Drying out

[Drifter2406]

So I have been looking at moorings near me for my upcoming first boat and have found a couple of what look like nice places but what i have noticed is that the mooring that dry out are in some places half the price of the pontoon moorings, does this have any detrimental effect on shaft drives or stern drives when sitting in the mud? would be nice to get everyone's view on this. Thanks in advance.

 

[benchmark]

Dependent on the boat you have, let me use mine as an example, it is designed to be able to sit on its keel and skeg without the prop or shaft touching any mud. As regards sten drives, I will not advise that you let them sit in mud as they will surely get damaged over time.

 

[oldgit]

Could depend on your location.
What are the types of boats on these moorings are they similar to yours ?
On our moorings the tidal moorings cost 50% less than the always afloat .
Have spent most of my boating life with various boats, sitting on soft drying mud berths with both legs and shafts.
More than once forgotton to raise legs as well.
Some with keels some without.
Have never had any problems ever caused by any boat sitting on a mud berth, legs or shafts.
Have never bothered with shutting off seacocks either , unless away from boat for extended period.
The upside of always being afloat is you can come and go as you wish and no need to curtail trips to get back on to berth.
The upside of mud berth is it is usually much cheaper and a noticable reduction in fouling .
You can also change your outdrive props without a lift out, also if staying aboard, get decent nights kip without the dreaded chine slap at 02.00 .GMT

 

[CLB]

Been on a mud berth for years with sterndrives. I just raise them when leaving the boat. No problems so far. There is a mix of shaft and stern drive boats where I am and in 20 years no one seems to have suffered as a result of sitting in mud.

 

[Drifter2406]

Thanks for you reply guys, much appreciated, i will be looking at buying my first boat early next year, just trying to find out all the information i can in the meantime. I have not not decided yet but i keep coming back to the MF 805 or the Antares 8, as they have an enclosed cock[it, single Diesel engine and are about the right size and in my price range.

 

[pavlosimou]

Agree with Oldgit (he is local to me) plenty of boats both shaft and outdrive on drying berths around here. but our mud is very soft. plenty of drying berths with a light layer of soft stuff covering hard lumpy bits. where are you looking to keep her?

 

[Drifter2406]

Agree with Oldgit (he is local to me) plenty of boats both shaft and outdrive on drying berths around here. but our mud is very soft. plenty of drying berths with a light layer of soft stuff covering hard lumpy bits. where are you looking to keep her?

Not sure yet, it may be Leigh Marina as that is the closer one to me or even on the Medway as that is just over the bridge 25 minutes away.

 

[Rocksteadee]

Mercruiser (don’t know about Volvo) advise to not store with leg raised on out drives as this puts tension on the bellows and they are not unknown to pop off leaving a big hole when next the tilde comes in

 

[oldgit]

Mercruiser (don’t know about Volvo) advise to not store with leg raised on out drives as this puts tension on the bellows and they are not unknown to pop off leaving a big hole when next the tilde comes in

Have "enjoyed" owning boats with both Mercruiser and VP outdrives.
Have never heard of that one, .
If your rubber ware pops off it simply cannot ever have been put on properly in the first place.
Only circumstances would be if the gaitor had been on there for years and years and rotted away
Would love to know if Volvo Paul or spannerman has ever come across this.
A new one on me but will add this to the long list of interesting outdrive factiods.

 

[oldgit]

Not sure yet, it may be Leigh Marina as that is the closer one to me or even on the Medway as that is just over the bridge 25 minutes away.

IMHO. the closer the boat is to you the better but .....
Leigh Marina is very tidal indeed and the Thames Estuary is a bit exposed which will limit your boating a bit weather wise especially with any NE or E wind.
Not that many interesting destinations on your doorstep aprt from bobbing around off Canvey.
The Medway can offer sheltered boating all the year round and destinations such as Conyer or the Swale in one direction, collection of creeks in the middle and the delights of the non tidal Medway above Allington lock. Ideal for "the english" summer .ie windy and rainy.
Your boat should be able to get under most of the upriver bridges except the last one at Tonbridge ???. An adventure for the brave .
A bigger selection of types of mooring as well from basic budget tidal/always afloat boatyard mooring, boat club pontoons , to some very posh marinas.

