A face only a mother could love

From my experience, outdrives don't have issues with the type of engine that they are mounted to. In the Northwest at least you see them mounted to diesel's all the time on boats like Sea Sport and Osprey.

You do have a significant issue in warmer waters (Florida) with higher rates of corrosion. Given that outdrives have a lot more mechanism in the water than inboards, and can't be raised out of the water like outboards, they can get hit pretty hard in these waters.
 
Reading alot of the boating magazines over the years, a consistent thread is present: trying to design outdrives able to withstand the greater low end torque of diesel engines. Of course, overkill manufacturing has made heavier duty, expensive diesel outdrives, but an inexpensive drive, reliably interchangeable with gasoline or diesel has remained elusive. John
 
Thank you both for your replys.

The issue of having the outdrive continusly in the water concerns me, but I'll be taking the boat out of the water for the winter.

Of greater concern, to me, is having the outdrive in the water while putting along at 40 mph.

Ironically, just this last week end I hit a submerged chunk of drift wood with the skeg of my outboard. Fortunately we were going 8 mph because of the chop. We hit it dead center so there was no damage to the prop. It would have been very uncomfortable being stranded in 3' to 4' chop coming from two directions, with 4 adults aboard, drifting towards the rocks.

Regards,

Law
 
If you believe that, maybe you'd like to trade your house for some nice beads I have here...25 gallons per hour at 35 mph is more like it. I really don't know, Sawdust needs to weigh in here - he has owned and operated one. There are lots of words to describe a Skagit Orca, but I doubt that "economical" is one of them, at least in the way you can say a C-Dory is economical...


drjohn71a":28sfi1j2 said:
Wow, 5 gal per hour at 35 miles per hour would be 7 miles per gallon! Almost as good as a C-Ranger 21 at 7mph. John
 
they can get hit pretty hard in these waters.

Yep -- that's a fact. We would try to raise them as much as possible, and couldn't keep the U joints in them. Sorry -- I haven't followed the "diesel" outdrive -- after gas, I simply have an aversion to the I/O altogether.
 
Just an experience with a Bravo III and 325 hp inboard: I hit a small limb (1 1/2 to 2") with the outdrive, after Hurricane Ivan, the limb broke. Later I could not start the boat. It turned out that the gears were damaged in the counter rotating props in the Bravo III outdrive, and with a little running completely lost the teeth--to the point where the starter would not turn over the engine. (the shifter is in the lower leg, as in an outboard, not a marine transmission). The damage was the cost of a new lower leg. Also the outdrives do not do well when run in an "up" position--the Gimble bearings are damaged (Like U joints). The boat was lift kept and I had no corrosion problems. (2001 Bravo III).

I owned another outdrive a number of years ago, and the boat was kept in salt water. After 2 years, the corrosion was significant enough to want to replace the outdrive. (I had both proper annodes and active system).
 
Pat,

The only way a Skagit Orca will get close to 7 mpg is going down your favorite waterfall! A beautifully built boat, handles the water great -- and consider yourself lucky if you get 1.5-2.0 nmpg.

I really like the Orca, but like any deep-V has gotta be doing at least 18-20 knots to get up on plane. Net result, the comfortable speed I like to cruise just isn't there. Either hull speed (around 6) or 20. And I'd never knock the Orca. She's a beauty -- just not my style.

I love outdrives!!!! Only way I could keep 2 mechanics on the payroll during the winter months. Outdrive stories I've got!!

Dusty
 
Thanks for reply Bob.

We have all kind of flotsom and jetsom in these waters, but really concerns me is the amount of corrosion you expeienced given the amount of electrolisis protection you had aboard.

Is there any hope for preventing electrlosis in an I/O in salt water?

Regards,

Law
 
Protecting the outdrive with the proper "zincs"--Aluminum, magnesium or zinc...Using the active Mercap system I believe that my Bravo III had two of the active units on it. Be sure that the dock wiring and any boat wiring is properly done--often a hot and neutral will be changed in a box or on a boat. You can measure the potential with a silver chloride electrode and any poiints on the boat/outdrive.

The other problem is paint. TBO paint (tin based) was available for many years, but it becomes more difficult to get. You cannot use copper based bottom paint on an outdrive unit. (There are other types of paint you can use safely on the boat).

There are people who claim to have no corrosion problems with the outdrives. Volvo seems to have less problem. Also there are now composit outdrives. I don't know enough about them to have a recommendation.
 
Well, Afineride, you're gonna have that much in a CD 25, or TomCat, or C-Ranger by the time they get all fitted out. I'm kind of surprized at the $115,000 myself - seems like a good price if that was the design you were looking for. John
 
You may have to add in trailer, electronics, etc. But $115,000 is a very good price, considering what the C D 25, Tom Cat255 and others do actually cost.
 
Guess I'll be going out in my canoe...

Do not despair.

brooksdevil.jpg

Simply click and follow me . . .

>>FOLLOW ME<<

Now here's what you do. Offer $58 - settle for $60 and tell the wife you just saved $55,000 all for her (but she owes you greatly . . .) It's a relatively small lie as lies go and she'll love you for it anyway (and I'm sure the big guy upstairs will look the other way). Of course, there's several used and fully equipped CD's on the forum.
 
Two things:

First thing: Seems like we are talking about a HUGE range of prices here, from old Cape Cruisers to brand-new Skagit Orcas. AFineRide, if you've got $120k for a boat (and you certainly don't need to tell us), then why are we even talking about C-Dory's? From the helm of your 27' Orca cruising at 35 kts., a C-Dory is a fixed obstruction on your radar.

Second thing: Are you going to spend more time boating with your wife or your fishing buddies? I haven't read a single post on this site where a guy said his wife wished they'd gone for the white-knuckle ride of a 500hp deep-vee fish assassinator. Or that he wished he had more gold chains :wink

Happy shopping!
 
Where is the middle ground between the C-Dory and the Skagit Orca?

The Cape Dory would be ideal for us, but they all seem to be located on the East coast. Does any one know what their fuel consumption rate is?

We really don't need any faster,(in fact, I wish I had the 75 instaed of the 90 Yami) just more chop cutting ability and more space than what we have on the CD 22.

And we really like the fuel economy of the CD 22.

The preceding questions are directed toward the PNW boaters.

Chubby - Have you priced a CD 25, TomKat 255, or C-Ranger with options yet?

Regards,

Law
 
On the Cape Dory, most seem to report this type of fuel consumption and most boil down to 2.5 mpg throttled up.

>>Fuel Figure in text<<

I've looked at these boats in the past and may well get one as prices continue to drop. It is a lot of boat for the money, and certainly in the line of our C-Dory boats.

PS: fac-c-guy -- the moulds are for sale.
 
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