Popularity of Saildrives

[BarryL]

Hey,

My C&C 110 has a saildrive. So far I like the saildrive because I have better performance under power and under sail. Under power you go straight both forwards and backwards. There is very little vibration. Under sail, the folding prop and sail drive leg provide very little drag.

As mentioned, there are comprises with everything. The standard arrangement of coupler, shaft, stuffing box, strut, cutless bearing, isn't perfect either. On my last boat, I had to replace the stuffing box because the hose was old and rotted (this was in 2006 and the boat was a 1986). It was cheaper to cut the shaft then to try and save the original one. Then might as well install a new cutless bearing, etc.

I've only had my C&C with Saildrive for 1 year. Last year I cleaned up real good, then changed the zincs (not too bad), and painted the leg with the special recommended paint. I love the way the boat performs. I hope the saildrive lasts and doesn't cause too many headaches.

Barry

 

[Gunni]

A few years ago I walked the docks at the Annapolis boat show specifically checking out the incidence of sail drive installs. I was surprised to find that nearly every one of the production boats had a sail drive. Even my favorite - Sabre. I asked, and no, Sabre would not build me a boat with shaft drive. Oh well, they don't make ANY sailboats anymore.

I have seen more than a few very badly corroded sail drives up in the yard. Maybe on a freshwater lake they make sense. But I would not own one, so it makes me wonder who is saving money if the boat has less value on the used market?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Catalina does not use saildrives.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Stu...I heard a rumor that they are switching to saildrives on newer models. I hope not.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

I have only seen saildrives on the Sport 275. Given all of their work to try and separate themselves from Hunter, Jenny\Benny, etc. I seriously doubt that will be a move you will see coming in the future.

 

[caguy]

Catalina does not use saildrives.

Ok maybe they don't, but they did. My '84 C27 came with an OMC saildrive on a Zephyr motor.

 

[Kper]

Ok maybe they don't, but they did. My '84 C27 came with an OMC saildrive on a Zephyr motor.

I viewed a boat that didn't originally have one, it was added. Why, I have no idea. IIRC it was an O'Day 25.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Ok maybe they don't, but they did. My '84 C27 came with an OMC saildrive on a Zephyr motor.

Most likely not OEM.

If you look at the CY website, the shafts are pretty clearly shown on the brochures.

Shafts, not saildrives.

 

[weinie]

deleted

 

[Sprega]

Again. After many years of owning a boat with a saildrive and having not one, zilch none nadda problem. I like them and would not hesitate to buy another boat with one. I kept my boat in salt water and maintained my saildrive to Volvos recommendations. I have seen boats sink at the dock because of failed stuffing boxes. I have seen transmissions destroyed because of bad cutless bearings. I have been on boats that you couldn't focus your eyes because of the vibration of a conventionally installed aux. I have seen shaft struts that were destroyed by corrosion costing thousands to repair. For what it's worth. My sail drive was a Volvo-Penta paired with a Volvo MD7. It was a Swedish boat. With a very nice Selden rig and at 28 ft LOA normally had no problem sailing with the average 32 - 35 ft racer/cruser. Part in do, I'm sure, to the low drag saildrive.

 

[Sprega]

They're are NOT popular, they are disasters waiting to happen.

I'm sure it has happened, But, I have never seen or heard of a boat sinking due to a saildrive. Not popular...... Go to Europe my friend.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

The custom racing sailboat next to me in Hingham had to be hauled out in an emergency because both baffles failed after service by a professional.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I really hope that Catalina sticks to shafts. The boats coming out now will probably be what I buy used when I am in the market in 20 years! LOL

 

[Sprega]

The custom racing sailboat next to me in Hingham had to be hauled out in an emergency because both baffles failed after service by a professional.

Human error.

 

[Kestle]

BY the way, it is not just zincs but also the bonding of the whole boats and a galvanic isolator that make the differences. Just putting a zinc in nearby is not enough. Hot harbors like Marina Del Ray eat these things without the proper grounding.

Jeff

 

[BobM]

My 2c

my concern is that eventually people will have issues like they had with OMC. FRP boats last for ever. But will Volvo still supply parts for you saildrive in twenty years? I can still get most parts overnight for my 1981 Yanmar 2QM15. I looked at a boat of similar vintage with a Volvo diesel and poor parts availability for its Volvo MD8 was probably why the boat, a Cape Dory Intrepid, was so cheap.

Also, it would be nice, if I have to have a saildrive, if it would have a rotating jet nozzle rather than a fixed prop. Just dreaming!

 

[Kings Gambit]

my concern is that eventually people will have issues like they had with OMC. FRP boats last for ever. But will Volvo still supply parts for you saildrive in twenty years?

Buy 'em now! If you never use them, sell 'em on eBay. Also, if you have certain parts, you'll do better when it comes time to sell that boat, etc.

 

[bigpapaporsche]

Catalina 275 Sport

I friend of mine just bought a new 275 Sport with a Yanmar Diesel and the Sail-drive. IMO this is the way to go, as many previous post have already pointed out. By the way, I just learned that a Saildrive system eliminates the "Through Hull Fitting" for the engine's water in-take. Again IMO, this is a big deal! Sounds like the KISS principle does it!

 

[Sugarsail1]

I've crewed on many catamarans with sail drives and they have all had major issues. They are not significantly cheaper, but they do take up considerably less space in the hull than a traditional straight shaft/prop.

The lower noise benefit largely depends on the transmission you use in the straight shaft set up, and I think is only a minor benefit for sail drives. The space saving issue is really why a lot of boat builders use them.

The troubles I've personally had with them is seawater/oil mixing in lower unit, reverse/forward cone clutches failing, rubber boot under the hull peeling off, difficult to change gear oil in the water. They suck, but the concept of them is very attractive and I hope future models improve reliability and serviceability.

I think there is major room for design improvements for sail drives.