Pulling out a saildrive

[Mat George]

I have a 1975 Oday 27 with an outboard and an OMC saildrive which is corroding quite badly on the inside.I would like to pull out the saildrive but would like the option of putting in another inboard later on. I'm looking for suggestions on what I can fill the hole with that is not permanent.

 

[Ben Bishop]

Don't do it

It would be a very risky thing to do anything but seal it over with very thick layers of fibreglass. Take it out and seal it up and forget about it. Saildrives, esp omcs, are dinosaurs. Move on.

 

[Chris Hughes]

Let me show my ignorance

I'm fairly new to the pocket cruiser & larger boats. I keep reading the term "saildrive" but have no idea what it refers to.What is it? What does it do? How does it work?Thanks,Chris, the ignorant.O'day 23 "Heron"

 

[R.W.Landau]

here is an idea

Mat , take this for what it is worth. My dad had a 32' Allied Seawind II. He was in his 70's when he talked about making a veiwing port in his hull so that he could view reefs and sealife. He did some snorkeling but thought this would allow him to veiw anytime he had clear water.He never got to it before he sold the boat. I almost bought a boat with a saildrive that had passed on. My thought was to make the hole a veiwing port. Just something to think about...........r.w.landau