OB or Diesel

[JZimmer]

We were sure that our next boat was going to be an R29. Great boat, but the drone and vibration of the diesel changed our mind. We are moving up from an R27OB. At slow speed it is peaceful to sit out back and be able to visit with the outboard just humming along and is ok up to 12-14mph or so. Virtually no engine vibration at any speed and when you want to maximize your time at your chosen port of call the speed makes sense for us. It also lets us, not retired yet, travel in situations where the weather window is narrower also due to the speed.

I also appreciate the extra below deck storage where the IB would reside. I see no downsides to trailering or staying in a marina. Love the maneuverability that an OB offers. We mainly stay at a marina and only tote our dingy on long passages, different from many other owners.

I've operated diesels my whole life in vehicles and farm/construction equipment and I'm tired of that exhaust smell.

 

[venajeff]

I have always been an inboard diesel guy, my father was a marine diesel mechanic. I can tell you few things I don't miss after switching over to an OB: a sore chest from leaning over an engine to replace empellers, filters and zincs, and cleaning the after coolers was no fun at all.

 

[Chimo]

I don't worry about wearing out my Yamaha F300. There are many examples of folks getting 7k-9k engine hours on them and they still run fine. At 200 hours a year, every year, which is what we do, we'll be lucky hit 4,000 engine hours after 20 years.

The maintenance on a Yamaha is easier than a diesel inboard. Ranger Tug has a great video on their YouTube channel of changing out the water impeller on a R27 classic. Compare that to our video of me changing the impeller on the tailgate of my truck, just as an example.

Also, it's ok to run to the Yamaha F300 at wide open throttle, all the time, without hurting it. I've done that from Friday Harbor to Everett (home). Was home in under 2 hours.

To me you just described the real difference. They’re different boats not just different propulsion. One is a planing hull and the other semi-displacement. If you want to reach the destination quicker then the planing hull and outboard are for you. Both can do hull speed but look at the forward profiles of the hulls side by side. The planing outboard is fuller. That gives more lift and buoyancy (and room for the head) but the sharper entry of the diesel 27 cuts chop better, especially at 15 miles/hr and 2.5 mpg with a lower cog to keep things smooth. It depends if you are more interested in the journey than reaching the destination as fast as possible. All boats are a compromise. Outboards have developed dramatically in the last 20 years. Maybe an outboard version of the semi-displacement hull?

 

[CaptMhack]

Keep in mind that Yamahas in particular have an issue with corrosion in salt water eating away gasket mating surfaces at less than 2000 hrs..
While diesel runs on closed loop system..