V-Drive or Sterndrive?

sasqman

sasqman

Crew Member
As I slowly move down the road of a wider heavier boat I would love some insight on which you prefer and why. Maintenance?maneuverability? Longevity? Ideally I would like to pod something or find something podded, but that may not be in the cards just yet.


Thanks

Paul
 
Depends, are you buying a wake board boat or a fishing boat? If a fishing boat....outboard....if a wake board boat go for the v drive!
 
Trophy21 said:
Depends, are you buying a wake board boat or a fishing boat? If a fishing boat....outboard....if a wake board boat go for the v drive!
Click to expand...
Fishing / family cruising. I have the cruiser now, just no speed and semi displacement hull. Looking in the 26 to 30 range. Commander, carver, tollycraft, uniflite etc.

In saying that, most options are v-drive or sterndrive. Just looking for some insight on the 2.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
I'm curious which boats you've looked at have v-drives? My family has had two v-drive boats...both were Canoe Coves....the first was a 41 sedan with twin Perkins and the second was a 53 pilothouse with twin CAT 3208s. In my experience v-drives are not common in smaller vessels. Are you referring to fixed shafts and rudders?

To answer your questions a little more directly, I think you'll find boats with stern drives may be able to cruise faster. The stern drive mostly replaced the fixed shaft and rudder arrangement and as boats got more advanced the speeds came up. An old Tolly or Uniflite is not gonna have the speed you might be looking for. Check out this ad:
https://vancouver.craigslist.org/nvn/boa/d/north-vancouver-southwest-uniflite-28/7138716057.html
The ad text claims 21kn cruise, which is relatively slow these days.

Stern drives will be more manoeuvrable since the drive is steerable. They also are more maintenance intensive, especially if left in salt water moorage. Compared to shaft drive, that is. Fixed shafts are very simple from a maintenance point of view. The shaft angle relative to the travel direction affects the efficiency and you don't really see speeds over 25kn typically.

The question is pretty broad. What is your budget, and what speed are you targeting? The individual vessel configuration is going to make more of a difference compared to the shaft/sterndrive comparison. Installed power, hull design/beam, twins vs single, etc
 
Last edited:
The biggest advantage for a v-drive is the reliability of the under water gear and resistance to corrosion if moored in salt water.
Sterndrives will perform slightly better in almost every way, but susceptible to corrosion. My coworker runs a crab boat with a stern drive and he replaces the leg about every 3 years. He just replaced a leg last week while in the water, using the dock crane. Lol. Wish I was there to see that.
 
Last edited:
It is almost split on the compromise factor. V drives do not have any trim control, you have to use tabs only. Stern drives have much better maneuverability as the whole propeller turns and directs the thrust in the direction you need it plus acts as a rudder. Maintenance is more yearly on a stern drive, not so much a shaft. I assume you are thinking large enough that there would not be a doghouse if you did go stern drive, both versions would have a flat floor with motor below. I would look at a bow thruster if going with a V drive unless it is twins.
 
As far as the maintenance debate goes, if you're moored in the salt you should be pulling it at least once a year regardless no? Check zincs, clean growth, inspect things. Seems to me that if you're doing that things shouldn't just fall apart on you. Now logs, totally different story there.
 
Rain City said:
As far as the maintenance debate goes, if you're moored in the salt you should be pulling it at least once a year regardless no? Check zincs, clean growth, inspect things. Seems to me that if you're doing that things shouldn't just fall apart on you. Now logs, totally different story there.
Click to expand...
Mostly true, however from experience at the docks, owners of both versions that do not pull their boats for a few years, I have notice the stern drive is affected more than the V drive/fixed propeller set up.
 
Aquaholic said:
Mostly true, however from experience at the docks, owners of both versions that do not pull their boats for a few years, I have notice the stern drive is affected more than the V drive/fixed propeller set up.
Click to expand...
Makes sense. I guess what I was saying is if you DO pull it every year (as you should) there wouldn't be a difference. If you're a cheap c*nt then yes the V will give you a couple years longer of neglect.
 
Pineapple Express said:
I'm curious which boats you've looked at have v-drives? My family has had two v-drive boats...both were Canoe Coves....the first was a 41 sedan with twin Perkins and the second was a 53 pilothouse with twin CAT 3208s. In my experience v-drives are not common in smaller vessels. Are you referring to fixed shafts and rudders?

To answer your questions a little more directly, I think you'll find boats with stern drives may be able to cruise faster. The stern drive mostly replaced the fixed shaft and rudder arrangement and as boats got more advanced the speeds came up. An old Tolly or Uniflite is not gonna have the speed you might be looking for. Check out this ad:
https://vancouver.craigslist.org/nvn/boa/d/north-vancouver-southwest-uniflite-28/7138716057.html
The ad text claims 21kn cruise, which is relatively slow these days.

