While looking over the specs of a Catalina 250 it mentions an optional Yanmar inboard with sail drive system. Thanks, Tim
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Like The Lower Leg
of an outboard, through the hull, attached to an inboard. Popular on some boats over the pond. No shaft alignment, better underwater dynamics, less noise. OTOH, dis-similar metals, pull boat for trans repair, special care in bottom paint. Rick D.
of an outboard, through the hull, attached to an inboard. Popular on some boats over the pond. No shaft alignment, better underwater dynamics, less noise. OTOH, dis-similar metals, pull boat for trans repair, special care in bottom paint. Rick D.
What it is depends on who you are...
A saildrive seems to be all of the following: For the designer, it's a way to gain space for other uses while giving the engine space the minimal amount of room possible in which to shoehorn the engine. No prop shaft, so no access to the stern gland either. (Designers don't work on engines, I've come to learn). For the boat builder, s/he not only gets to offer a boat with 'more space' (uh-huh...) but can do a powerplant install easily with less skilled workers at less cost. They just cut a big hole to drop the leg thru, install the rubber gasket that they say will last a long, long time (uh-huh...) and they can even promise minimal vibration to the buyer. For the engine maufacturer, it helps create a bigger sale since an entire power train is purchased from them as a unit vs. perhaps just the engine which will be married up with someone else's transmission, perhaps with a V-drive from a 3rd vendor, plus hardware (shaft, strut, etc.) from yet more vendors. This way, all the 'buying' is concentrated in the engine manufacturer's direction. And for the owner...well, s/he gets to figure out how to lube the leg annually or every 100/200 hrs of run time if s/he doesn't haul annually (some of us get 1.5, 2 or even 3 years on a bottom job with routine maintenance), how to get sufficient room to reach all the pieces needing service, and how to change out anodes (zincs) when underwater. In fact, there are some good attributes of sail drives but I don't think this idea was ever conceived with the customer/end user as the primary beneficiary. Jack
A saildrive seems to be all of the following: For the designer, it's a way to gain space for other uses while giving the engine space the minimal amount of room possible in which to shoehorn the engine. No prop shaft, so no access to the stern gland either. (Designers don't work on engines, I've come to learn). For the boat builder, s/he not only gets to offer a boat with 'more space' (uh-huh...) but can do a powerplant install easily with less skilled workers at less cost. They just cut a big hole to drop the leg thru, install the rubber gasket that they say will last a long, long time (uh-huh...) and they can even promise minimal vibration to the buyer. For the engine maufacturer, it helps create a bigger sale since an entire power train is purchased from them as a unit vs. perhaps just the engine which will be married up with someone else's transmission, perhaps with a V-drive from a 3rd vendor, plus hardware (shaft, strut, etc.) from yet more vendors. This way, all the 'buying' is concentrated in the engine manufacturer's direction. And for the owner...well, s/he gets to figure out how to lube the leg annually or every 100/200 hrs of run time if s/he doesn't haul annually (some of us get 1.5, 2 or even 3 years on a bottom job with routine maintenance), how to get sufficient room to reach all the pieces needing service, and how to change out anodes (zincs) when underwater. In fact, there are some good attributes of sail drives but I don't think this idea was ever conceived with the customer/end user as the primary beneficiary. Jack
Unique I'll Say
I own an Ericson 25+ with a Volvo sail drive. I've owned the boat alomost a year now and so far the system seems great. It definately helps save space. If I had a traditional shaft the engine would probably extend at least another foot into the cabin. Maintenance would be the downside. The rubber gland is extremely important and there are no instructions in my manual about maintaining it. I've ordered a tech manual however and I hope this answers the question. Feel free to email me with more questions.
I own an Ericson 25+ with a Volvo sail drive. I've owned the boat alomost a year now and so far the system seems great. It definately helps save space. If I had a traditional shaft the engine would probably extend at least another foot into the cabin. Maintenance would be the downside. The rubber gland is extremely important and there are no instructions in my manual about maintaining it. I've ordered a tech manual however and I hope this answers the question. Feel free to email me with more questions.
Saildrive not designed for the Long Haul
Having previously owned a 1983 Najad I have some experience with saildrives (Volvo). As already mentioned in the posts, saildrives are great for packaging. My Volvo ran reliably for 17 years. After year 7, however, I was continuously worried about the rubber gasket. Why year 7, because the manual states it should be replaced every 7 years. The problem is that not many yards are experienced with the job. Every time I checked I was told that the seal seemed OK and I would be better off leaving it alone. Furthermore, the lower unit is made of aluminum, and though I diligently maintained it on the outside I worried about what was going on inside, the parts I could not sand down to bare metal reprime and paint every year. The year after I sold the boat one of the folding props 'fell off' because the aluminum hub that held it had corroded to a point where it simply cracked and released one of the two folding blades. It took 18 years for this to happen. I like to think it was extremely well maintenaned additionally the boat was hauled out for 6 months every winter. I think a saildrive is fine on a new boat that you are going to sell 5 to 8 years down the road. If I purchased a used boat with a sail drive I would calculate in the price for a new lower unit and seal as part of the purchase. Ralph
Having previously owned a 1983 Najad I have some experience with saildrives (Volvo). As already mentioned in the posts, saildrives are great for packaging. My Volvo ran reliably for 17 years. After year 7, however, I was continuously worried about the rubber gasket. Why year 7, because the manual states it should be replaced every 7 years. The problem is that not many yards are experienced with the job. Every time I checked I was told that the seal seemed OK and I would be better off leaving it alone. Furthermore, the lower unit is made of aluminum, and though I diligently maintained it on the outside I worried about what was going on inside, the parts I could not sand down to bare metal reprime and paint every year. The year after I sold the boat one of the folding props 'fell off' because the aluminum hub that held it had corroded to a point where it simply cracked and released one of the two folding blades. It took 18 years for this to happen. I like to think it was extremely well maintenaned additionally the boat was hauled out for 6 months every winter. I think a saildrive is fine on a new boat that you are going to sell 5 to 8 years down the road. If I purchased a used boat with a sail drive I would calculate in the price for a new lower unit and seal as part of the purchase. Ralph
Much less drag
No one seems to be talking much about the decrease in drag and wetted area. You'll find sail drives on many race and race oriented race/cruisers. Justin
No one seems to be talking much about the decrease in drag and wetted area. You'll find sail drives on many race and race oriented race/cruisers. Justin
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