As I peruse my YachtHub boat porn I usually skip over any boat with a saildrive. Am I being unnecessarily fussy?
Yachts, like a lot of things in life, are a compromise.
So what is most important to you??
I really like the Bavarias, but I would prefer a straight shaft drive.
But that's just my opinion of course!
This video changed my mind. It all looked quite manageable. In fact easier than servicing the equivalent on my boat.
my belief is shaft wherever possible but modern shapes make legs more practical as the down angel on a flat bottomed boat becomes prohibitive for the shaft where as the leg is at 90 deg. Legs require much more maintenance and as they are alloy also the need for horrid alloy antifouls that don't work the list goes on though if I were building a modern shaped hull I would also opt for a leg and put up with looking after it
Saildrives are fine as long as your yacht is slipped annually. Those expensive anodes will disappear fast. The alloy body means that you will be using different antifoul paints. The saildrive will often be well forward of the stern so if your swimming and giving your prop a clean a hookah will be required. Whereas with my Currawong I can snorkel and scrub my prop easily.
Unfortunately there are some really nice boats on the market with saildrives so I would still buy one.
Just different, I have one of each.
Sail drive is smoother and quieter, and with regular maintenance no problem.
Years ago I had the leg water alarm go off but was extreme conditions where the prop was coming clear of the water.
Could see that any water get into the boat.
Also had a shaft spin out of a new coupling when hitting reverse and that let a **** load of water into the boat.
Above the floorboards in no time.
Each system has weaknesses. Prop shafts break with the expected consequences - one story at
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Principessa_Mafalda
What's the annual maintenance involved ?, more than a saildrive gear box oil change and replace the anode on the leg?
I have seen people replacing the seals behind the prop, is this an annual job?
I'll usually get 12 months or so from an anti foul then clean the hull in water for another 12 months, so would that rule them out if I'm only slipping every 2 years or so?
cheers
My boat has a sail drive, in the 2 plus years I have owned the 2006 boat I have so far been quite happy with the drive. The first year the boat was out for AF I was horrified to find no anodes and a lot of growth on the drive. That year I decided to Prop-speed the drove and prop, and naturally new anodes. I changed the gear oil, I used a motorcycle non friction modified engine oil, in lieu of ATF.
Last year at AF service the anodes were still fine and the Prop-speed was good for another season, the fouling just falls off.
The boats coming out next Monday so I'll check out the anodes and replace the oil again.
i have experienced restricted water flow, from time to time, I blow out the water intake hose with an air pump and I unblocks just fine, so I wouldn't worry too much about a sail drive!
Richard
Select to expand quotecisco said..
Saildrive or shaft??
Same question put a different way.
Shaft or get shafted??
Thanks Cisco. I knew you would have an opinion.
So, Mr Speaker, as I tally the votes, the question is resolved in the negative. I will continue to skip saildrives. Confirms what my farming brain has been telling me - two sets of bevel gears in a dissimilar metal casing is way worse than a shaft seal. Mine has not produced one drop in the 3 years I have owned her! BTW, in our cold clean southern waters, it seems I can go two years between haul-outs and antifouls.
