Outboard vs. inboard
Photo provided
Unless you maintain you inboard impeccably, this is what it will look like in short order.
Photo provided
For powering smaller boats in salt water, outboard engines are almost always more practical.
By Capt. Josh Greer
One major thing to consider when buying a boat is what type of motor is on the boat. There are two different types of propulsion to choose from when looking at boats: Inboard motors and outboard motors. I am just going to give you some pros and cons of both to help you make the right choice.
Let’s start with inboard motors. With inboards, there are actually two options: I/O (inboard/outboard) and a straight inboard. The I/O has an engine mounted on the inside of the boat and an outdrive mounted on the stern. I/Os are found mostly on cruising style boats and bigger fishing boats. Straight inboards have an engine mounted on the inside of the boat and a shaft and propeller sticking out of the keel of the boat. These motors are primarily found on very large fishing boats and cruising boats. Inboards can be either gas or diesel. Usually diesel engines are found in the larger boats.