shaft drive v stern drive

I like shaft drive - simple (little) maintenance, easy to handle at low speeds, especially when mooring up. disadvantages - not as fuel efficient -depends how many hours a year you plan on doing and how fast. On planing boats the props are more exposed to hazards. I trade maintenance cost against fuel consumption.
 
gordhouse said:
I am looking to upgrade my boat currently outboard.
What are the advantages /disadvatages of the shaft drive and stern drive.
Thanks for looking
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............ expect an avalanch of replies to this!
Most people have an opinion for and against both options.
My experience is limited to stern drives so I can't offer an unbiased opinion.
 
Shaftdrive:-

Cheaper to maintain
Less efficient so slower and uses more fuel
Drivetrain takes up more space in boat leaving less room for internal accomodation
Arguably boat less affected by wind at marina speeds
Arguably boat feels less lively at sea

Sterndrive:-

More expensive to maintain
More efficient so faster and uses less fuel
Drivetrain takes up less space in boat leaving more room for internal accomodation
Arguably boat more affected by wind at marina speeds
Arguably boat feels more lively at sea

Just to explain this issue of feeling lively, I'm not saying that one type is better than the other, just that shaftdrive boats feel more 'planted' at sea than sterndrive boats.
 
For the size of your proposed boat outdrives will will do the job,especially if its going to live on a trailer or meebbe ashore for the winter months.The later the year of the boat the better as newer or nearly new could avoid the legion of problems that come with older(and less old) outdrives.
Constant maintaince is the key to a reliable drive and what happened to it under any previous owner will be of interest,a big pile of servicing bills from a local Volvo/Merc dealer is a great comfort.
It is possible to service the beasts yourself if you are a bit practical and boils down to regular changing of fluids/rubber ware and keeping a beady eye on everything.
Old outdrives are to be avoided at all costs unless you like spending money and keeping up the profits of the army of outdrive fixers and suppliers of bits,who like undertakers will NEVER be out of a job.
Good Luck and get them checked over by somebody who knows what they are looking at,this is not your mate who fixes cars for a living.
As you will see many owners started out with outdrives but would never have them again from choice.
 
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I've had both. For me its shafts from now on. I had a mercruiser outdrive BII. When it was working, no problems really once you get your head around close qtrs mnvrs! But the problems and maintenance cost were way more than everything else on the boat added together. Mine caused me to lose several trips through problems and breakdowns. Maybe my experience was a bad one, but when I changed the boat, shafts were a given.

Smaller shaft drive boats can be noisier because the engine is below the cabin more forward in the boat. Outdrives place the engine at the stern so creating space amidships and moving noise outside.

All in, IMO, stern drives are probably OK if they are maintained and serviced comprehensively and without cutting corners. But for me its the simplicity of shafts everytime.
 
gordhouse said:
Possibly sealine S23 v Fisher 805
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Forget the drives, the MF805 knocks spots off the S23.

If you're seriously looking to choose between the two, take a look at an S23 then send me a PM and i'll gladly take you out for a run in an 805. (No deposit, no obligation to buy and you don't even need to pay for fuel, my boat is not for sale.)
 
Had them all in my time outboard, outdrive, and now shafts. If I was to choose between the three it would be Shafts, outboard, and last outdrives. If you are trailing then shafts are out of the frame, go outboard!!
 
Never had a shaft drive. Never had a problem with outdrives in 10 years of ownership. Regularly maintained by myself, very easy for anyone with a modicum of practical ability. Parts for the outdrive on average have cost me much less than £100 per year even using genuine VP parts ( bellows, oil, "O" rings, anodes etc), ignore outdrives though and I'm sure they will bite or eat your wallet !

Graham
 
Ref some comments about trailering and exposed props.....

Whilst the S23 can be trailered, the MF805 can't (unless you've got something that'll tow a 4.5 ton boat).

But, you'd have to be seriously unlucky to ground the prop. The boat has a skeg and a prop protector and can be beached.
 
I know of only one fisherman that had a stern drive on a workboat, it was not a success. What about a Twin Disc 'V' drive? Puts the engine in the stern, gearbox ahead of it rigidly mounted with carden shaft from the engine.
 
Deleted User said:
Shaftdrive:-

Cheaper to maintain
Less efficient so slower and uses more fuel
Drivetrain takes up more space in boat leaving less room for internal accomodation
Arguably boat less affected by wind at marina speeds
Arguably boat feels less lively at sea

Sterndrive:-

More expensive to maintain
More efficient so faster and uses less fuel
Drivetrain takes up less space in boat leaving more room for internal accomodation
Arguably boat more affected by wind at marina speeds
Arguably boat feels more lively at sea

Just to explain this issue of feeling lively, I'm not saying that one type is better than the other, just that shaftdrive boats feel more 'planted' at sea than sterndrive boats.
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I think this is about the most objective response to your question that you are gonna get.

