Engines for boats

[slip tip]

Not sure if this will fly or not, but just thought I'd ask since it is fishing related and a lot of you own and operate this type of machinery. However, if this thread gets moved or deleted it won't hurt my feelings.
Years ago, I had a 26' Farallon , full electronics, with the Volvo I/O diesel and Duoprop. It was one great fishing machine and I, to this very day, miss it terribly... ....a divorce does some very bad things to you....
For the past several years, especially since most outboards are four strokes they seem to have taken over a large share of the power plants smaller boats are using. I was just wondering, why? Is it because of the lighter weight of the outboard? Are the outboards less expensive? I can see the advantage of having twin outboards, but still, I always felt the diesel was the better way to go. I guess it's more of personal issue, but I've never cared for the extra "length" at the end of the transom due to an outboard engine.
Feel free to jump in and educate me because I feel that I've missed something.

Regards,
David

[dylan]

Sliptip,

I don't own a boat but participate in maintaining one and have read about this and discussed it with some fishermen. 

The reasons people usually give for preferring the OBs are:  more space, easier to maintain, lighter weight, & designed for water usage.
These reasons plus the common inboard or I/O problems like rusted/busted starters, rusted heat exchangers/manifolds, sealing, and so forth have pushed people more to OBs...IMHO.  The new generations of more reliable & more efficient 4-strokes enabled the transition you mentioned! 

At some point, people seem to "switch" to preferring diesels. . .where the efficiency & torque of the diesel becomes key.  This depends on the size of boat and type of hull.  I have fished very little on diesel boats.  How did you do with the diesel odor?  It induces puking in some. 
Many of the various fishing boards have probably beaten this topic to death.  Boat boards too like the hulltruth or similar.   
dylan

[Russ57]

I'd take a diesel any day of the week.  I think it depends on the type of waters you fish and how you feel about mantenance.

I wouldn't have a diesel for a flats boat.  I wouldn't have an outboard on something I expected the motors to run non-stop for 24 hours.  I wouldn't have a diesel if I had deep pockets, weren't going to get my hands dirty, and had a throw-away mentality.

In my area some are going to outboards for the power/weight ratio thing.  The boats look more like offshore race boats than a fishing machine.  Not my cup of tea but in some cases time equals money and they are fast.

[slip tip]

Thanks guys for the replies. I actually tried to delete this post but the program wouldn't do it. After all, this forum is about fishing reels, not boat engines.
Unfortunately, curiosity got the best of me and I know that several people here on the forum do run outboards in salt water. I have nothing against outboards, just curious as to the popularity of them.
Gee, I really wished I didn't post this here. This probably has been hammered to death on some other forum.

Regards,
David

[alantani]

Not a problem........

[suitekids]

I run a Yamaha 90hp four stroke on my little boat offshore all the time, purrs like a kitten and has awesome fuel range, I love it, and my first mate is usually the captain while I'm rigging and setting up.

[Norcal Pescador]

Not a problem........

Yeah, not a problem. We are talking fishing boats after all, not buoy tenders or tugs.

[coastalobsession]

Outboards are easier to work on. The new Yamaha sho has revolutionized the 2 stoke world.