What's going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Petrolia

Petrolia

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What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

What's going to happen to the value of second hand shaft boats once the Treasury does away with our cheap(ish) diesel.

At the moment there is perhaps a balance between efficiency & maintenance. Some will choose outdrives others shafts.

Will this balance tip heavily, chronically even, in favour of the outdrives when our diesel is 3 x as expensive ?

If I ever want to sell the shaft boat I'm considering buying will I have to give it away to get back to outdrives ?

Am I worrying for nothing?
Will there always be people who prefer shafts whatever the price of diesel ?
Or do you think that the treasury will come through and give us a break ?

(I don't think we have a cat in hells chance)
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Foegive me if I'm being thick, but what on earth will make an outdrive boat more attractive than a shaft driven one if the cost of diesel trebles?? My boat is outboard driven, so if I've missed something that's going to make it more valuable, pls enlighten me!!
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Outdrives are more fuel-efficient than shafts all other things being equal (for the same reasons IPS is more fuel-efficient, better thrust angle, duoprop etc).

This can only be a factor on those boats available with both options though, once up to lengths where they are shafts-only then the "choice" doesn't exist unless you include down-sizing from a bigger boat to a length where you can consider both options....

I'm sure removal of red will have an effect though, after all many people run diesel boats (or indeed cars) where the hard maths of usage may not show an advantage to diesel but the emotional hit of the cost at the pump does.
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Outdrives are more efficient than shafts? By lots? Can you give me some figures please.
Intrigued by the comments.
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

I've read outdrives can be 20% or so more efficient. Which is significant ! Although I'm sure others will put me right if I'm wrong.
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Yes from everything I've read outdrives are considerably more fuel efficient. Maybe you should consider fitting some to Englander? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Your boat might not become worth more but people with shaft drive boats may find purchasers with a choice will go for the outdrives. Shafts will still have certain advantages but they would be massively outweighed at £5 / gallon !!
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

when it comes to economy you need to look at the big picture. Any small increase in fuel efficiency with outdrives is more than compensated by greatly increased maintenance costs. On older boats, outdrives become a real pain. Just routine maintenance is expensive compared to shafts, and when they go wrong - (which they invariably do, in my opinion) the bills will make your fuel checkout savings look very silly.
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Yeah, fit, 2 x 1400 hp V12 lamborghini petrol ongines in my after cabin, with super duper X2500 outdrive legs with surface action props! Wow that would really make her go! 48 tons and 57 feet, go like greased weasel manure!!
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

20% = small efficiency ?

Obviously it depends how much you motor but for many will your arguement hold at 5 quid / gallon ?
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Now you're being silly. (I know, you've got the channels) :-)

Wasn't really thinking about 48t boats when I posted this.
Is the 48t with or without the motorbikes onboard ?

Having said that you introduce an interesting point. Why bother with diesel ? Just get bloody great petrols.
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

I reckon the 20% figure probably orginates from the manufactures of outdrives. I could accept 10% maybe.
The last boat I had with outdrives ( after which I swore never to have them again) cost me around £3,500 in running repairs over a 4 season ownership. I know others who have paid a lot more than that, and I am not alone in avoiding them like the plague. You would need to do a fair milage each year before a fuel saving became "real" so to speak.
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Well actually............
Outdrives are expensive to manufacture, expensive to maintain and repair. I'll stick to shafts, thanks. Even for a lighter planing boat. I've repaired dozens of outdrives and the parts were always expensive and they frequently needed repairing. A catastrophic mechanical failure, such as bearings etc, was a fourtune! What can go wrong with shafts, breakage, never seen one, leaks, not usually, coupling failure a few, no I'll stick to simple shafts.
But as you say, channels!! Not long now! one more getup and a get up and go!
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

I bet its not even 10% when going into the waves, in fact would be surprised if outdrives are anywhere near as efficient as shafts when going into big waves.
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

that's right, and apart from the expense - who needs the hassle? We have enough reasons for boating plans going awry without complicating the issue further. Doesn't matter how much of a fuel efficiency advantage you've got when your lifted out having new seals/gaiters/reverse latches etc fitted while everybody else is out playing.
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Outdrives are only more efficient on small fast boats.
Maintenance and damage costs are hugely more expensive than shafts.
Outdrives are also prone to being smashed off the boat entirely leaving it dead in the water. Though this is not important on the Solent boating lake!
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Now come on!

If you hit somethnig hard enough to smash the Outdrive off the boat you are equally likely to punch a hole in the GRP hull of any boat - shafts or otherwise.
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

Probably more than 20% increased efficiency actually. Take a boat like the Princess V42 offered with both shafts and outdrives. With 2 x 370hp engines driving shafts, the V42 does about 32knots. With only 2 x 260hp engines driving outdrives, the V42 will do about 34knots. My guess is that at a typical cruising speed of 25knots the outdrive V42 would be 30-40% more fuel efficient
Yes this is a good point. Higher fuel prices may well tempt buyers of boats in the 40ft range to go for outdrive boats but above that length, outdrives are not an option but IPS may become an advantage if/when it proves itself
 
Re: What\'s going to happen ? (Shaft v Outdrives)

<span style="color:blue">
You pessimists, maybe Fuel will stay the same. Its not just us that has to agree, the Greeks, Belgians, Finns too. Maybe others that I don't know. </span>
 
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