There seems to be a lot of people not approving on a boat I was looking at. It has a near new 2018 4.3 mercruiser with 50 hours.
besides a doghouse at the back, what disadvantages to they have?
who prefers inboards and why? Who prefers outboards and why?
Again... Let’s be nice.
Ok my opinion and I owned both. I fix a lot of my own things on my motors. Presently have a Mercruiser/Alpha 3.0L. Probably the cheapest motor I have run.
There isn't anything wrong with the mercruiser 4.3, and if has Alpha leg they are easy to work on. Your a shore fishermen I assume, so truthfully this isn't something going to offshore bank every day. Inboards are great for people that are mechanically inclined. Also since you dealing with a car type engine it's easy to get parts, and doesn't break the bank. Outboards are great for people that aren't. Honest opinion. You can abuse a lot of outboards, and it will still run. While the inboard not as forgiving.
The maintenance with my inboard is pretty much identically to outboards I owned. Where people get into trouble is they start to not do maintenance, and the inboards aren't as forgiving as outboard.
My boat right now is Mailbu 185. For the cost of podding outboard I will never get that money back. Made that decision last year. This motor I have has 2400 hrs on it. Can't say that for a lot of outboards I owned. But I don't run it hard maybe 3200RPM max at just cruising speed 20knots or so. never ever push it like my outboards I have had. The advantage is I tend to use less gas.
Just my thoughts I would say either have advantages and disadvantages.
50hrs on main engine is pretty much new. When your looking look at tell tail signs like leg oil, and engine oil. Condition of motor etc. You want to ask when the manifolds were done (very important). Pay extreme attention to the freshwater cooling system, and it's condition.