Outdrives to V-drives - Who has made the switch?

cbdo said:
Basics of handling are the same for both, as the basic geometry is pretty much the same. The increased shaft angle on the V drive might mean a little more steering effect but there are enough other factors in play that it won't make a lot of difference. You'll still maneuver with the shift controls in the inboard manner, not like a stern drive.

One other factor is that in general things happen slower and in a more predictable and steady way on a larger boat with more inertia. A 43' Hatteras was the largest boat I've ever run and also the easiest to dock.
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This is really interesting. I have to agree (last year was my first year with v-drives and a 10 foot jump in boat size) with the exception of dealing with both wind and current at the same time. While I've come to love docking at the marina, even with wind, I still dislike getting gas where I have to deal with both wind and current. My closest gas dock is on a river that flows "into the wind" most days. If I'm on the downriver side of one of the gas piers I really struggle with changing wind catching the boat mid-docking. I haven't damaged anything but I sure don't feel like a pro at the gas docks...

I actually have a great photo from last summer where I ended up backed into the gas dock. I looked like a fricken charter fishing boat captain, stern-in, nice and tight, having a good ole time. From land it's possible someone may have assumed I meant to back in. My wife, however, knows it was not the original plan...ha.
 
We went from a single screw inboard to twin stern drive Bravo 3s. From what I've understand, the Bravo 3 counter rotating props make the slow speed maneuvering more like a twin V or straight drives but maybe not as crisp. We have split controls which makes it feel more like a v-drive set up.

The one thing I've noticed on mine is slow speed turning to the RIGHT (turning the boat clockwise) requires a little touch of the steering wheel in that direction. Going left this is not the case and it acts like a twin set up should. Once you know this, it isn't a big deal. We pull up to our gas dock on our starboard side so when pulling away, I need the boat to go clockwise a bit, then pull straight back. The first couple of times I would put the starboard engine in reverse expecting a clockwise motion but instead I wouldn't come off the dock at all. In fact, my stern would actually go to starboard. The gas dock attendants scrambled to push me off. Very embarrassing, I looked like a tool. I eventually figured out if I turn the wheel AWAY from the dock about a quarter turn, put my starboard in reverse then I pulled away from the dock perfectly. I then straighten out the wheel, put both engines in reverse and I'm away.

Same thing goes in my marina where I have to make slow speed turns. If I have to go to the right, I use the engines, but I will also give the steering wheel a little touch to the right.

Overall, the Bravo 3s are great. They're fast and efficient. They do, however, require a little more maintenance. Our next boat will likely be V or straight drives as it suits us better. We aren't speed people, we just cruise at 1400 RPM and I would think (someone would have to confirm) a setup with V or straight drives would track better. The Bravo 3s tend to wander a bit.
 
alwhite00 said:
I currently have a single BIII on my 25' boat. I am looking to go bigger and a lot of them have twin V-drives - Where I dock is pretty tight with fingers for 2 boats along every dock.(see below link) How maneuverable are the boats with twin V's? Is there a big learning curve going from I/O?

An and all input is appreciated.


https://www.google.com/maps/place/C...0x8826ea527e7ad993:0x9fc98d0c7d615b3b!6m1!1e1
Click to expand...


This will be our 3rd season with V-Drives. Like you we came from a single I/O. It was a Bravo 2 on a 30' Maxum. My major concern with the transition was the use of the controls. The best piece of advice I can give is to hire a captain on the day you bring her home. We had a 35 mile trip and I hired him for 4 hours. I spoke with him the day before and expressed my concerns, but I made it a point to say that I wanted supervision only unless I was going to endanger the vessel. We did the trip in 3 hours with a fuel stop and a lot of no wake zones. The last hour of his time was spent practicing moving between the fuel dock and our slip. It probably looked pretty crazy to the people in the club. I tipped him well, because after that session I felt confident. Much more confident than with the single I/O.

With the old boat, I had to rely on the steering to direct the thrust. I would push or pull the stern of the boat to get it where I needed. It is a lot of turning the wheel, and shifting into forward and reverse.

With the new boat, I can control the path of the boat in all directions by manipulating the transmissions, feathering the throttles and never touching the wheel. Use throttle to adapt to wind only and let the boat drift into position. Think of driving a zero turn mower, or a tank (think of the tank, it is more fun). When you keep one transmission in neutral, you can even increase or decrease the turn radius to fit the situation by slight use of throttle. Our first year of owning the new boat, our slip was all the way up against the bulkhead. We had to spin the boat 180° and then back in. It was still less stressful!

Get a captain for the first trip so you are not so nervous and focus on learning the new controls. The concepts will click pretty quickly and you will be left wondering why you didn't do it earlier!
 
yea def like said above, once you start to enter marina, get the rudders straight using steering wheel, once they are straight dont touch the wheel again. you can put your back to the helm and work the shifters behind you, or you can look over a shoulder. if you decide to look over a shoulder, i cant stress this part enough...... pick one shoulder and stick with it. if you start backing in looking over the left shoulder, and half way through turn your head to look over the right shoulder, the controls revers in your mind and you will most likely screw up. hopefully my directions make sense
 
Went from a 310 with B3's to a 370 with drives. 370 is a lot bigger/heavier....was worried at first. Practiced a few times out where there was nothing to hit, and liked it. Came in and the handling/docking is far superior with drives over IO's. Getting in the slip with the 370 is much easier than the 310.
 
not only is the handling better with V Drives, the maint is WAY cheaper as well.
 
single outdrive to twin Vs
I will never think of going back
just have to learn the pivot point of the boat...mine is jus behind the helm
 
DO IT! I went from a 32' with twin OMC I/O's to a 400EC with straight inboards. I felt like a pro day one on the 100 mile trip home I was putting this boat in places I would never go with my 32' . I think my broker put it best when I pulled away he yelled "DO YOU HEAR THAT" my replay was what? he said "NOTHING" no clunking grinding banging...LOL Smooth Smooth Smooth,you will never look back
 
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