Are outdrives really that bad

[Momac]

so what's the cost of a new OD vs the cost of a new shaft ?

Not a fair comparison
The shaft may not be the failure point. I know of a boat that required a complete bellhousing and gearbox after clipping something with a prop. The prop needed a minor repair only . I believe the cost was in the order of £10k.

 

[SC35]

so what's the cost of a new OD vs the cost of a new shaft ?

Retail Price of a DP-H Outdrive is £12,842

 

[jon and michie]

DP-G Drive with 1" extension piece and a new pair of C4 stainless props£16,022 fitted with 2yr parts warranty

 

[oldgit]

Not a fair comparison
The shaft may not be the failure point. I know of a boat that required a complete bellhousing and gearbox after clipping something with a prop. The prop needed a minor repair only . I believe the cost was in the order of £10k.

Finally managed to speak to the boat club member who had problems with his outdrives, they were actually on a Sealine S41.
All tent boats look the same to me
Engines and outdrives serviced by dealership the previous season.
Both the outdrives were replaced, uneconomical to repair. Forgot to ask if they were Mercury or VP, he was able to claim from his insurance company.
Total claim was for £25.000.
Boat went on the market immediately afterwards.

 

[ari]

Finally managed to speak to the boat club member who had problems with his outdrives, they were actually on a Sealine S41.
All tent boats look the same to me
Engines and outdrives serviced by dealership the previous season.
Both the outdrives were replaced, uneconomical to repair. Forgot to ask if they were Mercury or VP, he was able to claim from his insurance company.
Total claim was for £25.000.
Boat went on the market immediately afterwards.

So what?

A yachtie might well argue that your boat is no good because one vaguely like it had both engines seize up once and his boat has sails that never seize up. Then someone with a canoe could post that he knew someone who's sails ripped. Then someone with a surfboard could share a story about a canoeist who's paddle broke and a swimmer could point out that he once heard of someone who's surfboard snapped in half.

What would any of that (or what you posted) prove, beyond if you have stuff, it might break? Especially if it's not looked after (such as in your example - too much of a coincidence for both drives to mysteriously break if no cause, simultaneously).

Maybe you're best off just staying home and reading a book if you're that concerned.

 

[Parabordi]

So what?

A yachtie might well argue that your boat is no good because one vaguely like it had both engines seize up once and his boat has sails that never seize up. Then someone with a canoe could post that he knew someone who's sails ripped. Then someone with a surfboard could share a story about a canoeist who's paddle broke and a swimmer could point out that he once heard of someone who's surfboard snapped in half.

What would any of that (or what you posted) prove, beyond if you have stuff, it might break? Especially if it's not looked after (such as in your example - too much of a coincidence for both drives to mysteriously break if no cause, simultaneously).

Maybe you're best off just staying home and reading a book if you're that concerned.

jesus hissy fit or what!

 

[Momac]

Finally managed to speak to the boat club member who had problems with his outdrives, they were actually on a Sealine S41.
All tent boats look the same to me
Engines and outdrives serviced by dealership the previous season.
Both the outdrives were replaced, uneconomical to repair. Forgot to ask if they were Mercury or VP, he was able to claim from his insurance company.
Total claim was for £25.000.
Boat went on the market immediately afterwards.

So not greatly different to replacing a gearbox on a shaft drive.

 

[simonfraser]

So not greatly different to replacing a gearbox on a shaft drive.

yeh, fair point

how common is a bellhouse gearbox issue when there is shaft / prop damage ?

 

[Momac]

yeh, fair point

how common is a bellhouse gearbox issue when there is shaft / prop damage ?

I don't know.

But I also know a shaft drive boat where a drive plate failed after an encounter with a bicycle.

But stern drive failure due to prop damage is rare . Aluminium duo props tend to be trashed without other damage.
Needing to replace a complete stern drive is rare.

 

[SC35]

I don't know.

But I also know a shaft drive boat where a drive plate failed after an encounter with a bicycle.

But stern drive failure due to prop damage is rare . Aluminium duo props tend to be trashed without other damage.
Needing to replace a complete stern drive is rare.

Also in a "failure to maintain depth" type incident, stern drives will kick up, although usually with prop damage.
There have been many similar incidents to shaft drive boats where the P-Brackets have been driven back up into the hull, with flooding, sinking, wailing and gnashing of teeth etc.
Of course, you shouldn't be hitting the seabed at speed anyway.

