What's a V-drive?

[HowardB]

What\'s a V-drive?

What's a V-drive? Doral fit about everything available into their boats it seems, and though I don't want to buy one- I wondered what the V-drive option entails? Google search just gives American overpowered racing boats which look like a chevvy engine on a ski!

Are they better than Z drives / legs?

Thanks in anticipation
Howard

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[martynwhiteley]

Re: What\'s a V-drive?

They are where the engines are fitted in a similar position to stern drives (to gain the advantage of space utilisation), but they are installed 'backwards', i.e. the flywheel/gearbox end is pointing at you when you look into the engine bay, rather than disappearing through the transom.

They are then connected to 'V' shaped shafts, that have a universal joint of a very acute angle, to reverse the direction of the shaft back under the engine, and out through the hull. So from underneath, they look like a convential shaft drive.

In theory you get the best of both worlds (no leg maintenance problems, but better space allocation than shafts), but I've no experience or info about long term reliability.

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[HowardB]

Re: What\'s a V-drive?

Thanks- sorta makes sense when you consider 'Z' drives as a layout description where the leg is the 'Z'
Curoius how some cost less than the equivalent Z, and some as much as £5000 more for the same engine (I've been nosing round Essex boatyard's site where they sell new Dorals)
Access for maintenance may be a pig if the block is the other way round I guess.
Thanks again

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[camargue]

Re: What\'s a V-drive?

sunseeker they used them on the camargue 55's. they are very reliable from our experience. they mean that it gives more room for accomadation, rather that having the engines right in the centre of the boat. to counter ballance the trumendous wieght in the back, the fuel tanks are in the middle, in front of the engines.


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[byron]

Re: What\'s a V-drive?

I have seen them and from what I have heard they aren't the most reliable of things.

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[stefan_r]

Re: What\'s a V-drive?

I have them on my 46 footer taking power from MAN 680hp engines.

They are a very simple bit of engineering and there is nothing to go wrong, there are only 2 cogs in them, one taking the engine shaft (after the gearbox) and the other holding the prop shaft......

Like anything they need oil and that's it.

This means I have my engines right at the back of the boat and can fit a crew cabin in my accommodation....not many other 46'ers have 4 sleeping cabins as standard

I don't think they'll give you any problems maintenance wise

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[ArthurWood]

Re: What\'s a V-drive?

Sea Ray use Hurth V-drives on all their Sundancers which have inboards. They are very reliable. Mine has them and I've had no probs in 9yr and 1200 hr. As mentioned, it can be a bit of a pig to get to belts etc as the engine is backwards. However, this arrangement provides a lot more interior space because the engine is so far back. Maintenance is simply changing the transmission fluid every 250 hr and cleaning or replacing the filter.

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