Unreliable outdrives

[extravert]

Are those outdrive/sterndrive thingies that the smaller mobos use the most unreliable way to connect engine to propellor? Wander about any hard standing at a marina or boatyard and there are loads of middle age mobos with sad looking partly dismatled mechanical guts hanging out of their sterns. They look expensive to repair too.

<hr width=100% size=1>One day, I want to be a real sailor. In the mean time I'll just keep tri-ing.

 

[chriscallender]

The case is usually made from aluminium and can corrode away in no time unless protected by a good anode ... having helped replace one once, I can confirm that they are also very expensive and quite heavy!

Chris

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[[2068]]

They do have some advantages, such as being more efficient (thrust in line with keel, instead of lifting the stern, plus less drag, no rudders), adjustability, being able to lift out of harms way when required...

Downsides are -
- Rubber bellows need regular replacement or you sink
- Anodes need regular replacement (£75 to replace), or the drive becomes the anode (£2500 to replace)
- Stainless steel props make your drive even more likely to become the anode, and for gear sets rather than prop blades to break should it all go horribly wrong
- Fishing line causes seals to fail and turn oil into milkshake

Bottom line is, treat them as as 2.5k anodes waiting to fail, and you won't be disappointed. Having said that, here's me dreaming of the day I can have two of them hanging off the stern...

dave.

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