Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
To the OP ignore everything from this one...
First Boat Advice
- Thread starter nickforest
- Start date
To the OP ignore everything from this one...
Bigplumbs
Well-Known Member
Look around for a sealine s24 in diesel you should get one at or close to your budget
Dennis
Dennis
nickforest
New Member
4-5K off? I want you on my negotiating team!
Elessar
Well-Known Member
Your right .....cos its the complete transom that rots out on old outdrive boats.........
The sealant around the aluminum casting of the transom assembly hardens and allows water to soak into the transom core especially if wood or cork.
This means replacing the entire stern of boat, possibly rendering the boat beyond economical repair.
To put your mind at rest, the entire lazerette on the olde gits boat was stripped shortly after purchase and totally repainted a fetching shade of off white. All the somewhat brick outhouse steering ironmongery was given a nice coat of Hammerite.
Boat still whiffs of paint
transoms on outdrives can rot if the hole isn't sealed it's true.
I had that on my first boat. Fix isn't that hard - engine out - very easy on a sterndrive unlike a shaft drive - unbolt the transom shield - easy - cut the inside of the transom, hack out rotten wood, glass in new marine ply and glass over. It's inside the engine bay so a raw finish with flowcoat is fine.
I did it DIY with an engine hoist hired from HSS.
The thought of getting the engine out of my flybridge gives me nightmares. In a sterndrive you can get the engine out in about 2 hours if you have lifting tackle. (and it hasn't got a garage etc)
Also on the sterndrive/shaft debate.
I've have had 2 single sterndrive, 1 twin sterndrive and now a twin shaft drive boat.
I really miss being able to dry out since moving to shafts. Both for places to go and for a quick scrub. Cranes are expensive.
Cleaning the props involves getting wet.
A chain round the prop involved a tow. i wouldn't have needed a tow on an outdrive boat.
Stern drive boats are much nicer to drive if you want some fun. I never touch the wheel on my shaft drive, its either steering on the throttles or the autopilot.
Pootling is nicer in my shaft drive (though that is probably partially down to greater weight overall)
Big, low revving engines are much nicer that little (4 litre) revvy things, and that are all you can get on shafts. Sure you can get D6s but even they are revvy. Don't like them on shafts either, they don't have the bite of a lower revving engine.
You absolutely must come out annually to service outdrives. Shafts can stay in if you dive the boat to check anodes and give it s scrub.
Conclusion:
30 ish foor or under - sterndrive for me. Best use of space and fun to drive.
40 ish foot or over - shafts - big low revving engines win the day
In the middle - shafts for flybridges (otherwise too tippy) sterndrives for sport boats, else they don't have any sport in them.
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Kawasaki
Well-Known Member
Having messed with motorboats for 40 years now
Pleasure for years then instructing then on a Commercial basis (as a basic Skipper) since 2001
I would never ever buy/own have a boat with an outdrive
From 1997 until 2007 I made a living mending all kinds of pleasure boats
The Woes of people with outdrives convinced me never to own one!
Pleasure for years then instructing then on a Commercial basis (as a basic Skipper) since 2001
I would never ever buy/own have a boat with an outdrive
From 1997 until 2007 I made a living mending all kinds of pleasure boats
The Woes of people with outdrives convinced me never to own one!
Bigplumbs
Well-Known Member
Having messed with motorboats for 40 years now
Pleasure for years then instructing then on a Commercial basis (as a basic Skipper) since 2001
I would never ever buy/own have a boat with an outdrive
From 1997 until 2007 I made a living mending all kinds of pleasure boats
The Woes of people with outdrives convinced me never to own one!
So why do so many own them
Bigplumbs
Well-Known Member
Any sense out of Whitelighter would be a rare thing indeed
[2068]
...
If I was the original poster, I would be wondering what I had got myself into.
jimmy_the_builder
Well-Known Member
No it wouldn't. He's right about most things, most of the time. And, notably, he's not chippy about other forumites with more money/bigger boats than him.
BruceK
Well-Known Member
Having messed with motorboats for 40 years now
Pleasure for years then instructing then on a Commercial basis (as a basic Skipper) since 2001
I would never ever buy/own have a boat with an outdrive
From 1997 until 2007 I made a living mending all kinds of pleasure boats
The Woes of people with outdrives convinced me never to own one!