 

[Rocksteadee]

Have "enjoyed" owning boats with both Mercruiser and VP outdrives.
Have never heard of that one, .
If your rubber ware pops off it simply cannot ever have been put on properly in the first place.
Only circumstances would be if the gaitor had been on there for years and years and rotted away
Would love to know if Volvo Paul or spannerman has ever come across this.
A new one on me but will add this to the long list of interesting outdrive factiods.

That was from Ray Stapley many years ago on the Gillingham ? trading estate. Sadly long gone but what he did not know you could write on a postage stamp, if you had the patience stand there and chat for an hour.
IIRC it was also to do with straining the rubber as when leg is lifted the gaiter is under tension.

 

[CLB]

A new one on me but will add this to the long list of interesting outdrive factiods.

Might be more accurate to call your list 'fictionoids' if this is being added to it. While it may be best to leave the drive down,, for more reasons that just the bellows, all those boats on drying moorings, and many on trailers, will have to leave them up. As long as the bellows are changed regularly and installed properly it will not be a problem.

 

[CLB]

Not sure yet, it may be Leigh Marina as that is the closer one to me or even on the Medway as that is just over the bridge 25 minutes away.

If Leigh Marina is close, that puts you somewhere near Southend. In that case there are some more sheltered options on the Roach and its tributaries, with similar, or possibly better tidal access than Leigh Marina. Wakering Yacht Club is, despite its name, a mostly motor boat club and the prices for a walk ashore pontoon mooring are hard to beat. There is also Sutton Boatyard down by Havengore bridge and Sutton Wharf next door to WYC.

 

[DavidJ]

Mercruiser (don’t know about Volvo) advise to not store with leg raised on out drives as this puts tension on the bellows and they are not unknown to pop off leaving a big hole when next the tilde comes in

I had one pop off once. It was because I used a non Volvo gaiter which was much stiffer and was probably not put on extra tight to compensate.

 

[oldgit]

That was from Ray Stapley many years ago on the Gillingham ? trading estate. Sadly long gone but what he did not know you could write on a postage stamp, if you had the patience stand there and chat for an hour.
IIRC it was also to do with straining the rubber as when leg is lifted the gaiter is under tension.

Knew Ray and later on his son very well indeed. The workshop was on Medway City estate just round the corner from me.
Think he was also involved in boat racing and produced a number of speedboat hulls. ?
I had a pair of Mercruisers on the back of a Regal 25.
Must have been handing over money to him virtually ever week, keeping those outdrives going.
Apart from all the usual stuff rubber ware ,shaft seals,gimbal bearings and hydraulic hoses etc etc etc the blimming things used to eat hydraulic rams for breakfast.
Ooo and the odd collapse of the upper gears set every now and then.
Dead chuffed if the petrol engines started and got you there , and pathetically grateful if the out drives lasted out long enough to get you back again.
Always dreaded looking over the stern after any trip out for fear of would be would be rising to the surface, hydraulic or gear box oil.
Ask Murv what he thinks of outdrives.
The life boat was probably the final straw.
Accompanied a Bavaria 27ft up to Cuxton for a lift out this afternoon just make sure he got there, oil pouring out of one of the DPE outdrives, leaving an oil slick for several kilometers, mind you to be fair it had been standing unused for nearly 12 months.
Good old shaft drives !

