Hello Below, Thanks for that post. I know you have been successful in dealing with the "issues" on your new boat, and congratulate you on persevering to your satisfaction, and that you have a good dealer. Too bad GreggL doesn't have your dealer!
Many of us will submit opinions and many of us feel that what we have is usually the best. Why? 'Cuz we've learned to live with it and deal with it. Many of us, perhaps, make the "mistake" of saying "What you have is not good for these reasons."
I applaud you for make some comparisons. However, I disagree with all of them.
Why?
Because the basic premise of comparing roller furling, and automatic transmsissions relates, in my opinion, in no way to the comparison of a stern tube and stuffing box with a saildrive.
Again, why?
Because (my opinion only) the comparison should be between
--- standard stuffing box
and
--- PSS shaft seal
and
--- saildrive
The reason is that I think all of us can agree that your analogy includes IMPROVEMENTS to each type of item you are comparing.
In the saildrive case, however, what one needs to do is to compare the three different types of connections between the engine and the propeller.
The stuffing box is simple and can be repaired in the water, no haulout needed.
The PSS, if it fails, requires a haulout.
The saildrive requires not only a haulout, but a regular haulout with certain predetermined times, or IT WILL FAIL. Perhaps catastrophically.
If, however, care is taken to haul the boat (which many of us do a LOT less regularly than the saildrive requires), then you should be fine.
The comparison is the extra haulout and making sure you keep an eye on it.
Good luck, it works, and we hope it works with you. I'm with Rick in my "feeling" about it, but I'm just an old geezer who knows how the repack his stuffing box!
Good luck, nice, new boat.
Have fun.
