superheat6k
Well-Known Member
Well as many boats we own are simply penis extensions anyway, seems like a good idea to put the b*ll**ks to good use. Can't wait to see the concept working ! Fortunately I have and only ever will have shafts.
To anyone thinking of buying any boat with Outdrives
- Thread starter oldgit
- Start date
Well as many boats we own are simply penis extensions anyway, seems like a good idea to put the b*ll**ks to good use. Can't wait to see the concept working ! Fortunately I have and only ever will have shafts.
gjgm
Well-Known Member
I think there is a thread going on about a guy with shafts whose boat sank/submerged.
But there arent that many boats where you actually get a choice of o/d or shafts, are there? You choose the boat, the builder makes the choice for you.
MapisM
Well-Known Member
Spot on.
Though in fairness, it's more appropriate to say that it's your choice of the boat which implies the propulsion, no matter who builds her.
I owned my fair share of outdrives through the years.
The first being a rather exotic Yamaha, which they only built for a few years but actually ran as a swiss watch.
After that, Merc Alphas, Volvo DPs, and Merc Bravos.
Admittedly, the Yam and Merc boats were only used in fresh water, which does make a difference.
But both the boats with the VPs were at sea, sitting in the water all year long.
And in spite of the fact that I never really liked the DPs in comparison with the others, I never had any real issue with them.
All that said, I'm not "defending" the outdrives as such, and I would prefer shafts any day, if given a choice.
BUT, and it's a big but, outdrives simply are the ONLY logical choice for small(ish) sportboats and sportcruisers.
In fact, ALL the outdrive powered boats I owned (in the 6-11m range), bar none, were only available with outdrive(s).
So, what are we really talking about?
Suggesting people to steer clear of outdrive boats actually means, for most beginners, suggesting not to start MoBoing at all.
Which, ermm... might well be the most sensible suggestion, coming to think of it...
But for those who insist, imho it's better to explain them that the outdrive(s) maintenance is critical, and when purchasing a used boat, it's essential to have her properly checked by someone who knows his stuff.
If a "close inspection" (right after a survey) reveals that the outdrives are shot, it means that either the surveyor didn't make a close inspection himself, or he had no clue about what he was looking at. Either ways, chances are that such surveyor could have missed some big ticket items also in a shaft boat, I reckon?
oldgit
Well-Known Member
The chap(lady ?) concerned was dismayed when her insurance company failed to pay up when the boat filled up with water from an weeping stern gland ?.
The boat concerned had unfortunately apparently not been checked by owner for over two years and despite shorepower keeping the bilge pumps active,sufficient water got in to damage the engines.
Owners of outdrives will continue to buy and have lots of fun with their boats and there is loads of space on the forum for tales of how wonderful and adorable the things are.
So outdrive addicts time to set finger to keyboard and even up the score on all those horrid Brothers Grimm tales about your adorable mix of Alloy/Rubber Seals/Assorted Oils/Bearings/Shafts/Stainless Steel/Hydraulic Hoses/Rams/Pumps/Bits of plastic telling you if the leg is up or down and Credit Card Bills.
The boat concerned had unfortunately apparently not been checked by owner for over two years and despite shorepower keeping the bilge pumps active,sufficient water got in to damage the engines.
Owners of outdrives will continue to buy and have lots of fun with their boats and there is loads of space on the forum for tales of how wonderful and adorable the things are.
So outdrive addicts time to set finger to keyboard and even up the score on all those horrid Brothers Grimm tales about your adorable mix of Alloy/Rubber Seals/Assorted Oils/Bearings/Shafts/Stainless Steel/Hydraulic Hoses/Rams/Pumps/Bits of plastic telling you if the leg is up or down and Credit Card Bills.
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oGaryo
Well-Known Member
The chap(lady ?) concerned was dismayed when her insurance company failed to pay up when the boat filled up with water from an weeping stern gland ?.
The boat concerned had unfortunately apparently not been checked by owner for over two years and despite shorepower keeping the bilge pumps active,sufficient water got in to damage the engines.
Owners of outdrives will continue to buy and have lots of fun with their boats and there is loads of space on the forum for tales of how wonderful and adorable the things are.
So outdrive addicts time to set finger to keyboard and even up the score on all those horrid Brothers Grimm tales about your devils mix of Alloy/Rubber/Oil and Credit Card Bills.
