect boat made !!

 

[Seastoke]

I don’t have a boat with legs , but they cost me money every year.

 

[gordhouse]

This market is dominated by the American boat, there are various Bayliner, Crownline, Four winds, Sea Ray, Regal, Monteray, Rinker and top of the pack Cobalt, probably in that order. Each has its own following and it is down to personal taste. These will probably be trailerable as well in this size. Cuddies tend to end up as a half way house and stuff gets dumped in the cabin.
A small towable cruiser Sealine S23 or S25 will give you more accommodation and a single deisel, and a great boat for our waters. In most casses the difference will be the cruiser has hot and cold water, proper fridge, and proper head. Cuddies tend to have generally a porta potti, exept some of the Monteray, Regal and Cobalt. There are a few that now that have big outboards on them but some of these can be expensive to maintain as they are like your car and need software to do servicing and that means main dealer pricing.
The outdrive servicing is about an average of I would say £500- £600. The main engine will be petrol inboard, mercruiser occassionally Volvo. It depends on how much you want to allow for running cost the bigger the engine the more fuel you use.
A new boat similiar to the Sealine 23 or 25 is a Salpa 23 has a lot of stuff but is entry level, it all comes down to Budget. If you do buy used or brockerage please have an engine survey its probably at least half of the cost of the boat and you dont want an expensive bill to start off with.
Good luck half of the fun is looking but unfortunately there is not the perfect boat made !!

Thanks.

Does the engine and leg have to be serviced every year or miles covered. Or both.

 

[oldgit]

Thanks.

Does the engine and leg have to be serviced every year or miles covered. Or both.

.

Think both Volvo and Mercury suggest an yearly check of rubberware and anodes.

 

[Rappey]

I would choose an outboard over inboard for that size of boat. Easier servicing, nothing in the water when not in use. More interior space. Super quiet and on the whole very reliable.
Used outboards sell well. Sometimes you can't give away a large petrol inboard.

 

[portis_rich]

Beneteau antares range or jenneau merry fishers are all comfy weekender with outboards...

 

[simonfraser]

outdrives on a trailer as far less trouble
check with your yard to see if this can be done
rinse them out and down, no barnies on the OD

 

[gordhouse]

Thanks for all your input.
I am tending to lean towards outboards.
However iv'e just asked a dealer for a ball park figure on something like a 60 HP service , quoted around £600 !!
How much more expensive could an outdrive be.
Guess in the end it could just come down to a good deal on a boat that fits our requirements.

 

[Meagain]

As a reference for you, We had a petrol 5.7 Gxi on a dps drive (duo prop) 320hp, 2002 great engine, on average it cost £450 each year for standard service and oils and the leg pulled every 4 years (drystack) which cost about £300 extra.

 

[Hot Property]

Thanks for all your input.
I am tending to lean towards outboards.
However iv'e just asked a dealer for a ball park figure on something like a 60 HP service , quoted around £600 !!
How much more expensive could an outdrive be.
Guess in the end it could just come down to a good deal on a boat that fits our requirements.

Service it yourself. If buying new, then Honda is what you should buy as they allow own servicing which maintains the warranty.

I just serviced my Merc verado 200 for around £65.... It's a no brainer

 

[rosssavage]

Thanks.

Does the engine and leg have to be serviced every year or miles covered. Or both.

Engines are time elapsed and hours elapsed. Ie 100hrs use or annual service.

Engines are fairly straightforward, as they are almost all based on car or truck engines, so there is a lot of knowledge and parts out there.

Outdrives, however, are a bit more specialised. Well maintained units are really pretty reliable, but the key is that maintenance, and it can be expensive. Bellows must be replaced on time - most are specced to be changed every two years, and it’s a leg off job to do it. You MUST do this, as the minimum damage is a knackered gimbal bearing and universal joint, the worst case is a flooded and sunk boat if the drive bellow leaks. It is that critical!

The legs need pressure testing too, as failed seals can quickly lead to failed bearings, gears, and a scrap leg if left.

That said, don’t let that put you off - there are thousands out there, including mine!

Just check that history, and get a qualified engineer to survey the leg before purchase.

 

[Rappey]

However iv'e just asked a dealer for a ball park figure on something like a 60 HP service , quoted around £600 !!

That sounds savage. I Googled some prices. £170 labour, plus parts (hot property at £65) plus vat
Impellor will be good along with cam belt. £282 all in ?
Maybe that's the max and min price range depending on who you use ?

 

[Rappey]

Disassemble , are you having problems learning how the messages are quoted ?
We can help ?

 

[rosssavage]

Disassemble , are you having problems learning how the messages are quoted ?
We can help ?

No, it’s just such a great reply they just keep repeating it

 

[Oscar24]

Service it yourself. If buying new, then Honda is what you should buy as they allow own servicing which maintains the warranty.

I just serviced my Merc verado 200 for around £65.... It's a no brainer

My 115 OB Suzuki costs me £400 to service.
Breaks down to about £100 in parts with the rest as Labour and getting to the boat. Takes them a couple of hours to do.

 

[lynallbel]

The amount of fuel petrol inboards use is just plain scary.
VP 4.3 v6 @ 6 knots clean hull/leg, 1 to 1.5 gals per hours, more if against the tide/wind, 20 knots 8 to 10 gals per hour, full chat 12/13 gals per hour, and all at full pump prices to!

On the plus side servicing the yank based engine literally costs peanuts, oil/filters/plugs all cheap, the leg more but again easy to pull leg and change bellows, and the gearbox oil is also easy.

Would I buy another? no!

 

[Seastoke]

Do u have a stutter.

 

[Rappey]

The amount of fuel petrol inboards use is just plain scary.

To be fair though that is a large engine. No idea of hp or boat size and weight.
I had a 2.6l two stroke 200. That loved fuel doing 25litres in 5 mins ,but that was going crazy speeds.
4 stroke outboards are far better than 2 stroke for economy.
My 50 is 1 litre. 90 was 1.6 litre.
Outboards do seem fairly bomb proof on the whole and keep running for years and years even with total neglect

 

[lynallbel]

To be fair though that is a large engine. No idea of hp or boat size and weight.
I had a 2.6l two stroke 200. That loved fuel doing 25litres in 5 mins ,but that was going crazy speeds.
4 stroke outboards are far better than 2 stroke for economy.
My 50 is 1 litre. 90 was 1.6 litre.
Outboards do seem fairly bomb proof on the whole and keep running for years and years even with total neglect

Good point, was 4.3 vp v6 fairline sprint, approx 2 to 2.5 ton.