On most boats it isn't a choice: there are very few where both options were available: Sealine S42 / S43 being one of them.
Shaft drive or IPS is the only (sensible) option for larger craft beyond 45ft.

 

[Momac]

Also in a "failure to maintain depth" type incident, stern drives will kick up, although usually with prop damage.
There have been many similar incidents to shaft drive boats where the P-Brackets have been driven back up into the hull, with flooding, sinking, wailing and gnashing of teeth etc.
Of course, you shouldn't be hitting the seabed at speed anyway.

On most boats it isn't a choice: there are very few where both options were available: Sealine S42 / S43 being one of them.
Shaft drive or IPS is the only (sensible) option for larger craft beyond 45ft.

On one occasion I hit a submerged something. The leg kicked up but no damage
Next day another boat hit it and damaged steering etc .
The submerged thing turned out to be a convertible car which had been nicked and dumped in the river.

 

[Hot Property]

Our outboard compared with our last I/B diesel on shafts is night and day. Tickover, the old boat used to rumble and shake and the OB is silent. Underway, way quieter with the OB, you can chat easily which was tiring with the diesel. I really would worry about buying anything other than OB for my next boat.

Couldn't agree more. My previous boat was a 23 ft sportscruiser with a fly by wire verado 200hp.

I only knew it was running at tickover by looking at the tacho or listening to the splash of the tell tale.

Yes fuel costs are more but as about 95% of the engine is kept out of saltwater for most of the time then maintenance and corrosion are insignificant.

Anyway, fuel costs are not the number one cost on the Hamble, it's berthing.....

 

[SC35]

Couldn't agree more. My previous boat was a 23 ft sportscruiser with a fly by wire verado 200hp.

I only knew it was running at tickover by looking at the tacho or listening to the splash of the tell tale.

Yes fuel costs are more but as about 95% of the engine is kept out of saltwater for most of the time then maintenance and corrosion are insignificant.

Anyway, fuel costs are not the number one cost on the Hamble, it's berthing.....

It wasn't so obvious when I started boating in 1999 ... Red Diesel was about 35p/litre.
Nowadays it isn't hard to see why outboards are a LOT more popular ... assuming you can get Petrol where you are.

 

[alt]

Jesus H Christ, what happened in the pic above? UJ failure i'm guessing.

 

[Scubadoo]

I don't know.

But I also know a shaft drive boat where a drive plate failed after an encounter with a bicycle.

But stern drive failure due to prop damage is rare . Aluminium duo props tend to be trashed without other damage.
Needing to replace a complete stern drive is rare.

Although stainless steel props are different, higher risk of damage to the stern drive, no give compared aluminium and possibly the newer J series aluminium props with a fixed hub.

 

[SC35]

Jesus H Christ, what happened in the pic above? UJ failure i'm guessing.

Bellows, then UJ and bearing,
then “Eveything, Everywhere, All at Once”.

The picture is off a Facebook page.

 

[Momac]

Although stainless steel props are different, higher risk of damage to the stern drive, no give compared aluminium and possibly the newer J series aluminium props with a fixed hub.

This is true
A series props with are still available , I believe, although not in a Volvo box.

 

[ontheplane]

Finally we have some balanced views....

So in Summary - Sterndrives might cost you a lot of money, mainly if not maintained (which you can control)

Shafts might cost you a lot of money if you hit something (which in theory you can control....maybe...)

Outboards cost less to repair but use more fuel

Staying home is cheaper than all the above....

 

[Martxer]

Finally we have some balanced views....

So in Summary - Sterndrives might cost you a lot of money, mainly if not maintained (which you can control)

Shafts might cost you a lot of money if you hit something (which in theory you can control....maybe...)

Outboards cost less to repair but use more fuel

Staying home is cheaper than all the above....

 

[jon and michie]

Finally we have some balanced views....

So in Summary - Sterndrives might cost you a lot of money, mainly if not maintained (which you can control)

Shafts might cost you a lot of money if you hit something (which in theory you can control....maybe...)

Outboards cost less to repair but use more fuel

Staying home is cheaper than all the above....

Sterndrives will cost you more when you consider the cost of maintenance and the Bi Annual service (Volvo charge roughly £1k per drive) compared on how often/and cost to service a shaft drive.
Then there's the annoying anti fouling every season (the swbo loves this LOL) compared with painting (if you wish) a propellar.
I have seen as mentioned earlier more outboards coming into play and totally get why as at the end of a day's play on the water the owner can lift the outboard clear of the water no anti fouling required no bellows etc to change - a lot less servicing.