 

[CLB]

I had a pair of Mercruisers on the back of a Regal 25.
Must have been handing over money to him virtually ever week, keeping those outdrives going.
Apart from all the usual stuff rubber ware ,shaft seals,gimbal bearings and hydraulic hoses etc etc etc the blimming things used to eat hydraulic rams for breakfast.
Ooo and the odd collapse of the upper gears set every now and then.
Dead chuffed if the petrol engines started and got you there , and pathetically grateful if the out drives lasted out long enough to get you back again.
Always dreaded looking over the stern after any trip out for fear of would be would be rising to the surface, hydraulic or gear box oil.
Ask Murv what he thinks of outdrives.
The life boat was probably the final straw.
Accompanied a Bavaria 27ft up to Cuxton for a lift out this afternoon just make sure he got there, oil pouring out of one of the DPE outdrives, leaving an oil slick for several kilometers, mind you to be fair it had been standing unused for nearly 12 months.
Good old shaft drives !

Thank god for people like you. You must have attracted and used up all the bad outdrive Karma, cos I haven't had any in over 20 years. On the other hand, maybe it's something in the Merdeway waters. I do try and avoid if I can ,and keep any excursions into them to a absolute minimum

 

[Drifter2406]

IMHO. the closer the boat is to you the better but .....
Leigh Marina is very tidal indeed and the Thames Estuary is a bit exposed which will limit your boating a bit weather wise especially with any NE or E wind.
Not that many interesting destinations on your doorstep aprt from bobbing around off Canvey.
The Medway can offer sheltered boating all the year round and destinations such as Conyer or the Swale in one direction, collection of creeks in the middle and the delights of the non tidal Medway above Allington lock. Ideal for "the english" summer .ie windy and rainy.
Your boat should be able to get under most of the upriver bridges except the last one at Tonbridge ???. An adventure for the brave .
A bigger selection of types of mooring as well from basic budget tidal/always afloat boatyard mooring, boat club pontoons , to some very posh marinas.

Thanks for the info, I have been looking at the Medway as well, I think i have a lot of searching to do.

 

[Drifter2406]

If Leigh Marina is close, that puts you somewhere near Southend. In that case there are some more sheltered options on the Roach and its tributaries, with similar, or possibly better tidal access than Leigh Marina. Wakering Yacht Club is, despite its name, a mostly motor boat club and the prices for a walk ashore pontoon mooring are hard to beat. There is also Sutton Boatyard down by Havengore bridge and Sutton Wharf next door to WYC.

Hello thanks for the reply, I am in South Ockendon so in the middle of Southend and Medway which is across the water.

 

[oldgit]

Thank god for people like you. You must have attracted and used up all the bad outdrive Karma, cos I haven't had any in over 20 years. On the other hand, maybe it's something in the Merdeway waters. I do try and avoid if I can ,and keep any excursions into them to a absolute minimum

In 1667, we put a chain across the river, always wondered why......until now.
Plus block ships and a fort or two.

 

[swatkins]

Hi



I have kept a boat in Leigh Marine for the last 10 years, previously an outboard powered 19 foot Fletcher sports cruiser and now into my third season with a 35 foot fly bridge on shafts. Lift the boat every year and had all the same concerns, but I have had no issues with the shafts or the rudders it just sinks into the soft mud. There are 4 of us that know each other with fly bridges in the marina and no one has had problems with the boat sinking into the soft mud twice a day. Some with shafts and some with Outdrives.


Marina wise its very sheltered and never had an issue there is no water most of the time! If you want to go boating, you either need to go out all day and come back on the next tide or you can go out 1 hour either side of a medium tide and on really high tides 1:45mins either side. On low tides you would either not get out or maybe 30mins or go out all day.



You can anchor in the “Ray” and stay out all day, anchor in Stangate creek in the Medway or trips to Chatham and Rochester are small local hops for an overnight stay. Further afield lots of people go up the Thames to London, Burnham on crouch, Ramsgate, France or Belgium.



So water wise it nots great and tidal on the plus side you get pontoon access and can go and work on your boat or sit on it at any tide and its 3mins in the car from my house.



Hope that helps!



Kind regards



Stewart