Posted by Mark Bronkalla on July 25, 19103 at 12:16:45:
In Reply to: Re: I/O jet vs Prop drive posted by JimM on July 24, 19103 at 06:11:48:
An inboard properly setup will provide handling near to that of a jet boat. I have Riviera and installed 3 skid fins under the front of the engine. The boat pivots about this point when truning and and has minimal side slip at speed (still slides a bit near idle).
When I am misbehaving and doing power turns , the folks in the rear cockpit can really get thrown from side to side due to the lateral acceleration. It surprises anyone who sits back there (especially if they think an wooden boat is a bit stodgy).
Another advantage of an inboard is the hole shot. Whether you want to deep water start 1, 2 ,3 skiers at once, the inboard can do it. Actually we have never had to open it up for a start (even with 3 skiers and 5 in the boat). Where we ski, ther is no opportunity for a beach or dock start. Everthing must be a deep water start.
If you want to load the boat up with weight (bodies or ballast) for wakeboarding, I would thingk the inboard or a V drive would have a definita advantage again.
A jet does have an advantage on shallow draft and avoiding snags, but the inboard does have shallower draft than most I/Os or outboards.