Is it okay if a boat with V drive?

[Boater On Thames]

See a Sunseeker Manhattan 48 but with V drive. Will the V drive be a problem? Read something online that said the noise level and fuel consumption is higher. And, when the engines are not in the centre gravity point, is this a good or bad idea? Any experience or advice? Thanks.

 

[markc]

I have V drives, no problem whatsoever. They allow the engines to be further back in the hull which can improve access, and if the hull has been designed to have the engine weight farther aft, then it should not cause any CoG issues.

 

[Portofino]

As above nothing to worry about .
Any alleged parasitic waste and thus extra mpg is so tiny in the real world ownership costs to be a none event .
The only downer and every thing on a boat has one is access to the stern gland .

Unlike straight shafts wherby the prop seal is just behind the G box and easy to man handle to get at , the V drive s on some I have witnessed, mean it’s effectively buried .A racing snake or human octopus might manage to get at it but the ave lardy size 12 shoe size Brit not so .

 

[markc]

The only downer and every thing on a boat has one is access to the stern gland .

Unlike straight shafts wherby the prop seal is just behind the G box and easy to man handle to get at , the V drive s on some I have witnessed, mean it’s effectively buried .A racing snake or human octopus might manage to get at it but the ave lardy size 12 shoe size Brit not so .

Luckily, zero problem for me - excellent accessibility. Just a point on Ferretti (any maybe others) as the engines are under the cockpit, no need to ever dismantle the saloon for access, and the entire cockpit floor can be unbolted and removed in a few minutes to enable the engines to be hoisted out

 

[Portofino]

Luckily, zero problem for me - excellent accessibility. Just a point on Ferretti (any maybe others) as the engines are under the cockpit, no need to ever dismantle the saloon for access, and the entire cockpit floor can be unbolted and removed in a few minutes to enable the engines to be hoisted out

No I meant the shaft seal bit not the engine access in its entirety.
Its likely to be under the engine sump making it’s accessibility more difficult than say conventional straight shafts where it’s at the end of a straight chain with nowt sat on top of it .

As far as the weight distribution goes iam sticking to what I have always advised namely …..take a test drive in the conditions you expect to use it .
Wait for the broker speak “ they all ride like this “ as the bows resemble a airliner about to take off 1/2 way down a runway .

The inference here is a slow planing speeds it’s gonna need bags of flap to see out safely from down stairs .Or worse still only be able to safely navigate in the areas you intended to boat from upstairs.
How ever as Marc says if it’s new hull then certain design features like beam , extra wide lifting strips , wider chines , a bell lifting pad between the props , no semi tunnels etc can add sufficient lift to counter the rearwards weight shift .
Having said that if it’s a Mk 11 version of a owners suite in the bow V on straight shafts …..same external hull mould but now the ubiquitous owners mid cabin squeezed avec massive bonded windows to pop out , then because they have switched from straight mid mounted shafts to rearwards V drives on the same hull to keep up with competitors, as sale dwindled then oh dear .Oh dear .

At least the lower helm station seat will be brand new as nobody’s ever used it . .

 

[markc]

No I meant the shaft seal bit not the engine access in its entirety.
Its likely to be under the engine sump making it’s accessibility more difficult than say conventional straight shafts where it’s at the end of a straight chain with nowt sat on top of it .

I knew what you meant, access to stern glands is very easy