I/O's entering the wakesurf market.

[swatguy]

Well I/O's are now getting into the wakesurf game with some new designs.

Here is the Bryant 233X. MSRP 85k+
http://youtu.be/VOvyEpKlAA4

The new drive train
http://www.volvopenta.com/VOLVOPENTA...rd_facing.aspx

[LFEngineering]

Interesting technology, but I still prefer my 78 Ski Tique.

[Ryan1776]

IMHO, not smart.
How do you trim? Wouldn't you trim the out drive "down" and move the prop closer to the ground? Or are the cylinders just some sorta stabilizers?
I would think steering would be odd as well.
It says on their site more fuel efficient than "inboard shafts" hows that? You have quite a bit of out drive dragging in the water. Clean is fast. Clean is efficient.
Verse V-drive? Maybe, DD?? I don't buy it.
It did mention that the props work in undisturbed water, sure, but I'd be hard pressed to believe the skegs on an inboard boat hurt the water to the prop that much.

"It seems like an impossible combination, but while decreasing fuel consumption, performance is also greatly improved. In a match-up against inboard shafts of the same power, the differences are obvious. The boat equipped with Volvo Penta IPS accelerates much faster, and has a higher top speed."

That's all gearing in the lower unit and prop design.

Keep it. I'm with LFEngineering, I'll stay with Inboard.

[MTRBTR]

I can't imagine it's going to be much cheaper than buying an inboard. I would take a cheaper inboard over a top of the like stern drive any day. Especially new.

[Ryan1776]

OP said MSRP is 85+k!!! forget that

[swatguy]

I'll take a brand new 210 any day over this

[Nautiquehunter]

So now if you fall close to the swim platform all you will hit is the outdrive housing? With the props spinning in undisturbed water anything in the water will get a clean shot at the props. If you beach the boat you will not be able to raise the drive off the bottom. I think I will stick to inboards.

[scottb7]

I spoke to someone yesterday in the business that had knowledge of this outdrive. He felt that indeed debris will have a direct shot at the prop. However he said the props are supposedly recoverable. But he did not know what they meant by that. Maybe they break away in some specific way.

It does look like other out drives that it pivots up, so I don't understand above comment about "not being able to raise drive".

My only issue is with their video the wakes both surf and wakeboard were simply not impressive. If they are going to put that much $ into research and development you gotta get more $ into marketing and getting a pro rider or two. Cause their were no big tricks. So in it's current marketing state it will certainly never attract anyone off this site, others, time will tell.

You certainly gotta applaud the continued innovation.

[Ryan1776]

NautiqueHunter, pretty good point on the debris. As far as hitting the outdrives on a fall, the transom appears to be extended in a massive swim platform extension to protect that part.
Scott, my point about "raising" the drive is more associated to the fact that when you do trim up, the the leading edge of the props will start to have a down vector. Therefore actually getting closer to the bottom of the lake.

[Nautiquehunter]

When you pivot the drive up the back of the drive goes up the front where the props are goes down?

[Ryan1776]

It would have to right? I mean think of the point of rotation. The leading edge of the prop is forward of the point of rotstion. So as you rotate about that point it would have movement down in an arc.

[scottb7]

I think based on the pivot point it will arc back and up. I don't think it will go down. Like picture propeller moving from 6 to 9 on a clock. Just up and back.

[Ryan1776]

Scott, totally agree, IF the leading edge of the prop was equal to or behind the pivot point. But in that photo up top, it certainly doesn't look way.
You're totally correct on the 6-9 (haha) but it looks it starts at about 430 I might even give ya 5

[swankster]

It will be interesting to see how the market responds and how the price point will settle compared to an inboard. But it looks like its meant to go in reverse. It has to be easy to back.

[Whitetail15]

If I would have to be run over by a boat- I sure hope its not one with those outdrives. The just look dangerous.