Saildrive Leg "Gasket" - Necessary or Not?

emsworthy

emsworthy

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I don't know whether "gasket" is the right word to describe the rubber fairing seal that is glued to the outside of the hull with a cut-out for the leg to pass through, but hopefully someone will correct my description if not.

This obviously is not a watertight seal as the raw water inlet is up inside the void behind it! So what purpose does it actually serve? (Other than making the hull a little more hydro-dynamic I guess).

I have heard many tales of owners discovering them missing (obviously not that noticeable when they fall off then) and struggling to find a glue to make them stay on longer. Is it actually worth bothering with at all ?

Assuming it needs to be on there though, has anyone found a readily available material to cut one from rather than pay good money to the manufacturer for a branded part?

Any thoughts?

Cheers.

Tim
 
I think simply fairing the hull is about it. I fitted mine, a genuine Volvo one 5 years ago, its still there and shows no sign of wanting to say good bye. It is stuck on with ordinary Evo Stick. Like many jobs like this, you can use the most expensive glue money can buy, but if the job is not prepared properly, its all a waste of time.

I know this isnt in your original question, but to attach the fairing properly, firstly ensure there is no trace of antifoul or paint on the hull where the fairing will attach, leave a good border, clean back to gel coat, abrade the surface and clean with acetone, or cellulose thinners, I expect meths would work just as well. Give the same treatment to the rubber fairing as well, rough up the surface that will contact the hull and again degrease with a spirit based solvent. Using the Evo Stick EXACTLY as per instructions on the tin, apply and then fit the gaiter to the boat. After 24 hours to dry, prime and then antifoul. Like I said, mine has been there for 5 years now.

Edit! I've just looked at your profile and see you have a Sadler 26? Sadler 26 has a shaft drive, at least mine did. You wont have a gaiter or a sail drive.
 
Last edited:
emsworthy said:
I don't know whether "gasket" is the right word to describe the rubber fairing seal that is glued to the outside of the hull with a cut-out for the leg to pass through, but hopefully someone will correct my description if not.

This obviously is not a watertight seal as the raw water inlet is up inside the void behind it! So what purpose does it actually serve? (Other than making the hull a little more hydro-dynamic I guess).

I have heard many tales of owners discovering them missing (obviously not that noticeable when they fall off then) and struggling to find a glue to make them stay on longer. Is it actually worth bothering with at all ?

Assuming it needs to be on there though, has anyone found a readily available material to cut one from rather than pay good money to the manufacturer for a branded part?

Any thoughts?

Cheers.

Tim
Click to expand...

Technically, not needed. It's a bit of fairing, nothing more.

Would I replace mine? Yes - Keypart of Kings Langley do the proper thing at a discount.

PWG
 
My Catana has Yanmar SD20 saildrives. I bought her two years ago without the fairing pieces fitted.

I've had no problems to date ..... but we get a lot of marine growth up the leg cavity. It's also bound to slow us down due to the extra turbulence.

At the next haulout I'll fit the fairing rubbers. I hope I'm able to secure the corners with self-tappers (only possible if there is a lip in the cavity).

We had problems on another cat with these fairing pieces : the legs moved too much due to the soft engine mounts and pulled them off. I got around the problem by using thick neoprene replacements in two pieces, one each side: the leg was free to move longitudinally.
 
galadriel said:
Edit! I've just looked at your profile and see you have a Sadler 26? Sadler 26 has a shaft drive, at least mine did. You wont have a gaiter or a sail drive.
Click to expand...

You're right, I do have a Sadler 26 but it does indeed also have a saildrive. It was finished in South Africa from UK mouldings and originally did not have any inboard fitted at all, just a small outboard. It was apparently sailed to the UK from SA like this by the original owner!

It now has a Lombardini saildrive fitted which, for most purposes anyway, has a leg very similar to your Volvo one.

Thanks for all advice, I think I will go ahead and fit one if nothing else to avoid the UV damage in the scorching summer we're about to have! :)
 
Neoprene seems to work well, there are also some industrial grades of rubber in rolls about 16 inches wide, muck like neoprene but cheaper.

Fitted the latter to one of our legs a couple of years ago, just cut a slit in it and pulled up over the hub before the prop was put back on, still there.

Some years ago I lost the rubber on a mono I had at the time, I was amazed at the amount of sea life that was living there, even a crab scuttled out.

I imagine they would also reduce the shock and pressure on the actual hull rubber when the stern drops onto a wave in rough conditions.

.
 
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