Pros and Cons of a Saildrive?

[Being There]

Hi all, I've narrowed my gambit of selections in sailing vessels to a Wauquiez Pretorian and I have noticed most of them come with a Volvo Saildrive and a few with a V-Drive.The latter being my preference, mostly for maintenance and accessibility. What are your thoughts on this and would the saildrive deter you from making the purchase?
Also have heard allot of positive comments on the Yanmar saildrive. A good choice for a repower?

Thanks for your time.............. Dave

[Sunspot Baby]

Sail drives are becoming more and more popular.

I have a 12 year old catamaran with Volvo sail drives and have no complaints. Everything has pluses and minuses.

Personally, I would not make the drive configuration a determining factor in boat selection.

I am not an expert, and there are some on the forum, but I heard somewhere that the Yanmar and Volvo Penta sail drives are the same. Engines are of course different.

Mine are located between the keels and skeg protected rudders so aren’t likely to get into trouble in shallow water.

George

[danleach]

This seems to be an eternal issue, with no end in sight to the discussion.

Some reviewers and owners have had issues with corrosion with the saildrives. But others will always chime in, correctly, that if you are zealous about checking and maintaining your zincs...you should have few issues with this.

And there is no denying that the saildrive gives you better placement of the prop....aimed directly aft instead of aft and down. It will give you better control in reverse.

Me, I'm a v-drive owner on a Hinterhoeller Niagra, and I've been happy with it.

But I agree with the point that V-drive or Saildrive is not going to the the deciding factor on the boat itself. I would buy a boat with either...but if I had the saildrive I'd be extremely diligent in my zinc checking.

See you on the seas.

[Strygaldwir]

The Yanmar and Volvo sail drives are different. They will both however, take the same type of props.

There are so many different opinion os Sail drive vs shaft. My initial reaction to sail drives was I was getting a lesser product. After being in the yard a couple of times, I have concluded that I am just fine with my sail drives.

I whole heartidly agree, pick your boat on the 186,282 other things that will differentiate the boat. Not the sail drive.

With that said, I have the Yanmar SD20 sail drive. If I had my choice I would not select this unit. It is made for boats that can be readily lifted out of the water. I have two complaints. 1.) The specs say change the lubricant every 100 hours. To do this, the specs say, remove the boat from the water. Grrrr... 2.) To replace the zincs the spec say remove the boat from the water. I am finding this to be less of an issue. My zincs are holding up VERY well. Not much wear after being in the water for 1.5 years. I was going to change them at last haul, but they didn't need it.

The SD40, which is the next Yanmar Saildrive up has fixed the lubricant problem. If you get an engine that gives you that choice, I'd have no reservations about suggesting it.

Keith

[never monday]

I'd go for the saildrive with these options. I detest V-drives. they're A PIA for doing any miantainance on the stuffing box.

[Being There]

Thanks Everyone!, for the excellent advice. It should help me get beyond my hangups with saildrives. Great site for a wealth of information. I could of been "floundering" on this subject for months.

Dave

[Joli]

My father in law had a volvo saildrive in his pretorien.

Plus: Very quite and smooth.

Minus: Major PITA to change the zinc.
The boot is a concern, that is one big fricken hole in the bottom of the boat.
The outdrive is an aluminum casting and prone to corrosion.

All said, the pretorien is a great boat and is well regarded by cruisers. I sure would not let a saildrive stop me from buying one.

[Harriet]

The new Volvo saildrives do not require the boat to be hauled out of the water in order to change the zincs.