Nice to hear your interested in boating. Now you have to make up your mind on a lot of things. What do you want to do with the boat? Is fuel milage an issue? Do you want to throw big rooster tails? Do you want a smooth ride? Do you want to go fast? Props use less gas jets use more. Years of reliability I would have to say jets because nothing hangs outside the boat to get broken or bent when your under way.Outdrives have more moving parts to break. Don't ever own an 2 stroke outboard they don't get the engine hours out of them that you would get out of a 4 cycle engine. Boy im catch hell From the outboard guys on this. My personal boat is a two seater 18' v- drive and I know Im going to catch hell for being on the jet message board.
Bill