Hi,
What I like about the SailDrive (with folding prop) is very low drag when sailing, good performance when motoring in forward and decent performance when stopping / backing.
My boat(s) with saildrive had no prop walk - meaning the boat would go straight forward and also straight back. My last boat with a shaft / strut, would pull to port when I shifted to reverse. The saildrive just goes straight. At first I missed the prop walk because when I pull up to a dock I would approach w the dock on port, aim at a 30 degree angle, then shift to reverse and the stern would pull to port and right up to the dock.
After some practice with the sail drive I have modified my technique and I much prefer the saildrive. So much easier to back out of slip without worrying about the stern going to port. My current boat has a bow thruster, so I almost feel like I'm cheating when I leave the dock.
Barry