I/O or OB

[cterrebonne]

Originally Posted by Monterey10

I agree with the above. The OB is superior in all ways. A recent test of identical Trophy fishing boats, one with an I/O, the other with a O/B, showed the O/B was superior in all ways, hole shot, fuel efficiency, top speed etc etc.

That said, in California, the 2008 and newer O/Bs will need to be smogged every two years or the engine switches to "trouble mode". The local dealers are licking their chops at having required service. My local Merc dealer averages $500 to $600 to service an engine. I can see why, he had to buy a $30,000 computer and cables to plug into the newer engines. Once the engine is plugged in, the computer diagnoses any problems. Then, the computer sends the report to the State, verifying smog is completed.

I like the concept, but for a small time operator, I'll stick with my funky old I/Os. I can change bellows, grease ujoints, time a points distributor, rebuild the carb, drain the block and manifolds in the spring. None of this is hard to do, none of this cost $600.

a 30,000 computer? $500-$600 what is the labor rate? dude someone is getting the shaft and thats a fact.i know things are expensive and ridiculous in cali but unless that computer is govt issued and its a standard toughbook with merc software its not 30,000. that is very interesting.

[THEFERMANATOR]

The MERCURY scanners are on Ebay every once in a while for under $1K.

[cterrebonne]

ddt's? i dont know if they work with the newer canbus systems. we switched from ddt to laptop in 2002-03

[bigshrimpin]

Maybe Spares can shed some light on the 30K computer. I think that price is in fact what it cost dealers to become certified to service verado motors. I don't take my boat to any dealers . . . but I've bought a ton of blown motors from them and from folks on craigslist. Occasionally I'll get receipts with the motors. I have one receipt for $2200 for parts and labor to replace an trim and tilt unit on a Mariner Magnum 150. I have another for $995 for replacing a pair of switch boxes and a stator on a Mercury XR6. It's crazy what people can charge for that work, but the overhead is what kills the dealer . . . especially if they're within a few miles of the ocean in CA.