At the boat show this week, I overheard a number of different people saying that the Grady and Pursuit big expresses are not worth it because in that size 33 - 36 one should have inboards for that kind of price tag.

How do you guys feel about this, particularly as Yamaha announced a 350HP 4s outboard that reportedly can be increased to possibly 500HP on the same block. This would mean twins instead of triples on these boats.

I know next to nothing about this size boat and inboards. However, as one looking at the 30' range cabin boat, it seems the primary tradeoff between the inboards and outboards is that the outboards provide an aft berth where the inboards would be, and the inboards provide a clean transom.

Looking at performance specs of say a Cabo (35) or Carolina Classic 35 and GW, they are close in fuel burn. with Diesel and gas close in price, thats about a wash. The outboards will go faster on the high end, but people seem to like the added stability of engines amidships.

What do you guys see as the big drivers that would push you one way or another??

I'm a big fan of Grady's, we had a 22fter when I was a kid and I fish alot on a 23 gulfstream.
The advantage to outboards is you now have a 30+ footer that has the versatility of the small boats that go right onto the sandbar, for family fun thats tough to beat. Going high and dry is no problem with the motors up.

I think yammi's 350 runs around $30K, but if you're looking at boats like this I'm guessing $$ isn't the biggest issue.

i had a 30' grady white w/ twin-250's

if it was inboard you would lose the full double berth underneath and about 10 knots.

Your gonna start seeing a-lot more express boats with Diesel engines under the cockpit coupled to IPS drives. You keep keep the mid-birth like Mike's Grady, Have a clean transom without 2-4 outboards in the way, diesel reliability/longevity, better manueverability than outboards & inboards, better fuel economy and increased speeds than inboards. Oh and you still keep a low center of gravity, but not as mid ship like a straight inboard.

Not sure what the negatives of these drives are yet....too new.

the ips drives are new from volvo-penta right? Are they the ones with the duo props facing forward. saw that at the show yesterday, supposedly is alot mor efficient.

i saw mercruiser is making them now too

did you see the new VW TDI marine engines? theres a bulletproof engine

taJon,

I saw the VW TDI. same motor as in the Tourag. Drove a 1997 VW Jetta TDI Desil for 260k miles. great motor.

It sure is, my wife just got a tdi beetle. Shes very excited. That motor in the tourag has like 500 ft/lbs or torque........I bet it can move a boat no problem

sorry for the hijack. It would say it depends on what you want.