Laurie
Well-Known Member
Ah the ol' saildrive bogey.....
Saildrives are simple and cheap to fit, and a benefit for the owner is that the transmission is generally smoother and not requiring lining up , shimming , etc.
Having run an owners assoc., with many saildrives fitted, for most of us saildrives are great. Simple, smooth and reliable. They might not be a first choice for ocean sailors because in the event of seal failure, it WILL be catastophic.
However, saildrive diaphragms are like rigging...easy NOT to inspect properly , so some insurance companies, in conjunction with Volvo, one of the main early proponents of saildrive fitting, determined a lifespan of 7 years, primarily for insurance companies, I suspect , to mandate a change.
In my years with this owners assoc., I had never heard of a diaphragm failure, and neither had any of the insurance companies I asked at the time. When I changed the seal from my then boat, a Jaguar 27 with Volvo MD7a and 110S saildrive, the seal was nearly 30 years old and as good as new. I also then realised that the seal was probably more robust than the hull!
None of the above seems to remove the prejudice from some diehards who have never experienced them, but then that is true of so much else in life?
I can't stand the common use of P brackets on some shaft drive boats.......??? (Hasn't stopped me buying a boat with shaft drive; but doesn't have a P bracket!!)
Saildrives are simple and cheap to fit, and a benefit for the owner is that the transmission is generally smoother and not requiring lining up , shimming , etc.
Having run an owners assoc., with many saildrives fitted, for most of us saildrives are great. Simple, smooth and reliable. They might not be a first choice for ocean sailors because in the event of seal failure, it WILL be catastophic.
However, saildrive diaphragms are like rigging...easy NOT to inspect properly , so some insurance companies, in conjunction with Volvo, one of the main early proponents of saildrive fitting, determined a lifespan of 7 years, primarily for insurance companies, I suspect , to mandate a change.
In my years with this owners assoc., I had never heard of a diaphragm failure, and neither had any of the insurance companies I asked at the time. When I changed the seal from my then boat, a Jaguar 27 with Volvo MD7a and 110S saildrive, the seal was nearly 30 years old and as good as new. I also then realised that the seal was probably more robust than the hull!
None of the above seems to remove the prejudice from some diehards who have never experienced them, but then that is true of so much else in life?
I can't stand the common use of P brackets on some shaft drive boats.......??? (Hasn't stopped me buying a boat with shaft drive; but doesn't have a P bracket!!)