There is a debate which for years has regularly enlivened conversations in the saloon at the end of the evening – the choice of motorization. Between the fans of propeller shafts and the converts to saildrives, the debate is sometimes stormy. Although the builders have clearly voted for the most recent solution, for us leisure sailors, it is sometimes hard to make a choice, as each solution has its advantages as well as its weak points. Worse, electricity has recently shown its face on the scene, offering a new alternative. Not forgetting that for the lightest of our dragonflies, the simple outboard is also a viable solution. In short, a review of the details of each solution is called for.
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Publié le
16/12/2016
Par
François Trégouët
Numéro :
140
Parution :
Mar.
/
Apr.
2015
Before the beginning of the 70s, the choice was simple – there wasn’t one! A propulsion unit consisted of an engine, and a propeller, linked by a stainless steel propshaft, passing through a more or less watertight stern gland. This unit had the advantage of being basic, which led to a certain reliability, as well as easier maintenance. When the saildrive arrived on the scene, just like any sudden technological change, it initially ran counter to the nautical common sense of numerous sailors. The disappearance of the eternal stern gland, replaced by a large hole in the hull, made watertight by…
