Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 21-05-2014, 20:17   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Chesapeake Bay, US
Posts: 56
Sail-Drive in a Sailboat, Corbin 39'

Hi all,
I just saw an interesting sailboat called Corbin 39' that was made in Canada in the Eighties. and when I looked at different pictures to different boats for sale, I realized that the boat had a sail drive rather than a prop shaft.
Is this something bad in a sailboat, especially for an off-shore boat or not?
and also, any feedback about the Corbin 39'.

Thank you,

Andy
openseas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-05-2014, 20:38   #2
Registered User
 
Igotnuthin's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Millgrove, Ontario
Boat: Northstar 8020
Posts: 59
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

Many Corbins were sold as "kit" boats. You got the hull and deck and did the rest yourself or hired someone to customize it. There was a Corbin in the yard beside our boat. It had a diesel engine and prop shaft. That's just about all I know about them.....
Igotnuthin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 10:58   #3
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Charleston, SC
Boat: Tayana 37
Posts: 704
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

Not really as long as its been properly maintained. Which is true of any boat abd system. Really just personal preference.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
Kevin84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 11:13   #4
Registered User
 
Cheechako's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,745
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

I think most agree a shaft drive is better, but not a deal breaker. JMHO
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard











Cheechako is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 13:28   #5
Moderator Emeritus
 
roverhi's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Boat: 1976 Sabre 28-2
Posts: 7,505
Send a message via Yahoo to roverhi
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

There can be issues with corrosion on the aluminum sail drive. Accidentally getting lines or flotsam stuck in the drive prop can damage the hull seal of the sail drive making for a big water ingress problem.

A sail drive is a non starter for me bit there are a bunch of them out there and, for the most part, working well.
__________________
Peter O.
'Ae'a, Pearson 35
'Ms American Pie', Sabre 28 Mark II
roverhi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 14:27   #6
Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
Images: 1
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

many corbin's were 'owner built' so the quality of the finish varies widely. the two i have been on seemed pretty well made and the design is certainly 'seaworthy'.

sail drives are a deal breaker to me. but that's just me. my friend has a catamaran with a sail drive and has to have it serviced often, although he's had no major problems with it. the leg is usually aluminum, which worries me. he's had to replace the rubber boot that seals the leg to the hull at least twice in the past ten years.
onestepcsy37 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 14:43   #7
Registered User
 
colemj's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Presently on US East Coast
Boat: Manta 40 "Reach"
Posts: 10,110
Images: 12
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin84 View Post
Not really as long as its been properly maintained.
And installed. If these boats are owner-finished, that can be a big factor.

Mark
__________________
www.svreach.com

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
colemj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 14:53   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,439
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

I wonder why it has a sail drive? My neighbor has a Corbin and it is a straight and bored
motion30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 15:20   #9
Registered User
 
Cheechako's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Skagit City, WA
Posts: 25,745
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

Yeah, what I should have said was Saildrive a deal breaker for me too, but I know many don't seem to mind them... anyone know if a sail drive engine can be converted to shaft drive?
__________________
"I spent most of my money on Booze, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard











Cheechako is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 15:33   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: michigan
Boat: CORBIN 39
Posts: 338
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

I have never seen a Corbin with a saildrive, I would imagine it was installed to provide more room in the boat. Corbins were sold in various stages of completion. actually 4 stages. you can go to the Corbin website and see all the particulars on the boat. Corbin 39 Owners Group of Canada and the United States these boats are world cruisers.
sailr69 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 16:08   #11
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Charleston, SC
Boat: Tayana 37
Posts: 704
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

Quote:
Originally Posted by colemj View Post
And installed. If these boats are owner-finished, that can be a big factor.

Mark
Good point Mark. Proper installation would make a HUGE difference in whether that boat is a good buy or not.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app
Kevin84 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-05-2014, 19:16   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Chesapeake Bay, US
Posts: 56
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

Photo: saildrive, skeg, and rudder 043008 | Insouciance (10) (for sale) album | Corbin 39 Owners Group | Fotki.com, photo and video sharing made easy.

Check the link above for a picture of a Corbin for sale with a sail drive.
openseas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-05-2014, 08:15   #13
Registered User
 
deluxe68's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Arizona/Rhode Island
Boat: Swan 432
Posts: 820
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

Quote:
Originally Posted by roverhi View Post
There can be issues with corrosion on the aluminum sail drive. Accidentally getting lines or flotsam stuck in the drive prop can damage the hull seal of the sail drive making for a big water ingress problem.

A sail drive is a non starter for me bit there are a bunch of them out there and, for the most part, working well.
I had a B 36.7 and the small marina was doing some dredging. I got a call from the dealership in the marina saying that 2 boats lost their drives because of the dredging. The dredging stirred up some critters (bacteria?) and the water temp rapidly increased which also increased the electrolysis. It took just a few days to do this, they sent a diver down and luckily my boat was ok.
deluxe68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-05-2014, 08:20   #14
Registered User
 
colemj's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Presently on US East Coast
Boat: Manta 40 "Reach"
Posts: 10,110
Images: 12
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

I'm sorry, but bacteria (or other critters, or even just a stirred up bottom) and warm water cannot cause corrosion of a drive leg. Were all of the outboards and aluminum boats in the marina also corroded?

I'm not saying there wasn't problems with the 2 boats - just that the stirred up bottom and warm water had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Mark
__________________
www.svreach.com

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
colemj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-05-2014, 09:48   #15
Registered User
 
ontherocks83's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Warwick RI
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 1,877
Re: sail-drive in a sailboat, Corbin 39'

I am of the mindset that the simper the system the better.

Sail drives do a great job at what they do but in my mind it drastically increases the number of failures you can have.

A straight prop shaft propels the boat and you have very few moving parts and easy maintenance.
A sail drive propels the boat and has a ton more moving parts that can break and a lot more maintenance requirements.

Ultimately I like to use an airplane analogy. Small single engine air planes have air cooled engines. They do this primarily for 2 reasons. First it saves weight (not important with your concerns). Second if you don't have coolant and a coolant system you can't have a coolant leak or coolant system failure. Problem averted by minimizing "frills"

and just like others have said it would be a deal breaker for me. Too much to maintain and too much that can go wrong as compared to a traditional straight shaft
__________________
-Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
-Molon Labe
ontherocks83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
sail, sailboat

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Lift Out Mishap on a Sailboat with Sail Drive jmorris Propellers & Drive Systems 6 15-11-2010 07:59

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 13:37.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.