What is the difference between sterndrive and outdrive

How Deep Is The St. Joe River? Thank you! Your subscription has been confirmed. You'll hear from us soon. Subscribe to our mailing list and get notices on all new cruises and updates!

They use less fuel than a shaft-drive, and can be trimmed up in shallow waters, allowing you to beach your boat. The trim can also be adjusted whilst running to help with the correct bow angle you desire for certain conditions. So, what about shaft-drives? Are they all bliss? To a certain degree, shaft-drives are a lot less maintenance. One boat is a shaft or V-drive, and the other is a twin sterndrive.

Both boats have hours, and for arguments-sake need some maintenance. From our experience, we will consider the differences in maintenance considerations at years for both shaft-drive and sterndrive. As you can see, the cost of repairing a sterndrive is predominately parts, but it also includes more labour, because every time you work on the transom the motor needs to be removed.

All of these costs are NOT incorporating any engine work, slipping costs and days on the slipway, which can add up significantly as well. These costs will vary depending on the boat design, as some vessels may require floors and seating to be removed to gain access. It will be cheaper to get all the work done at the same time, as opposed to bit-by-bit as you will have to pay for slipping each time.

There are two types of inboard engines, D-Drive and V-Drive. D-Drives go in the center of the boat, with the prop and rudder beneath the hull. V-Drive engines maintain the same location for both the prop and rudder, but the engine itself is under the transom seating.

Often the choice of D-Drive versus V-Drive comes down to the use of the boat. The position of the V-Drive naturally causes a more significant wake and is perfect for other watersports. As their name suggests, outboard engines are attached high on the transom, outside of the boat. This engine location is visible and accessible, so it can be tilted out of the water, making maintenance a breeze.

These engines are also known for their steering ease. While outboard engines are usually less powerful than inboards, you can match the power by having a few outboards on your boat.

In sterndrive engines, the motor is in the back of the boat under the transom. The drive unit is tucked beneath the swim deck. The two most popular engines for bowriders are sterndrive and outboard engines. There are several factors to comparing these two types of engines, and both engines come with their list of pros and cons. When it comes to the performance of outboards vs. Both sterndrives and outboards will come with a choice of horsepower, but there are other important aspects to consider.

The difference in weight varies depending on the specific model of each, but an outboard is frequently hundreds of pounds lighter. Usually, when it comes to performance and overall handling, lighter is better. Those hundreds of pounds you save in weight with an outboard translate to savings when it comes to fuel efficiency. If gallons per hour are important to you, consider a modern four-stroke outboard, as they are often the most fuel efficient. While RPMs at a cruising speed tend to be higher with an outboard engine, they still beat sterndrives in fuel efficiency — one of the pros of outboards on bowriders.

It all depends on the specific bowrider model. Functional space is one thing to consider — style and aesthetics are another. While these two areas go hand-in-hand, your preference is the ultimate decision-maker.

However, some prefer the look of an outboard engine on the back of a bowrider. Sterndrive engines cannot tilt, given their location underneath the boat and out of sight. With an outboard engine, you can shift the whole engine, prop and drive entirely out of the water.

This is one of the pros of outboards on bowriders. First of all, it enables you to navigate through shallow waters.