sterndrives or shafts

[thefatlady]

I have had both an S37 and a Sunseeker (albeit bigger and newer than a Travado).

If you can afford to run it and the Sunseeker is in good condition, go for it. I think the Sunseeker is a far better boat, better equipped, better built, better seakeeping. The only exception is space and some aspects of functional design. Before anyone rises to this, I have had four Sealines and done a lot of long distance cruising.

I would much prefer Cats to Volvos and once rejected an otherwise very nice Sunseeker for just that reason.

I have no problem with outdrives - they do have some distinct advantages, but I prefer shafts, notwithstanding that as a rule of thumb, I reckon that under identical conditions shafts need 50% more power for the same performance. Affording the fuel simply depends on how many miles you intend to do.

Whatever you decide, have fun.

 

[Nautical]

eh? how did I miss this thread /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Well stern drive, hmmm let me see, well they are far more efficient for a start so you start saving from the start, they free up alot more space in the hull cus engines are further aft, bit of practice and you can do all sorts of trickery in the marina, catch a rope or net and you can hoosh them up and untangle everything, you can beach the boat with the legs up, you need less horse power for a given speed hence length against length you need smaller engines, handling wise they give a sportier drive and ooodles of James Bondy fun.

Servicing well Ok they need maintainace more than shafts but as long as you keep up to date and regular they last the distance no problem, the amount of miney you save on fuel will pay for the servicing and then some.

Shafts main upside is they are more planted and the boat tends to feel more er, well truck like, steady Eddy sort of thing, if you wallop one on an under water object they are more likely to sink your boat and you can't generally take the bottom.

Whether one likes to think of such heathen matters or not legs and IPS are the future, sub 45' on shafts particularly sports cruisers are slowly fading out, just from a builders point of view they are more expensive and labour intensive to install, from an eco position they are expensive to run fuel wise and if compared to IPS no joystick thingy or gizmos soon to be released for station holding and remote control berthing.

Regards the two boats in question, SS better up wind ride heavier build but old technology, S37 lighter more modern and sportier ride and more voluminous, SS bit of a pain to get on and off of with tiddly swim platform and you have to sort of climb over the back to get in, canopy looks a bit of an after thought and bit pram looking.

having knocked the bejesus out of the SS still the nicer external looking boat and the S37 wont look or as well held together at the same age.

Which one would I go for, er, well oh sod it hang the fuel expense............the sunseeker /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[bilzaf]

thanks for your approach-i never thought about easiness to enter boat after swimming. i sea-trialled the SS yesterday-they had a diver clean the hull. at 2400 cruise speed was 21.5 kts and top speed was 24.5 knots at 2600 rpm. it stayed on plane even at 14 kts. the engines- cat 3208s should get to 2800 and top speed should be 30. the mechanic that serviced the boat told me they changed turbos, sea pumps and exhausts in 2006 and that on that particular boat the rpm never reached 2800-he did not have a clue if it's wrong prop or too much weight of boat that causes this. wind was force 2-3 so i had to turn into my own wake; the feel was like a truck. also zero lean even in sharpest possible turns full speed. apart from speed issue i liked the feel. it did not feel bad at 21.5 cruise but if i buy it i know i wont have the courage to experiment with props-does anyone have an idea? as far as i know the props are standard factory. boats tend to get heavier by age-is a prop change the solution? i would think of a bit smaller step

 

[Nautical]

hmmm somethings up there, 24 knts flat out is pants performance, could be props maybe previous owner changed in an effort to er, not sure what really, engine not reving to max is oviously part of the problem and dispite her age they should still reach max revs unless the prop pitch has been completely mucked about with, I would get a surveyor , marine diesel fitter to have a shufty first before parting with your money, also give sunseeker a ring and ask orginal spec for your boat, they should be able to tell what props were fitted from new.

 

[Renegade_Master]

"if you wallop one on an under water object they are more likely to sink your boat "


sink your boat.........erm a bit like when yer rubber gaitor thingy gives up then