I/O vs Outboard

[440Charger]

Hey,
I am looking to buy a new boat and have some questions on what I should buy. I am kind of new to boat mechanics, so I hope I can get some help from this forum. I live in Tampa FL and have been looking at Cuddy Cabin type cruisers. It is salt water were I currently go boating. My previous boat was an inboard Yamaha jet boat and did not fair well over the past 5 years. I have found some nice used (1-5 years old) Sea Rays, Larsons, Maxims, Charparral and a few others that have really caught my attention, but my friend keeps telling me that I/O drives do not hold up in the salt water at all and if I do not get an outboard, I will be facing constant mechanical problems. Is this true? Is there a good I/O unit I can go with that will hold up in the salt water? Any help is appreciated.

[Thisisit]

no answere to you quers, But I did see your username 440CHARGER,
Would that happen to be a car ?

Reason I ask. I own a 440 Roadrunner !!

[Ike]

If properly maintained an I/O will last just as long as an Outboard or inboard.

[marshmat]

The shape of the drive has essentially no bearing on how well it handles salt. (An I/O is not much more than a big outboard lower unit with a 90 degree gear on top... a simplification of course, but you get the point.) How a drive holds up in salt depends on what it is made of and how it is maintained. Keep the zincs well maintained, follow the inspection and maintenance schedules etc, and you won't have problems. Closed cooling is often a worthwhile investment if you're in saltwater. If you don't have closed cooling, flush the motors with fresh water after each trip and, with outboards, tilt them clear of the water when docked overnight.