Sail Drive vs. Traditional Shaft

[Ducati]

Could someone please explain the purpose of sail drive vs the traditional shaft drive?
I'm looking at a boat that has that option and would like some information about it.

Thanks

 

[kenn]

(I don't know much about it either, but hopefully these will get us both started...)

http://www.practical-sailor.com/marine/saildrives_and_their_pros_and_cons.html

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/sailboats/inboard-vs-sail-drive-diesels-16739.html

 

[kloudie1]

Duck, read that Practical sailor article carefully.. It pretty well gives the straight poop.. My personal opinion is that it is a pretty neat package for folks who pull the boat every year and can inspect everything and replace diaphragms and zincs and barrier coat as needed.. Not so appropriate for folks like me who leave the boat in the water for multiple years.

 

[tommays]

The purpose of a saildrive is to make it simple to install a drive package correctly AND also save a lot of space in the boat for other stuff

The downside is things like units that use the drive as the raw water intake have issues with sea life fouling the intake in places that cant be cleaned all that easy

Think zebra and other critters deep inside a water passage

 

[Stu Jackson]

Lame idea

Tommy's close. Saildrives were designed to make it easier for the boat builder, not for the boat owner. Kinda like the mid-80s Fords, where you couldn't find the spark plugs, they were underneath! Easier to build the engines, made working on the car difficult at best, had to take the car in for service, $$$ for the dealer, no savings for you.

Saildrives, in my opinion, should be avoided at all costs. The simple stern tube stuffing box works just fine, has for centuries. The Saildrive is prone to catastrophic failure, has materials that do not match, is basically aluminum in saltwater (eek!) and a recipe for disaster. If someone GAVE me a boat with a Saildrive, I would NOT take it.

 

[Hermit Scott]

If all went to the crapper with a shaft drive, You would have to replace the prop, shaft, and the cutlass bearing.
If all goes bad with a saildrive, you are out thousands.
I wouldn't own a saildrive, because you have to watch them very carefully. I plan on leaving my boat in the water for multiple years.