Decline in sterndrive market?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted User YDKXO
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AndieMac said:
There are a couple of issues, mainly transferring the engine weight from down low in the boat (where weight should be) to up high and over the transom, which makes them tender at rest.
The transom area is also cluttered with bulky engines, so no swim platform or fishing from the stern.
Personally (in a sub 8metre GRP boat) I prefer the low to mid range torque of the sterndrive when the sea state becomes untidy, in the range of 6 - 15 knots, something that "equally horse powered" outboards don't seem to deliver. Perhaps that's why they install that 3rd or 4th outboard?
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I think you may be pleasantly surprised with a modern outboard, verados come with a 4 blade prop designed to handle high levels of torque. The super charged/intercooled engine gives blistering acceleration.
 
Stern drives are having a big decline in this decade, which was followed by a trend between 2000-10 in North America.
Sub twelve (USA) and ten (EU) meters and gas engines outboards have taken over, along with the rise of the center console day boat market.
It is a category decrease which also added to the popularity of day boats (center consoles or ribs) versus small medium sized cruisers.

To be fair new expensive to keep Volvo stern drives compared to the old DP had not helped much the cause.
 
Hot Property said:
I think you may be pleasantly surprised with a modern outboard, verados come with a 4 blade prop designed to handle high levels of torque. The super charged/intercooled engine gives blistering acceleration.
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I wouldn't argue with the torque and electronic control systems that you get on modern outboards.
Having to work the throttles to stop it either getting bogged down or running away from you is mostly history.

But it's still the case that the weight isn't in the best place with an outboard.
 
mcanderson said:
There are certainly some advantages to the newer big outboards. Evinrude are offering a 10 year warranty, servicing costs are down and reliability is up. Depending on location ease of getting petrol is the same as diesel (but more expensive), servicing costs are much lower and access is better etc. However the restrictions on access from the stern are a big issue in the med and I wander daily past a large Beneteau with 2 x 300hp outboards and they are always tilted up with the bottom of the leg pointing at the concrete wall of the quay and I can't help but think that it they clash (wind gust or surge) then it will end up expensive.

Certainly food for thought, but not for me yet.
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This is an outboard powered boat
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That is an interesting boat, i suspect the angle the photo has been taken from is very flattering, id imagine it looks a bit bulky/top heavy from other angles, but i certainly like the innovation.
 
it's a Searay 370 Venture release about 3 years ago i think with Verado 300's. Boattest.com have a few review videos of it on youtube. clever design which not only gives full width bathing platform but also makes for a very quiet ride. not many sold though i don't think and now discontinued. Think it was pretty expensive. love Searay's innovative designs though....always trying something new or different.
 
One explanation is that Americans particularly seem to love high horse power. An outboard is the cheapest way to get there. A gang of big outboards gives an incredible power for the cost. Even better if you look at the boat cost savings. The power to weight ratio is also excellent giving you even more effective power then with alternatives.

The power/weight to cost ratio make outboards the best choice for a lot of small boats too.
 
FlowerPower said:
But it's still the case that the weight isn't in the best place with an outboard.
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I think these days there’s a flaw in that thinking .
Outdrives Diesel engines are t that far behind and far heavier.+ the weight of the leg .
So for me there not much in the theoretical wieght distribution argument outboard s Vs outdrive - to swing it towards a Volvo Penta outdrive .
In fact performance wise a walk around open with a pair of verados is a superior boat .

Only shaft drive straight shaft ( not V drive g boxes ) mid mounted splitting the boat accommodation wise in two are the best to centre the wieght .
All thing else is a compromise.Simple .

I suspect something like a Boston whaler outrage 37 with a pair of Verados on the back has a hull designed ,beam and lift wise with wide enough “lifting strips “ runing all the way back to the transom to add back enough lift @ speed so,s the operator driving can,t feel the lumps slung on the back .

These centre cockpit walk around along with monster ribs are certainly popular as day boats in the Cote dAzur .
Some folks go off touring off shore .
I,ve even seen those pop up tents go up at night in front of the helm .
They just lack sunpad space for all occupants.
Petrol is readily available here too ,does not enter the buying equation.

Ease of service and maintenance seems to be the sales driver that’s all .

Perhaps too the demographics of affluent buyers has changed .
Away with camping afloat cooking food living on it say a chap with yesterday’s Targa 34 boat experience:)
In with more of a experience that only comes with performance and least hassle , dry stack , low maintenance, occasionally used .Land based accommodation, Villa , hotel and dining out etc .
More time poor and cash rich family hols .

Bigger off shore stuff transition as said at about 45 ft upwards ,then both outboards and outdrives become obsolete, shafts with big diesels taking over .
Pods are there for newbies entering boating with new kit - in terms of ease of driving and warranties .
Once warranties are over then deep maintenance pockets or they offload.

So yes I can see outdrive sales shrinking.

Further sales erosion from the rise of fuel € .
If there’s a more fuel cost conscious breed of D speed or semi D speed boat emerging from the builders ,trawler yachts like Bouba ,s Beni swift then since these are,t performance oriented and more likely to drum up hrs in useage then back to simple shafts with one or two diesels .
 
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Not just that but the Verado does well in the puissance administrative, which determines how much tax a French engined boat pays. I guess similar to how red diesel undermined the petrol market for boats in the U.K.
 
But even if you have outboards on the transom is it really beyond the wit of man to design a boat that docks properly Med style bow first?
 
Zing said:
One explanation is that Americans particularly seem to love high horse power. An outboard is the cheapest way to get there. A gang of big outboards gives an incredible power for the cost. Even better if you look at the boat cost savings. The power to weight ratio is also excellent giving you even more effective power then with alternatives.

The power/weight to cost ratio make outboards the best choice for a lot of small boats too.
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It must be a country specific thing, OB's here are more expensive by around 30% in the 250 HP and above sector
 
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