Best motor option?

Question

for navigating long distances on inland waterways.Taking in account : price,maintenance,noise,reliabilty,weigh... etc...

Would you choose inboard diesel or outboard (2 or 4 strokes)

Thank you for sharing your experiences....

Answer 1

I would get Yamaha 4 stoke. Good on gas and quiet. And reliable too.

Answer 2

If you are looking for long life, long term reliability and good resale value then a diesel inboard is the way to go. I own a 30 ft boat with twin Cummins 4BTA-250 diesel engines, my average fuel burn for the season is less then 7gph. I can cruise at 24 kts. Diesels are simpler to maintain and are much more reliable. Almost any yard can get you going and you don't need all the plug in diagnostic tools that the new outboards need. The inboards transmission is much stronger then an outboards. Yes outboards are faster, but to many negatives for me.

Answer 3

Inboard diesel is the way to go for dependability and fuel economy.  Yes, they are more $$$, but you make up for it in the long run.  Please change fiters often and keep spares on board.