Considering 2005 185 Sport with 115 OB

[GypsmJim]

If you have read magazines and gone to boat shows for any amount of time you will have seen the change in wants / needs over the years.

Even as recent as 10 years ago the only outboards you saw were on tinnies and fishing boats. Runabouts with outboards were few and far between, and outboards on cruisers were virtually non-existent.

Today, the 75% of the advertisements show an outboard. I believe every Searay model can be had either way. The Searay display at the Ft. Lauderdale boat show was 95% OB. Only the new Sedan (which debuted at the show) was an I/O.

 

[BillK2632]

I still think for small bowrider boats < 25ft that are used in freshwater (aka your typical lake boat) it's tossup and personal preference. Sterndrives in a freshwater environment really aren't anymore maintenance than OBs. I think due to the saltwater issues a sterndrive can have, people tend to generalize sterndrives as high maintenance.

The only maintenance item that is different is the bellows, and those aren't really a maintenance item in freshwater, they can easily last 10+ years. At that age there are probably other things in an outboard that are going to require something - things just age and wear out no matter how well built the motor is. Otherwise the annual maintenance is about the same - fluid / filter changes. Consumables like spark plugs and water pump impellers are on about the same cycle - 3yrs. The labor to do these on a single engine outboard or IO is about the same. I think the OB would get a little nudge for ease of winterizing.

Now, start talking about salt water and boats that stay in the water year around, and the OB starts pulling ahead real fast. But for the lake boat that stays on a trailer, dry storage or a lift, there really is not much difference

 

[GypsmJim]

I still think for small bowrider boats < 25ft that are used in freshwater (aka your typical lake boat) it's tossup and personal preference. Sterndrives in a freshwater environment really aren't anymore maintenance than OBs.

Surely, its a matter of personal preference. We all have our likes and dislikes and our opinions are what the OP needs to make his decision.

OTOH, I'll debate that maintenance opinion all day long, after having been on both sides of the fence.

I do most all my own maintenance. Especially winterizing since the dealers rip you off in that regard. Having to have the I/O out in the driveway with muffs is a PITA. Now, if its a rainy day it doesn't matter I'm working on the engine in the garage at my leisure. While the I/O needs to be fogged with the engine running, the OB just needs a squirt in the plug holes. I tried bellows once and ended up having a professional do it. The charge was astronomical, plus the boat was laid up for 2 weeks.

Changing the oil now involves putting a pan under the engine. It emptes by itself. Even the oil filter has a drip pan. No more sitting for a half hour waiting for the pump to finish sucking it out. Sure, gearcase lube and impellers are the same regardless.

My current SPX has a sun pad. Open it up and the I/O version has the engine under the lid. Mine is an empty cavern. You could even put a porta potti in there. You can't imagine how much more storage space we have now.

But its just my preference. Love the new Searay.

 

[Arminius]

On purchase price, NADA is low. I was just starting the search on Craigslist when I looked at a 2003 Bowrider w/ the 5 liter MPI and 130 hours. Really clean and someone else was going to buy it if I didn't. Listed for $18,000, I had the NADA in mind but he was higher and I asked how he calculated the extras. He said we could go in and work it out on his computer. When NADA said $14,500, I had to ask if he would take it. He said $15,000 and I handed him a $50 and wrote up a bill of sale for him to sign. NADA is low but it anchors negotiations. Now is the time to buy (but, in all seriousness, you need more power).