Volvo saildrive on a motor boat

[Gubbo]

I am looking to purchase a small motor sailer for use inland as a motor boat with occasional river sailing and a few trips out to sea. I am considering a Hardy Motor sailer that has a volvo saildrive fitted to an 18 hp engine.
My only concern is whether saildrives are robust enough to put up with regular use, in particular the gear changes when working locks.
I would guess that I will be using the motor for about 100 hrs a season. An average trip only lasts about two hours before a pub gets in the way!
Has anyone experience of using a saildrive inland. Am I worried about nothing. Assuming that I don't hit a submerged pram, will a saildrive stand up to river use?
Please let me know

Regards

Gubbo

For details of my boat see www.sailpast.co.uk

 

[schilde]

I have a much smaller Volvo saildrive, MB2a/50S which is only 7.5 hp. It has been driving my 22ft bilge-keel Invader for over twenty years, mostly on rivers (broads)and more motoring than sailing!

I think there is a slight issue with the danger of hitting submerged objects, because the leg is not protected by a skeg like a normal propeller. But as you are likely to be shallower in draft than many other craft you (like me) are not so likely to hit anything really firm. I cannot be sure mine is the original prop but I think it probably is, and it is unmarked. Your prop isn't more exposed than an outboard prop. If you do hit something substantial I would think there would be enough give in the engine mounts to absorb a lot of the shock, so I can't see the leg breaking or bending. How fast do you plan to go?

I don't think the gearchange is any less substantial than what you would have in an outboard of similar size and mine is going fine. There is not much inertia with our 2-blade prop but even with a heavier prop I am sure the clutch teeth would be engineered to stand up to it, especially if you drop the revs before you throw the lever!

I have found the saildrive has saved me a lot of the trouble that comes with leaky / wearing stern glands, vibrating prop shafts, cutless bearings etc. However the downside is that you have to lift the boat out before you can lift the engine out (it leaves a big hole!) although hopefully you don't need to do this often.

hth
Steve

 

[Will_M]

I know of a yard launch using an MD2030/120S package which has covered some 7000 hrs in its working capacity within a marina, still all the same original kit, with no major break-downs to report. Not bad considering its in use 24/7 berthing boats etc anywhere up to and around the 65ft area.