Outboards on big Searays?

In our 53 years of boat ownership we have had inboards, tiller outboards, inboard/outboards and even a jet. Our current 2 daily drivers both have 4-stroke Mercury outboards. To say we are thrilled would be an understatement.

I will never go back. Of course, I don't want a dinghy, but if I did I would find a way. The modern outboards are just too good a deal to pass up.

Of course. just my opinion...
 
Not sure I follow. My florida neighbor just spent over $6k for maintenance to replace risers, manifolds and catalysts. I know they are supposed to be ok but he said his were a wreck and needed replaced. That’s a big cost especially if it happens every time. And finding a spot for a 1000 degree oven under an outboard cowl will likely be a big engineering design issue.

The Mercury Verado 300 hp outboard already has a CARB 3 star rating (ultra low emission). I doubt it would ever need a catalyst.
 
The Mercury Verado 300 hp outboard already has a CARB 3 star rating (ultra low emission). I doubt it would ever need a catalyst.

My 4.3 MPI had a carb 3 rating in 2010 and it was one of the last before carb 5 rating obtained with a catalyst was required.

I’m no expert on these things as money was the motivating factor for not getting a 2011.
 
We should compare apples to apples, I think the cost of an inboard plus stern drive is similar to the cost of a new outboard. The labor is insanely different. The maintenance is insanely different. Compared to a V-drive, you have relatively solid transmission, shaft + seals, rudders, struts and cutlass bearings. But those latter parts will need maintenance/replacement eventually and some of it is quite costly.
 
I mean...I never said I didn't love outboards :)

I'm a big fan of outboards on my Sea Ray so long as they are attached to a separate boat! Aside from the cost debate, which I'm clearly losing, I just can't see owning a cruiser without a tender. It's the single best upgrade I've made to either Sea Ray I've owned...we use it all the time.

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We use our tender every weekend. Granted, it’s usually the kids buzzing around the harbor, but it gets a ton of use.

It’s hard to do this with outboards.
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That little bit of real estate at the back of the boat provides us a huge amount of entertainment. Outboards just cut into rust too much for us. But those fold out sides that make a “beach” or “patio” are very interesting. Only works when not rafted up though.
 
From owners who use them!
 
Maybe you don’t need a tender if you can anchor in 2 feet of water...??
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Seems like an edge case for our type of boating. Our dinghy uses are more for picking mussels, exploring harbors, anchoring / mooring out and going into "town", sending the kids off for an an adventure so the adults can talk without sibling bickering, taking the kids out so my wife has some quiet time, etc. To me, lots more uses for dinghies than close-in beaching.

We regularly have 8-ish foot tidal swings. We'd soon be hard aground if we were that close to shore - outboard or not. Maybe not such an issue in St. Petersburg with a smaller tidal range?
 
Seems like an edge case for our type of boating. Our dinghy uses are more for picking mussels, exploring harbors, anchoring / mooring out and going into "town", sending the kids off for an an adventure so the adults can talk without sibling bickering, taking the kids out so my wife has some quiet time, etc. To me, lots more uses for dinghies than close-in beaching.

We regularly have 8-ish foot tidal swings. We'd soon be hard aground if we were that close to shore - outboard or not. Maybe not such an issue in St. Petersburg with a smaller tidal range?
Yes, much smaller range in Tampa/St Pete, 2-3 feet, regardless I personally would not anchor like that, definitely Regal just showing the flexibility, but I don't think it would be practical (I would anchor my 23' deck boat with an 11" draft like that and I would still constantly check the tides and position, much more relaxed from an anchoring perspective when in 5 feet of water!). Of course, in the end, to each his own, but the Aquila 36 really looks good to me, still has the swim platform, about 6' between the engines, and 2 smaller ones to each side (not to mention you can sit on the engines, they make great seats, especially in white...), and enough room to hold an 8' dinghy. Can hold 20+ people comfortably, and sleeps 4, 6 if you close off the salon. Pair that with a diesel gen, and you are good to go...
 
So Regal is selling outboard packages too. My compliments to the photographer! I thought financially troubled Searay might be saving money raising general quality concerns. Times should be good now for all RV builders, including boats. Get them out the factory door faster with a forklift hanging outboards on the big bathtub in the parking lot.
 
Everyone is doing it. I think if you don't offer mid-sized day boats/express cruiser with OB's you're going to be left behind. Here's Formula's 38' competition. Money is actually quite close to SR in price once you option it
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up and that doesn't bode well for SR's success.

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So Regal is selling outboard packages too. My compliments to the photographer! I thought financially troubled Searay might be saving money raising general quality concerns. Times should be good now for all RV builders, including boats. Get them out the factory door faster with a forklift hanging outboards on the big bathtub in the parking lot.
They ALL are. Read a current boating magazine - of the 40 or so ads and tests, 36 are outboards. We went to the FLL boat show last year. Surely, none of the million dollar 150 footers had outboards, but of the 1400 boats in the show I think I saw maybe a half dozen sterndrives.
 
How long or how much weight will be too much for outboards?

Edit: nevermind. Formula has a 50' with quad 600's on it.
 

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