Jurgen
Active member
Hats off to you if you do that amount of hours per year and not business related. Unfortunately for me work gets in the way..... And the cost of fuel....
Actually you've made me think about our usage. For the first few years we owned the boat we averaged around 180 hours a year, but since fuel prices have gone through the roof we're lucky to do 70 hours. Still use the boat as much, just differently.
Interesting, Our Sealine S37 is a 1997 boat and has just short of 1800 hrs, we do an average of 50 hrs a season but prior to our ownership she was used for occasional charter work so averaging hrs x year were about average, it's only her time as a charter boat that has pushed the hrs up.
Sorry thread drift I think mechanical issues can arise with any system, yes shafts may be more reliable & Out drives may cost more to repair but as mentioned by a previous contributor sometimes you wont have a choice of propulsion system. Maintenance is a basic, Shafts will eventually fail if not maintained i.e stern gland & lubrication etc just as Bellows can be fitted incorrectly to a Drive resulting in very costly repairs.
If we want to ensure that the oily bits do not cost us a small fortune then we must consider selling our souls to the Dark Forces of the Wind and become sailors, if the main engine on a yacht goes south it can be propelled with an out board.