Handling with Sterndrives...

muckypup

muckypup

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Considering moving to a boat with twin sterndrives, but having never been on a boat with sterndrives, what are the main differences in handling, especially at low speed around the marina?

I had harlequin lifted out for a bumscrub yesterday and I still love the ease of handling with twin engines on shafts - especially being able to rotate on her own axis with one engine forward and one in reverse.

Would you get the same sort of effect with a pair of sterndrives since they are so far out the back and so close together?

Steve
 
Without a doubt sterndrives are more difficult to handle close quarters, so if you can also get a bow thruster included in your next purchase then you won't have too many problems. A technique adopted by many sterndrivers is to turn the wheel to the required direction then 'jab' the outside throttle rather than try and steer under power. This creates a sharper turn and in consequence a more precise manoever.
 
Although there is more to think about with sterndrives I think they can do all that shafts can and even a little more. 1 forward 1 reverse will spin you on the spot just like shafts. Single prop drives will do the prop walk thing just like shafts duo will not. I personally find our current single propped mercruiser legs easier to work with at slow speeds than our previous VP duo propped boat.

Reversing on outdrives is much easier I find as the legs drag you where ever you point them.

I believe the mantra is steer before gear.
 
OK, I have never had a shaft drive boat, but equally I have never had a ny issues with close quaters manouvering with twin legs. I berth side to on a long run, and leaving I can easily pop her off the pontoon, turn in the boats own length using forwad/reverse.

What you can do with legs is use the vectored thrust to your advantage. Rather than leaving the helm well alone as you do with shafts, by correctly turning the legs you can acheive a much tighter and resposive turn - very useful when combatting the effects of wind or current.

What you loose with twin prop (duo prop) legs is the effects of prop walk. Also, it is worth remembering that duo prop arrangements are much less efficient in reverse than in forward gear. Hence, to do a port forward starboard reverse type 180 in the boats own length, you need about 50% more throttle on the reverse leg - failure to do this will result in slight forward movement.

But are legs hard to drive. No. And by the way, I don't have a boiw thruster and have never really needed one.
 
Sterndrive handling tends to be much sharper, and boat's more lively.
At low speed, with duoprops, there's no prop walk, so turning on the spot with engines only is much more difficult, normal technique would be steer then gear.
The bows on sterndrives with the weight furthur back, tend to be more affected by wind and tide than shafts
Bow thruster is nice option to have, but not a neccessary one
 
Any forumites in your area with sterndrives? I am sure they would let you have a go, nothing better than trying for yourself.

I have not driven twin shafts so I cant compare, but turning on the spot with twin sterndrives is really easy.

I hardly ever steer getting in or out of our berth, just us the engines.
 
I cut my teeth with a single sterndrive & often moor my now twin sterndrive using one engine only. Once you get the hang of it its a doddle. Agree with Jez about the extra throttle when doing a 180. I also dont have a bow thruster & can honestly say Ive never needed one. However I still make the odd cock up as I think we all do from time to time. Just practice & you will find you can manouver on a sixpence with this set up.....Nat
 
I am the opposite to everyone else here, I have only ever driven a shaft drive boat.

We have a Prestige 36 on Shafts, I found this set up a doddle to manouvere with, I always centralise rudders and just go in and out of gear. A bit like a play station game really. We do have EVC's which give great control with no descernable lag.

I also find that when going astern I have even greater control, the pivot point being so far back (remember A level Physics and "Turning Moments") that the control is absolute.

I agree that the bow thruster is almost of no consequence, but it is good to have just in case.

My understanding of the advantages of shafts is the feeling of security imparted when at speed, most boat reports I have read claim that "shafts give a big boat feel". Whatever that means.

But as I say, I have no experience of sterndrives so what do I Know?
 
Used both, would never go back to egg whisks. shafts are possitive drive, and you can feel it. Total control all the time in tight spaces and never loose contact with the sea when it's rough. It's like driving a tank, it's always going just where you point it, no matter what. No mad turning of wheel, no fuss. It's nearly like it's on rails and all off two levers, with nowt else to bother about.
 
alway steer the way you want to go . ie, turn the wheel, weather it forward or back wards, be carefully of full lock in astern as an inch on the stern can be a foot on the bow, find an open space, a couple of buoys works well and just practise going round them to see how the boat handles, they are big toys that you have to respect , so go play /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
just because you 45 if a big thrill toy on out drives be nice Trev /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif was telling someone yesterday about my, no demos without me plee about them.
 
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Tank as in goes anywhere, does what it says on the tin.

By the way MBM have asked me to write an article on my fews on bow thrusters. I need a few pointers to get me fired up and going. I'll have to write it tomorrow as going to Bodrum Monday. No idea when they want it for. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Come and have a play on a 41 at the Sports boat and RIB show at Hamble point tomorrow, twas a beautiful day today and I can humbley report I can now berth her without being distracted by lovely ladies posing on the toon.................see mind over matter! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Have you been hearing stories then????.....launched our demo 41 yesterday and some toe rag has had it away with me props off the bow thruster. Me goes in the drink, starts up, reverse out of the slings, get caught by the tide, push thruster lever..................whizz, whizz, wrrrrr, motor screaming and bu88er all /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif luckily I am such a fantastic whizz on outdrives I was able to save me bacon before coming a cropper /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Had to get lifted back out again (£316 inc vat thank you) put new pair on and drop back in again /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Oh yes and the kind feckers knicked every anode off the hull and egg whisks, double bu88er!!!!!
 
If you see Alpha on the water buzz me, I am teaching, I am out of Ocean village , then moving her to Saxon warf when finished. there have been some fun boats out today, watched a guy trying to get up on water ski while we were playing for an hour /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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