Comparison of Sterndrive and Outboard Power

Sterndrive and outboard-powered boats are both excellent options. They both will provide incredible power, speed, and control for your boat. However, they are very different types of motors. You should be able to recognize the benefits of outboard and sterndrive motors before selecting your boat. Check out Nisswa Marine in Nisswa, Minnesota, and our team will show you around our latest deals. We welcome customers from St. Cloud and Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Overall Power and Speed

Both sterndrive and outboard-powered boats offer exceptional power. They are well-matched when it comes to most models. Both boat options have similar speed capabilities. However, an outboard boat is a better choice to reach higher speeds quickly. It takes a sterndrive boat a few more seconds to get up to a decent speed from idling. 

Weight

When it comes to weight, the sterndrive is heavier. However, the power-to-weight ratio gives the sterndrive an advantage over an outboard boat. The power-to-weight ratio is a measure of the total power your boat can create compared to the total weight of the vessel. The engine on your boat needs to deliver enough power and thrust to take you forward even when you have many passengers onboard the vessel. 

The Transom

One of the main points of differentiation between outboard and a sterndrive boat is the transom. On a sterndrive boat, there is not as much room for a transom platform behind the vessel. You should choose an outboard boat if you love the idea of getting straight into the water via a convenient platform. You often see an outboard boat with a large transom platform for swimming and lounging in the water. 

Shifting

An outboard boat is notable for the clunking sound that it makes when you shift forward or backwards. You may not like hearing this sound whenever you are docking or driving around. A sterndrive motor, by comparison, is often a little more sophisticated when it comes to shifting. You can smoothly move forwards and backwards with a sterndrive engine on your boat. 

Maintenance

Both outboard and sterndrive motors will require maintenance and servicing at least once in a while to keep them running well. An outboard engine has a significant advantage because you can easily get it out of the water and be ready to repair it in an instant. You can also winterize an outboard motor with more ease than a sterndrive model. 

Are you still stuck between an outboard and a sterndrive for your boat? Visit Nisswa Marine, and our team can lend you more personal advice about anything to do with boats. Our dealership, located in Nisswa, Minnesota, serves Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minnesota.