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Engines & Drives
Inboard IO, also called sterndrive, puts the engine inside the boat and the gearcase outside it. For two decades it was the default bowrider layout, and millions of boats still use it.
How inboard-outboard bowriders work, what MerCruiser and Volvo Penta packages cost to run, and the downsides every buyer should know.
A marinised petrol engine, typically a MerCruiser 4.5L V6 or Volvo Penta V6/V8, bolts to the inside of the transom. Power passes through the transom assembly to a drive leg carrying the propeller, which steers and trims like an outboard.
The result is a clean transom, a large sun pad over the engine box and a low, planted feel on the water.
Torque is the big one. A V6 or V8 pulls skiers out of the hole effortlessly and cruises at low revs, which is quiet and relaxed. The low centre of gravity gives the boat a stable, confident feel through turns.
Automotive-derived engines are also cheap to rebuild compared with a large outboard replacement.
Bellows and gimbal bearings need periodic replacement, and if they fail the boat can take water. Raw-water cooling means salt inside the engine unless a closed cooling system is fitted. Winterising is mandatory in cold climates.
The engine box also eats cockpit volume, and a corroded transom assembly is an expensive repair that scares off used buyers.
The bowriders that come up most often when readers ask us where to start.
The world's best selling bowrider size, Light, simple and easy to tow.
US$38,000 - US$52,000 new
The refined mainstream benchmark: quiet, dry, and beautifully finished for the money.
US$72,000 - US$95,000 new
15.5 ft fibreglass Bayliner bowrider with stern drive power — entry level pricing and a classic convertible bowrider layout.
US$26,000 - US$34,000 new
Featured Boat of the Week
This week we are putting the Bayliner Bayliner DX2000 in the spotlight, and it earns the spot. At 20 ft 2 in (6.16 m) long on a 8 ft (2.44 m) beam, this is a bowrider that reads the water well and still feels roomy enough for a full day out. A 20-foot deck-boat-width bowrider with outboard power and a huge social cockpit. Power comes from 115-150 hp mercury fourstroke outboard through a outboard package, and the fibreglass hull keeps the ride settled when the afternoon breeze puts a chop on the surface.
Seating is rated for 8 people, so there is space for family, friends, towels, eskies and the tow rope without anyone climbing over gear. Owners tend to buy it for family, water ski, leisure — which is exactly where it shines. Fuel is 30 us gal (114 l), and on the second-hand and new market you should expect to land somewhere around US$42,000 - US$58,000 new depending on hours, trailer and options.
Our full deep dive covers the layout in detail: bow lounge comfort, helm ergonomics, the rear entertaining area, storage that actually swallows a weekend, plus standard features, popular options and honest notes on where the boat compromises. If the Bayliner DX2000 is on your shortlist, start there — and check back next week, because the featured boat changes every week as we complete more full model reviews.
Featured Bowrider Article
Buying Advice
Weight is an Important Factor when choosing a Boat. It determines How Easy it is to Tow, Launch and Retrieve. Hull Mass is also a Primary Indicator of how well the Boat will Ride in Choppy Water and Heavy Seas. Light Hulls like Aluminium Launch easily, Tow behind Regular Vehicles, and cost less to run and maintain. This Article Explores how the lightest Bowriders on the market stack up, and where the Weight actually comes from. It should come as no Surprise the Lightest Bowriders happen to also be the Smallest in Length. Starting in the 16 ft (4.88 m) Class, Pressed and Roll-formed Aluminium Bowriders like the Quintrex 481 are the outright lightweights. A 4.5-4.9 m Aluminium Bowrider with a small outboard typically weighs 350-550 kg (770-1,210 lb) as a bare hull, and 700-900 kg (1,540-1,985 lb) on the trailer with Engine, Fuel, Battery and Gear aboard. Brands built around Aluminium construction include Quintrex, Stacer, Stessco, BlueFin, Razorline, Barcrusher and similar builders in Australia Dominate this band. Lighter does not mean flimsy, and Aluminium construction is not all the same. A compact pressed-Alloy family boat can be remarkably light, while a larger Plate-Aluminium boat with thicker bottom sheets, welded frames, a hard top and…
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