Things to watch for with a sail drive

[Juice6576]

Buying a new MH37 this spring. I want to stay off right. What things should I watch out for during commissioning to ensure success with s sail drive. The boat will be sailed on Lake Michigan. It looks like VC-17 I a a no-no. I'm considering Pacific Plus or TriLux 33 for bottom paint.

 

[caguy]

Make sure it has zincs. I have seen many that look like swiss cheese.

 

[Jackdaw]

Make sure it has zincs. I have seen many that look like swiss cheese.

Fresh water. Magnesium.

 

[richk]

I took delivery of my MH37 (sail drive) with a non-metallic bottom paint. Was told this was out of concern for the sail drive and galvanic action. You may want to check this out with the delivery dealer. BTW, mine's in salt, not fresh, water.

 

[Stu Jackson]

If it was my boat, I'd do a lot of research online PLUS make sure I fully understood the manuals that come with it. They are a design solution option to a standard straight shaft and require different maintenance techniques.

 

[Kings Gambit]

When I have questions like this, I call one or more authorized factory representatives to get the required information. However, saildrives are sometimes anodized aluminum; should not need painting, but must be protected from electrolysis.

 

[richk]

refer to my last

When I have questions like this, I call one or more authorized factory representatives to get the required information. However, saildrives are sometimes anodized aluminum; should not need painting, but must be protected from electrolysis.

see my previous posting on this. Kings Gambit's comment is why there isn't metallic paint on the bottom

 

[sailfest]

Install a Galvanic Isolator, keep the zincs changed and check them monthly in case there in stray current running from other boats in your marina. Also change the oil as per manf. Always allow for oil to expand when the unit is running. Do not fill it up to the top, this will break the oil seals. Scott