Stern drive or Shaft drive?

[hanjae]

I would like your views on which is best?
On boats between 26 and 30ft what would be the better option?
Shafts or Sterndrives?
The type would be a deep v planing hull.

 

[longjohnsilver]

My personal preference is for shafts for their simplicity but on that size of boat there's a strong argument for a single sterndrive for extra efficiency. But it will have to be looked after and it will be more expensive to service than a shaft but speed and fuel economy will be better.

You pays yer money and takes yer choice!

 

[Bav34]

If you're talking about deep v planing hulls I think that you want the MoBo forum. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[Whitelighter]

Stern drive. More efficient, better manouverabilith than a single shaft, higher speed and better fuel economy. Ok, and extra £500 per year to service, but nothing worse than that.

 

[Robin2]

What do you have to do to them every year that costs £500 ???

 

[William_H]

I have a friend with a 25ft planing hull that had a Volvo stern drive of i think 350HP V8 petrol. He has replaced the stern drive with a Mercury outboard. The o/b is mounted on an extension of about 1 metre out from the transom.
This mod has resulted in better fuel economy higher speed very quiet and much better maintenance. The boat is moored so the stern drive could not be raised fully out of the water while now the o/b comes clear of the water and can then be flushed with fresh water.

This new modern O/b a Vee6 4 stroke is certainly a sweet motor but quite expensive. So this is just another thought for you olewill

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
My personal preference is for shafts for their simplicity but on that size of boat there's a strong argument for a single sterndrive for extra efficiency. But it will have to be looked after and it will be more expensive to service than a shaft but speed and fuel economy will be better.

You pays yer money and takes yer choice!

[/ QUOTE ]

Why is a stern drive more efficient? How?

 

[MapisM]

On a 26-30' deep V planing boat, are you sure to have the shafts option, in the first place?
Which boat of this kind are you thinking of?

 

[hanjae]

I am thinking of something similar to a Fariey Spearfish only in Fibreglass.
I had looked at Omegas. There are some with Sterndrives and some with shafts.
I would need to sell my Triana though!

 

[Chris_d]

With boats of that age unless recently re-engined (legged?) I'd stick with shafts. Anyway a Fairy with legs doesn't seem right somehow, although it will be slower.