I/O vs DD

[jasun]

I made the jump last year from a 16' outboard to my Salt. Put a lot of sweat into it and got it solid again. Enjoyed it all year with minimal learning curve in manuvering it and turning a low speeds.

I have read a lot of places that people who own full inboards will never go back to I/O's or outboards again. I have now joined that rank. Today, I helped a buddy Test Drive an 19' I/O. It has a SB V8 in it so it should be similar to work on as my BB. After that, the similarities go away.
For only being a 19' boat with that power plant, it seemed to take a while to get on plane. It was very smooth once it got on plane.

It is a 1995 so I am assuming it is a composite boat as it is a Baja?? but it seems to be ass end heavy.

Turning it is where I saw the biggest difference. Compared to the Salt, it felt sluggish and fat. I felt like it might turn in a tight radius, but at a banked angle the whole way. I did not care for it compared to the Salt. It just felt sloppy...

The only thing I was envious of was when we were putting it back on the lift and were mis-aligned, it was nice to have a choice of direction in reverse. That being said, I love how when I go to the sand bar (noone beaches, but moors in 2-3 feet of water) I can front in till it is about 4' deep and then do the Forward/Reverse dance and watch it spin on a dime. It took me while, but I am sure I can spin the boat within its total length +2 feet.

Over all, the runabout is a nice boat, but there is no way I will ever go back to either an I/O or ourboard after having the DD. Just a better feel for me.

[Cusefan78]

I'm in the same boat. Went from a baja to my supra and I'll never go back.

[chris young]

I've driven plenty of I/O and outboards, and skied behind most of them. I bought my Supra for skiing because it was DD. I'm sure there are a few outboards that do ski well, but I knew they would be hard to find. We all know what sucks about a DD (engine right in the middle of the boat) but that's what makes them special too. If I was buying a boat without skiing in mind though, I'm not sure that I would choose a DD. The motor in the middle and the fact that the prop and rudder are always under the boat are definite inconveniences. I built a railway for hauling my boat in and out, and everything had to be 16" taller than it would have been had it been had it not been a DD.

Still, the first time anyone who's never skied behind a proper ski boat gets behind my boat, they're impressed with how easy it is to get up and how solid the pull is for slalom.

[86 century]

We just made the jump from a dd to a vdrive. Totally different world same pull and close on the handling. With all the room of an I/O or ourboard.

[jasun]

I've driven plenty of I/O the fact that the prop and rudder are always under the boat are definite inconveniences.

I thought the same thing until I looked at a brochure for an 18' Rinker and it has a draft of 36"... Not sure if that with the outdrive down all the way or what, but seems deep. I am pretty sure the Salt has a draft of 25".

[gogger]

When I was 16 I bought a Correct Craft I/O I believe it was an 18 footer, with a Renault 4 cylinder engine. We were young and loved it, but it was tough to ski behind. Hardly could pull up a 120 pound kid. Since it was a Correct Craft I soon learned about the Ski Nautiques and always have wanted a D/D since. A couple years ago we started to go boating with some friends that had an I/O. Pretty much the same deal. Could hardly pull up a skier, I never did get up on skis behind it, did have fun on the knee board though. So my wife and I started think about getting a boat, I agreed to get one, but it had to be a D/D ski boat. There is no comparison between the two. And I would rather not get in the water behind anything else. Tried to knee board behind my buddies outboard while in Folly beach, and it was a terrible experience. Would like to try a V-Drive. But pretty sure I will stay with the Pirata for the rest of my life.

[gogger]

This was behind the Pirata a couple weeks ago. Don't think an I/O could do it.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

[jasun]

This was behind the Pirata a couple weeks ago. Don't think an I/O could do it.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

Couldnt get your link to work..

[gogger]

It worked from my phone?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater

[86 century]

I have had ob, I/O, dd and now vdrive. One of which was an 18' aluminum deep v with a worked over 275hp mercury was fast as hell but still didn't match the pull of the Bravura.

If you ever make the jump to an all composite vdrive i would bet you will wish you had done it a long time ago.