V-Drives

Flytrade

Flytrade

Active Member
Feb 20, 2018
302
Bradenton, FL
Boat Info
2006 320 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 6.2L Mercruiser
I'm looking to purchase a 2004 Sea Ray Express Bridge with V-Drives.
Any thoughts as to weather V-Drives would be a detriment to this boat? I would imagine they would take up more room, making maintenance on the engines harder, as well as adding more mechanics to the drivetrain.
Also, any thoughts on this boat in particular would be appreciated.
 
Flytrade said:
I'm looking to purchase a 2004 Sea Ray Express Bridge with V-Drives.
Any thoughts as to weather V-Drives would be a detriment to this boat? I would imagine they would take up more room, making maintenance on the engines harder, as well as adding more mechanics to the drivetrain.
Also, any thoughts on this boat in particular would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

what size EB? There are a couple official EB threads worth checking out but in those boats I believe youll either see V drive or direct (straight) drive. Maintenance is the same in terms of intervals on the two, the shaft seal is usually a pain on a V drive and alignment checks or adjustments can be a little tricker. Those two items have a long service life for the most part

the other thing that can be a bit of a pain is engine belt service on a V drive. I can get to mine in our DA but you have to crawl in the bilge pretty far aft.

straight drives have a better running angle typically because the engine weight is more centered in the boat versus aft with a V.
 
I have had both straight and v-drives. If the boat was properly engineered for weight distribution (SR's typically have a good record) I have not seen it have any impact on the boating experience.
 
Maintenance on a straight drive is much easier (I used to own a V drive).
 
Flytrade said:
Thank you for these replies. I guess V-drives are not a show stopper.
Click to expand...
on the express cruiser style, i would say its nice not having the engines (noise and heat and access to pull) in the salon. but also very compact to service somethings like shaft seals
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,228
Messages
1,428,964
Members
61,120
Latest member
jingenio
Back
Top