Hi OG, we've had outdrives on all our boats with one issue in the last 4 years. As a consequence, I've invested in such things as pressure / vacuum pumps and the like to ensure I check things over thoroughly when carrying out the annual service. for me, a quick visual look around and a lube / impeller change isn't enough, I prefer to check internals are ok too by pressuring the system to ensure I am confident of not getting water ingress during the season.
Don't want to be doing this again so also give the bellows a good look over
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...ve-s-buggered-help-please&highlight=universal
MapisM
Well-Known Member
Funny you should mention it, reminds me of another boat which went along a similar route even with no outdrives.
Incidentally, built by the same yard as Kahu. Is that enough to dismiss all of their boats?
dkm
Well-Known Member
I'm getting fed up with people slagging off outdrives, I'm on my 4th boat with outdrives and never had a problem but I have enjoyed the improved fuel efficiency and the ability to lift the legs and clean the props occasionally
P4Paul
Well-Known Member
I know what you mean, We have outdrives and to make it worse, we are also insured with HKJ..............
Must have really p1ssed someone off in a previous life!
julians
Well-Known Member
We have about 30 years experience with outdrives (both merc and volvo) on boats kept in salt water 365 days of the year. Weve had 1 failure, which cost £2k to fix.
Theyre ok in my book, as long as you service them by the book.
Theyre ok in my book, as long as you service them by the book.
Scarron
Well-Known Member
Well I never it must be winter - the oldgit is trolling about outdrives again.
Gentlemanracer
Well-Known Member
You learn as you go. My lessons still say keep as much money out of the water as possible; tricky with a boat so if pontoon life is important, shafts would then get priority and now choose the boat. We get to choose how we spend our hobby resources, there's no right or wrong, just research and think through your priorities first. That can take a while. After getting a pasting from failed sterndrive hydraulics on very modest hours, recent big HP shaft drive experience was absolutely nothing remarkable for me and certainly not enough to pursusde me to go bigger and heavier and slower. For me, getting out and about is important, so I'm up for more stern drive exposure and approaching 2mpg at 40kt is well worth the overhead and absence of cat-swinging accommodation. But I keep the boat out of the water as much as possible!!
Doverpaul
New Member
looking at your thread, a simple oil check, drain bung check and obvious visible signs of corrosion will check general conditiion, outdrives are generally very
efficient , great handling and duo props are even better in most cases. proven by many users like Met Police, who run nearly all there boats on the Thames
on sterndrives. As ever good earth bonding , regular anode replacement and not using damaged or unbalanced props all prelong the life.
efficient , great handling and duo props are even better in most cases. proven by many users like Met Police, who run nearly all there boats on the Thames
on sterndrives. As ever good earth bonding , regular anode replacement and not using damaged or unbalanced props all prelong the life.
prv
Well-Known Member
Nope - the original post gave that impression, but she's since clarified that it was in fact used and all the bilge compartments checked a couple of weeks before the incident.
Pete
gjgm
Well-Known Member
Look, it is no good coming on here and saying your o/drives have been just fine.
Just think, if only you had different boats for 30 years, all with shafts, you would have saved £2k . Cristal clear then !!hartcjhart
Well-Known Member
Look, it is no good coming on here and saying your o/drives have been just fine.
unless of course he had a boat with shaft problems,
any form of mechanical propulsion has the real risk of failure,you are either lucky or not,
possibly the higher ammount of outdrive problems reported is due to the substantially higher ammount of boats that have them as oppsed to shafts
oGaryo
Well-Known Member
the more I inspect and maintain my boat, the luckier I get.
fisherman
Well-Known Member
Hmmm. Every fishing boat I've known of with outdrives (not many) has been a nightmare. Too much use? Too little maintenance? The most recent is just giving up on it after two years of regular lift outs. I expect the response that the average hamfisted fisherman wouldn't look after things, but he is trying to use it for a business after all. Outboards, OTOH, change after 10,000 hours seem OK? Yamahas are favourite.
CX54WEK
Well-Known Member
the more I inspect and maintain my boat, the luckier I get.
Must be the same for us.
Worst we have had is a cracked needle bearing. Hardly worth worrying about at £40 to replace.
Look after your leg and it will look after you
oGaryo
Well-Known Member
Must be the same for us.
Worst we have had is a cracked needle bearing. Hardly worth worrying about at £40 to replace.
Look after your leg and it will look after you
don't look after you leg and you may find yourself limping back to your home berth... I'll get my coat
Nick_H
Well-Known Member
So complexity has no effect on reliability then, it's all down to pure chance?