Stern drives will be more manoeuvrable since the drive is steerable. They also are more maintenance intensive, especially if left in salt water moorage. Compared to shaft drive, that is. Fixed shafts are very simple from a maintenance point of view. The shaft angle relative to the travel direction affects the efficiency and you don't really see speeds over 25kn typically.

The question is pretty broad. What is your budget, and what speed are you targeting? The individual vessel configuration is going to make more of a difference compared to the shaft/sterndrive comparison. Installed power, hull design/beam, twins vs single, etc
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the info. Very valuable information and I really appreciate it.

Boating life started with a 17' double eagle with a 90 outboard. Had it for 15 years until the 3 boys/family outgrew it. My wife loves the family being together on the water......so went from DE speed to large slower boat that has way more room for us to be together. The slower boat is a 1980 bayliner explorer 2670 with a 115 mercury four stroke outboard. We moore out of crescent beach and would love to able to get back and forth from Saturna / South arm a little quicker....... when we need too.

Right now the pocket trawler, 28 footer, cruises at 8 knots with a top speed of 13-15kts at WOT. Would be happy with a cruise at 15 to 20kts, with a top speed of 25 to 30kts just for those situations where speed and time are of the essence. But still love cruising at 8 knots and enjoying the slowboat life.

Fishablity is important, but not over having room for the family to enjoy a weekend away.
Beam is also important. Currently we have an 8 foot beam with a semi displacement hull. Can be tricky in certain conditions.


Budget, $15 - $40,000. Fuel costs are not too much of a concern.


So here is a couple I've been looking at.......just on the web for now, but slowly starting the process of familiarizing myself with and new vessel and new power. I don't mind doing some work on them and I do love old boats.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/boa/d/poulsbo-26-tollycraft/7151089863.html

https://whistler.craigslist.org/boa/d/squamish-285-carver-santacruise/7137724321.html

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/nvn/boa/d/north-vancouver-southwest-uniflite-28/7138716057.html

I love this last boat as so much work has already been done..... but these just don't have the heaviest hulls as like the tollys.

https://victoria.craigslist.org/boa/d/victoria-bayliner-2958-command-bridge/7145351408.html
 
sasqman said:
Thanks for all the info. Very valuable information and I really appreciate it.

Boating life started with a 17' double eagle with a 90 outboard. Had it for 15 years until the 3 boys/family outgrew it. My wife loves the family being together on the water......so went from DE speed to larger slow boat that has way more room for us to be together. So we are in a 1980 bayliner explorer 2670 with a 115 mercury four stroke outboard. We moore out of crescent beach and would love to able to get back and forth from Saturna / South arm a little quicker....... when we need too.

Right now the pocket trawler, 28 footer, cruises at 8 knots with a top speed of 13-15kts at WOT. Would be happy with a cruise at 15 to 20kts, with a top speed of 25 to 30kts just for those situations where speed and time are of the essence. But still love cruising at 8 knots and enjoying the slowboat life.

Fishablity is important, but not over having room for the family to enjoy a weekend away.


Budget, $15 - $40,000. Fuel costs are not too much of a concern.


So here is a couple I've been looking at.......just on the web for now, but slowly starting the process of familiarizing myself with and new vessel and new power. I don't mind doing some work on them and I do love old boats.

https://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/boa/d/poulsbo-26-tollycraft/7151089863.html

https://whistler.craigslist.org/boa/d/squamish-285-carver-santacruise/7137724321.html

https://vancouver.craigslist.org/nvn/boa/d/north-vancouver-southwest-uniflite-28/7138716057.html

I love this last boat as so much work has already been done..... but these just don't have the heaviest hulls as like the tollys.

https://victoria.craigslist.org/boa/d/victoria-bayliner-2958-command-bridge/7145351408.html
Click to expand...
That Bayliner is just a fantastic deal. I too went from an 18' bowrider to a 24' Bayliner crusier and now to the Commander 30. The commander is far and away a more usable and enjoyable boat for our family. I wouldn't say the bayliner ever felt "light" though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
My Double Eagle Re-build Journey
Replies
12
Views
2K
Inchebe
I
allanb76
Electrolysis?
Replies
21
Views
3K
allanb76
allanb76
smokedvw
Determining my next boat and looking for help (17' DE/Hurston, 185 DE, Campion 542, Hewes Sea Runner 180 etc)
Replies
17
Views
4K
Aces
Aces
T
A most excellent letter
Replies
14
Views
3K
GLG
GLG
cracked_ribs
Stick with the Double Eagle or go bigger?
Replies
58
Views
9K
dargis
dargis
Back
Top