Are outdrives really that bad

[Hot Property]

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.

Yes modern outboards can do 1,000's of hours if regularly serviced which, in the main, comprises Oil/filter/leg oil/fuel filters. Occasional serpentine belts for alternator. Apart from that they can relatively eaisily be added/removed from boats.

A friend is upgrading from a 90 Optimax to 100 EFI this weekend - 4 bolts, sikaflex, morse controls, power and comms cables - thats about it.

 

[simonfraser]

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.

and way less corrosion as out of the water

 

[ari]

jesus hissy fit or what!

Or what.

I'm simply pointing out (and it needs to be simple for the person concerned) that vague statements about 'bloke down the pub's' boat/car/wife/whatever' are utterly spurious. Anyone can do that about anything they don't like, it proves nothing.

Unfortunately the person concerned has some strange preconceptions dressed up as knowledge and it concerns me that someone might actually be badly advised by it.

 

[Momac]

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

Not necessarily
The boat uses less electricity than the house.
Staying at home would be cheaper if there was no boat but that would just be boring.

I have been working from home today. The lawn is beginning to look like it could do with a cut , and with the wind and sun today the grass might just be dry enough to get the lawnmower out .
On the other hand I could go for a walk to the boat and have a little drink. Let me just give that some thought..........

 

[jon and michie]

Not necessarily
The boat uses less electricity than the house.
Staying at home would be cheaper if there was no boat but that would just be boring.

I have been working from home today. The lawn is beginning to look like it could do with a cut , and with the wind and sun today the grass might just be dry enough to get the lawnmower out .
On the other hand I could go for a walk to the boat and have a little drink. Let me just give that some thought..........

Totally agree - electricity is a lot cheaper than the house

 

[GrahamHR]

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.

Ari, I agree with you, there are some seriously stupid people about, Maybe there should be a simple test they have to pass to allow them access to the internet.

 

[ari]

Ari, I agree with you, there are some seriously stupid people about, Maybe there should be a simple test they have to pass to allow them access to the internet.

It just bothers me that people might take them seriously and make decisions based on their weird preconceptions. I'm sure they think it's a 'just a bit of fun' or whatever, but some people do use these forums for advice.

 

[Portofino]

jesus hissy fit or what!

Can’t go out as dads boats 8uggered ..AGAIN !

Seriously Ari is this you now re what you are saying / inferring about OG ?

Ad Hominem

(Attacking the person): This fallacy occurs when, instead of addressing someone's argument or position, you irrelevantly attack the person or some aspect of the person who is making the argument. Often resorted to when losing an argument.

Back on topic in yards you see ( well at least in the Med ) more outdrive boats with holes in the stern where the things been removed for “maintenance “ aka repairs , then shaft drives with pulled shafts .A massive disproportionate number .

So what is the msg to the newbies , uninitiated ?

Just think of the engineering working against you with a Z drive gears clothed in Aluminium , it’s gears protected by perishable rubber seals which are life .The whole thing connected to the boat partial via rubber bellows and clips .

Theres an inevitability the sea will find its way in and bills will be generated as well as lost boat days sorting .

Helicopters vs fixed wing a similar level of added complexity with risky inevitabilities .Motorcycle vs car safety . But we all know that .

We all know there’s risks tackling outdrive boats which is what the OP is asking .The more aged the greater risk and £££ .

 

[jrudge]

I have had 2 outdrive boats.

On one one Duo Prop went walk about. Covered by insurance as assumed to be hitting an under water object.

After I sold by T40 one of the drives decided to self destruct. The boat is now a few feet from mine and has been fine for years.

They need maintaining, they will sink if bellows split ( I have never heard of it happening ) they are apparently more fuel economic - but I have nothing to judge it against.

There are lots and lots of outdrive boats, some go wrong, some are abused and go wrong.

Would I buy one? Yes ( but nowerdsys I would get an outboard if the boat supported one) but it would pay attention to the maintenance they have had, have a event inspection and then maintain them properly.

I personally prefer shafts but given I have a 58 foot boat I have no choice anyway!

 

[simonfraser]

yep, same in our yard in Essex, nothing more to be said

' Back on topic in yards you see ( well at least in the Med ) more outdrive boats with holes in the stern where the things been removed for “maintenance “ aka repairs , then shaft drives with pulled shafts .A massive disproportionate number '

 

[ari]

Can’t go out as dads boats 8uggered ..AGAIN !

Seriously Ari is this you now re what you are saying / inferring about OG ?

Ad Hominem

(Attacking the person): This fallacy occurs when, instead of addressing someone's argument or position, you irrelevantly attack the person or some aspect of the person who is making the argument. Often resorted to when losing an argument.

Suggest you read the whole thread, and my posts in particular, a little more carefully. I've been VERY clear that there are advantages and disadvantages to both systems, and what those are.

Blindly parroting 'shafts good/outdrives bad' helps no one.

 

[AndieMac]

Yes modern outboards can do 1,000's of hours if regularly serviced which, in the main, comprises Oil/filter/leg oil/fuel filters. Occasional serpentine belts for alternator. Apart from that they can relatively eaisily be added/removed from boats.

A friend is upgrading from a 90 Optimax to 100 EFI this weekend - 4 bolts, sikaflex, morse controls, power and comms cables - thats about it.

Of course outboards are a great thing for boats designed for them, but over the years forum chat has determined lack of petrol availability around the UK (and other countries) coastline makes any distance cruising that much more problematic.
Have things changed more recently?

 

[Hot Property]

Of course outboards are a great thing for boats designed for them, but over the years forum chat has determined lack of petrol availability around the UK (and other countries) coastline makes any distance cruising that much more problematic.
Have things changed more recently?

For long distance cruising I suspect petrol availability may be an issue.

South coast boaters are much better serviced though.

The long term trend is towards outboards and boat sizes designed for them are getting bigger. Twin 300 hp outboards on a 35 ft boat will push it along nicely....

The petrol/diesel break even point does depend on how many hours you do in a season. My berthing costs were always 3 times my petrol costs.

 

[oldgit]

Cor blimey. is this still running

 

[Momac]

Of course outboards are a great thing for boats designed for them, but over the years forum chat has determined lack of petrol availability around the UK (and other countries) coastline makes any distance cruising that much more problematic.
Have things changed more recently?

No