Shafts or Sterndrives

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hanjae

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I run a Triana with twin Volvo151/290's.
I have considered going up a size to a 28ft boat still deep v and thinking about one with mid mounted twin Diesels on Shafts.
The quandary is either to stay with what I have or diesels and shafts make a more economic sense.
The extra few feet do give a lot more space and ???? more of a family boat!
What advantages are there in Shafts?
 
Shafts feel more planted in the water and the weight distrabution is better in some ways. Also shafts are cheaper to maintain. On the negative side you get less speed for th epower and worse economy. Outdrives feel very different but I think as just as easy to handle when you get the nack, give better economy and speed for the power but are a nightmare if poorly maintained.

Other thing is outdrives are far easier to get a goo dlook at while the boat is in the water so you can keep an eye on things.
 
With a single engine, an Outdrive is easyier to manouver than a single shaft. You have the benefit of vectored thrust plkus massively improved efficiency, which you will want on a deep V hull has you need more power to get them on the plane.
 
On a single engine, fast planing boat i would go outdrive so long as the one im buying is in good condition and well maintained.
It seems the biggest issue for most with outdrives is, what if it goes wrong? as they can bring up big bills.

Always a calculated risk but on a smallish single engine planing boat i think its one worth taking if you know what you're looking at.

rgds,

Nick
 
Well, it's all been said above. Would think that the outdrives economy, would be made up by extra maintainance costs.

Depends what you want. Perfect handling in close quarters or rough seas. Shafts.

Out and out speed. Drives.
 
And that reminds me - I have to drive a twin outdrive 40 footer tomorrow. First time on twin outdrives ever - so it will be interesting, especially as its in a very tight mooring.

Any hints? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Just use the engines, same as shafts, till you get used to it.

Others will come along and say steer this way and that.

To be honest, I just find that looses concentration in confined places, dont doubt reactionwill be quicker.
 
In reverse, not much point steering (on my S28 at least), just use it like shafts, but don't be too surprised when you end up pointing somewhere else.

Going forwards, the tightest turn you can do will be to set the steering first, plus outside engine forwards, inside engine reverse.

Medium turn, as above, but inside engine in neutral.

Wide turn, both engines forwards.

... and all sorts of variations in between.

Botom line is going forwards, you do need to use the steering before giving it some juice.

dv.
 
I'm gonna do an HLB I think DV and drive it pretty much as if its twin shafts as that comes naturally to me.

I'm really looking forward to it - something new for me at the end of my first season actually "working" on boats.

(And apologies to Jonathan for napping his thead /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)
 
As stated use the same as shafts until used to them.

At the risk of getting blown out of the water Here goes /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Do drives really handle that badly ? As long as they counter rotate and or have dp`s are they really that bad,I believe there is a bit of "set in your ways" going on here. I have never heard of Targa`s with twin drives being described as having crap sea handling for instance,Surely it is a matter of horses for courses.

I fully agree that poorly maintained drives can be a nightmare,however there are massive advantages in being able to clean props/drives and change anodes from your tender not to mention flexibility of drive trim angle.

I believe on smaller boats,there is a strong case for drives /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
>I'm gonna do an HLB I think DV and drive it pretty much as if its twin shafts as that comes naturally to me.

Just keep an eye on where the steering is set before engaging gear, and it'll be fine.

dv.
 
It's an interesting question.

Looking at something like a Sealine S42, which was available at one time with shafts and sterndrives, it was reported that the shaftdrive version was more "planted" in the water, but I haven't driven both, so not sure exactly what this means.

If I had the choice, up to 40ft, I would choose sterndrives. Anything bigger, shafts, or maybe IPS if I was feeling brave.

dv.
 
That`s the way I see it.

However I do my own maintenance as bitter experience has taught me that it`s the only way to ensure the work is carried out by someone who gives a S$%t !,and i recall being sqaushed between the drives,struggling with bellows and water feed pipes,fingers covered in glue cursing the name Mercruiser and vowing never ever to own a shaft drive boat again in feb this year.... In the pouring Rain /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Volvo`s are much easier
 
I worked on the river Thames for some 10 years, using a single screw and a twin screw Nelson 34. I would say that at least once a week the boat had to be lifted out of the water to cut away something from the prop or shaft. My firm then purchased botnia's with twin outdrives, all that was required to clear a fouled prop was to lift the leg and descend to the rear platform and cut it off. I have now purchased a boat with twin outdrives and contra revloving props. I believe that they were designed to make torpedoes run straight! If you intend to use the boat on rivers or canals, after a bit of practice, I believe that the pros far outweigh any cons, but read the RYA motorboat manual and try to practice what they advis about using them.
 
Well, it's a bit since I had outdrives. But if you can confidently hold the bows within four or five inches of a ladder down a sea wall, in the three /four ft swell of the West country, then pick her up by her bum on the bow rail and deposit her on the deck, as every other option failled. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I suppose drives might be ok.

I can just remember, being in bad overfalls, with an outdrive boat and going backwards into the rocks, because the props were forever out the water. Never had that with shafts.
 
Might be the case. My props never leave the water, but maybe I'm not going fast enough or going out in rough enough conditions?

But, if you're anchored somewhere and fall asleep as the tide falls, at least with outdrives you might get away with lifting both drives and pootling out v.slowly. With shafts, if you run out of depth, you're shafted /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Horses for courses HLB.I live in a sheltered marina behind lock gates and can clean my props and with a little dificulty change my anodes when it`s blowing force 8 outside the harbour. I say again try telling a Botnia Targa owner he has a crap sea boat, Drives work well if they are installed at the correct height in a suitable hull,If not I agree they can be dogs /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
cursing the name Mercruiser and vowing never ever to own a shaft drive boat again in feb this year.... In the pouring Rain Volvo`s are much easier


[/ QUOTE ] /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Mercruiser on shafts /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Volvo`s ££££££££,s
 
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