Kwackers, we know you were best buds with Noah, but times have changed and so has technology :encouragement:
Kawasaki
Well-Known Member
Cos they dont know any better!
Hey Man, the 'things' work ok when they work, Plumby Mate
Yes, they are more efficient than shafts in some respects
I just see the snags of aluminium, stainless steal, bellows, other rubber bits
Jubilee clip thinghys
hydraulic rams
Etc, being dangled in the Oggin, with salt water attacking them
A pain in the Stern if yer gets me drift
OK, when bright and shiny when new and under warranty
Lots of sports boats have them for obvious reasons
Lots of sports boats live in fresh water where the 'rot' is not so bad
Just a recipe for high maintenance IMHO
I,m just not a Fan, never have been
Could be an Age thing. Cos I am an old git dont forget!!
CLB
Well-Known Member
Cos I am an old git dont forget!!
With your last couple of posts, I was staring to wonder if you was 'the' Old Git
Talking of Old Git, I though he was if to Fambridge this weekend. Haven't seen any posts from him. He didn't break down, did he?
Bigplumbs
Well-Known Member
The only chippy I know is one which also serves Fish
Greg2
Well-Known Member
The ‘outdrives are crap’ mantra gets a little tedious if I am honest. Some boat types/sizes have drives and shafts aren’t an option so that is it....end of.
If the ‘advice’ on here was followed then opting for a boat with shafts would probably mean a complete change of direction and maybe not what people want or can afford. I have had both and acknowledge the merits/disadvantages of each so decisions on which to go for are informed by experience.
Current choice has taken us back to drives because they are what are mainly available in a 34 footer, which is what we want currently as we want to sail as well as mobo. Sure we could have gone for a similar sized older flybridge with shafts but I just don’t want one. No disrespect to those that do...often great boats but just not for us. A sports cruiser works for us at the moment so we are happy to accept the potential downsides of drives because it is substantially offset by the benefits of great accommodation and fuel efficiency. Oh, and that (fuel efficiency) is likely to be a 100% improvement on our previous shaft drive boat - okay it was bigger but the point still stands.
We anticipate spending some money on outdrive maintenance but accepted that with our choice of boat. Things might work out and we may have very few problems with good maintenance (which is what many people experience) or maybe we will have to shell out on a bit of repair work. Whatever is the case our boat works for us right now and we are happy. And maybe the OP will be if he opts for an outdrive boat
If the ‘advice’ on here was followed then opting for a boat with shafts would probably mean a complete change of direction and maybe not what people want or can afford. I have had both and acknowledge the merits/disadvantages of each so decisions on which to go for are informed by experience.
Current choice has taken us back to drives because they are what are mainly available in a 34 footer, which is what we want currently as we want to sail as well as mobo. Sure we could have gone for a similar sized older flybridge with shafts but I just don’t want one. No disrespect to those that do...often great boats but just not for us. A sports cruiser works for us at the moment so we are happy to accept the potential downsides of drives because it is substantially offset by the benefits of great accommodation and fuel efficiency. Oh, and that (fuel efficiency) is likely to be a 100% improvement on our previous shaft drive boat - okay it was bigger but the point still stands.
We anticipate spending some money on outdrive maintenance but accepted that with our choice of boat. Things might work out and we may have very few problems with good maintenance (which is what many people experience) or maybe we will have to shell out on a bit of repair work. Whatever is the case our boat works for us right now and we are happy. And maybe the OP will be if he opts for an outdrive boat
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Jim@sea
Well-Known Member
The boat manufacturers love them because it puts the engines right at the back and gives more accomodation.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
That's true of anyone who buys a boat....
derekbland
Well-Known Member
Well said Greg
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Na...its just that anything above a F6 innit tends to modify my cruising plans somewhat........ Sensibly spent the BH weekend above the lock. Hopefully this weekend looks better for bit of boating...not much daylight left either !With your last couple of posts, I was staring to wonder if you was 'the' Old Git
CLB
Well-Known Member