Everything else will be personal opinion. Both are absolutely great but they are fundamentally different.
 
You need to work out what you want from your boat. If is is small, with great accommodation, well built etc, then an S23/25 is a great boat, and difficult to beat. It only comes with outdrives. Not a great boat for trailering, because it is quite at the top end of size and weight for a trailer.

If you want more of a fisher type, then there are many, and the MF 805 is a great example, and it only comes with a sharft drive engine.

As others have said, for trailoring, in the UK, you are best with a sub 20ft boat. I know there are others on here who regularly trail bigger boats, but in the UK with narrow roads, access to slips, then parking, the smaller the rig, the better, as you will get more out of it. Sub 20's are nearly always going to be with 1 or 2 outboards, therefore petrol, therefore thirsty, but easy to maintain.

Outdrives do need a bit of practice for mooring, especially single outdrives, without a bowthruster, but you soon get the hang of it.

Maintenance needs to be good quality and regular whatever you choose.

GaryO of this forum spent last season with an outboard, trailered boat, and had a great season. He has now progressed to a mid 20's Rinker with much more accommodation, still on a trailer, but parked at the home based Marina that he uses on the Solent. He has done the right maintenance on both his rigs to date, and coped very well. The Rinker has a 5.0 petrol guzzler, but that is not stopping Gary having a great time.
 
rafiki_ said:
<snip>

If you want more of a fisher type, then there are many, and the MF 805 is a great example, and it only comes with a sharft drive engine.

<snip>
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Not sure i'd class an MF805 as a "fisher type". I've always thought of mine as a small cruiser that's practical enough to fish from. But, beauty is in the eye etc :)

I do agree that the S23 and the MF805 are a different style of boat though and i realise an "IMO" should have been included in my first post.

The things that we prefer about the MF805 against sports boats are :

No canvas (unless you fit the aft enclosure).

Roomy cabins for a 27 footer.

The main "saloon" is up higher, you can make a cup of tea whilst admiring the view, rather than being down in "the cave".

The cockpit is practical, and yes, you can fish from it.

Inboard diesel. Toyota based engine that's quick, simple and cheap to service. Easy to DIY service too.

Although the engine is under the saloon floor, it's not horrendously noisy, you can easily hold a conversation.

With the engine midship, the lazarette locker is massive.

Handles very well and will withstand some weather, CE rated Cat B with 7 onboard.

Shaft drive, minimal servicing costs.

Skeg and prop protector make the boat beachable, or more importantly, being East coast based, able to drive over small sand bars lol

As i said earlier, and it's a genuine offer, if the OP's considering one, he's welcome to a look around ours and/or a trip out.
 
rafiki_ said:
PaulGooch said:
Not sure i'd class an MF805 as a "fisher type". I've always thought of mine as a small cruiser that's practical enough to fish from. But, beauty is in the eye etc :)

For me, the giveaway is in the title, MF 805. Now this is either Mucky Farter or Merry Fisher. Which one is yours?
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Jeanneau marketed the boat as a cruiser. As they did with the MF 925, a 32 foot flybridge cruiser.

Merry Fisher doesn't mean it has to be a fishing boat. Unless that makes a Grand Banks a branch of Barklays :D
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PaulGooch said:
Not sure i'd class an MF805 as a "fisher type". I've always thought of mine as a small cruiser that's practical enough to fish from. But, beauty is in the eye etc :)

I do agree that the S23 and the MF805 are a different style of boat though and i realise an "IMO" should have been included in my first post.

The things that we prefer about the MF805 against sports boats are :

No canvas (unless you fit the aft enclosure).

Roomy cabins for a 27 footer.

The main "saloon" is up higher, you can make a cup of tea whilst admiring the view, rather than being down in "the cave".

The cockpit is practical, and yes, you can fish from it.

Inboard diesel. Toyota based engine that's quick, simple and cheap to service. Easy to DIY service too.

Although the engine is under the saloon floor, it's not horrendously noisy, you can easily hold a conversation.

With the engine midship, the lazarette locker is massive.

Handles very well and will withstand some weather, CE rated Cat B with 7 onboard.

Shaft drive, minimal servicing costs.

Skeg and prop protector make the boat beachable, or more importantly, being East coast based, able to drive over small sand bars lol

As i said earlier, and it's a genuine offer, if the OP's considering one, he's welcome to a look around ours and/or a trip out.
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Many thanks for your offer Paul.
I will certainly give you a call if i am your way.
Unfortunatly I live in Stone Staffs and mooring is in Cobbs Quay Poole.
I also have the added consideration of the lifting bridge,two of them next year.
I dont have a problem at the moment with my shetland family four, so the lower the air draft the better. Would like to move up to more a caravan on water and be able to do a coastal trip safely.
It has been very interesting reading the unbiased replies.Great site
Thanks again for the offer
 
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