Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38' sports cruiser?

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mrgrumpy2

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Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

Having narrowed my search to a Sealine S38 I have now just expanded it to include a Doral Boca Grande. The one major mechanical difference between the two is that the Doral is running with shafts whilst the Sealine runs with Volvo outdrives (both run kad44 260's engines). What's the experienced school of thought regarding the Pro's and Con's of each set-up and more importantly the preferred option when being applied to a sports cruiser in the 36/38 feet bracket. Thanks in advance for your informed views
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

Outdrives = less drag. So better mpg for same speed, or more speed from same engines. But can be a maintenance headache, tho that's less likely for the first few years so wont affect you if buying new. Either way is a compromise, there's no right answer, you gotta decide. I suppose outdrives is the "preferred option", if there is one

The boat layouts might be different due to engine position so I guess this can never be an "all other things being equal" choice. There will be other factors to put in the melting pot too, I expect?
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

I had a Doral Eleganti 33ft on shaft it did around £50 an hour in fuel, was slow on the plane and a heavy boat for its size. Now I have a Doral Boca Grande and its on legs on the D4 engine it uses less fuel than most 36ft - 40ft boats a very well made boat if you get a good one. Are you going new or second hand.
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

Can't see the point in having shafts on anything less than 40ft other than higher maintenance on legs. Legs are much more efficient and allow more space on board cause the engines are tucked up at the back. Legs are a great bonus on close quarter manoeuvring. Legs allow you to dry out in the right locations without the worry of damaging the props/shaft.

I believe shafts give a more stable ride and are easier to maintain.

Personally, on the size of boat you are talking about I'd wouldn't even consider shafts due to efficiency and space.
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

The market is almost entirely outdrives at that size and type of boat, so I think shafts will be much harder to sell on.
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

I've got a feeling on the Doral, the engines drive thru V drive gearboxes so the engine position is not that much different to where it would be with sterndrives so the accomodation space should be about the same. Agree though that on something this size, sterndrives are preferable and will be a lot more economical and probably faster too
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

yeah sure its a u-drive concept for the doral
gearbox attached with the engine
definitly faster and more economical a sterndive boat a lot more, minimum is 50% advantage but in some designs its close to a 100% also too
better seakeeping for the shafts as they have more drag
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

Take a walk around any Marina you like, and note the number of boats with large empty holes in their transoms, "were have all the legs gone"
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

Jeanneau Prestige 36: Cruised around Gibralta last year, it was fitted with twin shafts (I believe newer ones are fitted with stern drives) it handled very well.

Fairline Targa 34: I much prefer sterndrives as fitted to my current boat - just seems to be more manouverable IMHO. One thing different to remember - wheel before power! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

hi

If you have Volvo Kads and not D4's I think legs will be an decent idea because of the performance/economy but be aware if the S38 has D series engines because it mat have DPH or DPR outdrives that are giving lots of steering ram problems.

This and volvos manner in dealing with it has been so bad for us over the past 30 months our school and charter business will steer well clear of Volvo anything in future!
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

Thanks to everyone for their comments...... I think I've decided that the outdrive option is the way to go on a sports cruiser of this size. When I mature into a semi-displacement I'll experience the joys of shafts first hand. Thanks again
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

Hi John bet it was called "Comfortably Numb"

in which case you slept with the enemy :~(
 
Re: Shafts or Outdrives on a 36/38\' sports cruiser?

We chose shafts as we have big tides and big seas and the shats (due to engine position) gives a better journey, if we had calmer seas we might have gone for outdrives,
Second thought, twin shafts can spin on a sixpence with very little effort, outdrives take more work to do the same
 
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