V drive vs. I drive

SHSjAGs08 · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 29 City: Mansfield

which is overall best

these are the things this will encompass

1.room
2.wake
3.how easy it is to fix

chaz28o · Posted: Aug 03, 2004 7:48 pm Post subject:

1) You can't beat a V-drive for room
2) V-drive vs D-drive makes no difference, it's the hull that does
3) They've been making V-drives as long as they've been making D-drives, both are very good and stable set-ups. You'd probably have to give th D-drive the nod here, cuz there's one less thing to go wrong

WhirlyBird5 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 261 City: Belmont

1) V-drives have much more room, the DD has less room than lets say, an i/o

2) As chaz28o said, its the hull that makes the diffrence in most cases, but you can wiegh a V-drive in more places

3) DD are SLIGHTLY more reliable i think, probably shouldn't worry much aout this aspect.

SHSjAGs08 · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 29 City: Mansfield

one question, what is i/o

chaz28o · Posted: Aug 03, 2004 8:18 pm Post subject:

I/O = Inboard / Outboard - which means the boat has an "outdrive"

IMHO, I/O's are least desireable for our sport (which I would include skiing & footing, not just wakeboarding)

WhirlyBird5 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 261 City: Belmont

lol its what i have

SHSjAGs08 · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 29 City: Mansfield

ok thats what my boat is now

chaz28o · Posted: Aug 03, 2004 8:27 pm Post subject:

I did say "IMHO" Laughing

who am i?

SHSjAGs08 · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 29 City: Mansfield

i have a 2003 crownline 230

WhirlyBird5 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 261 City: Belmont

SHSjAGs08, if you havent seen pictures of a DD, imagine your boat with a huge hump in the middle and wrap-around seating. Id say def go with a VD if you can get one.

SHSjAGs08 · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 29 City: Mansfield

no ive seen a dd thats what im thinkin about gettin. mostly cuz its easier to get to and easier to fix

Bruky · Guest

His third question was how easy is it to fix. I would say DD because when you remove the hump, the entire engine is exposed as the V-Drive has its engine shoved deep down into a compartment in the rear of the boat that is hard to get to. Hopefully you won't be needing to work on your engine anyways.

KristianB · Posted: Aug 04, 2004 6:43 am Post subject:

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

boarder52002 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jul 2004 Posts: 454 City: Chicago

1. vd has way more room
2. vd will have a bigger wake since the engine is in the back of the boat weighing it down.
3. dd might be easier to fix but how often do u really need to do engine work on a boat.

thats my input

Bruky · Guest

Overall, I would say most wakeboarders have their aim on v-drives, hence the upped price on them for being more desirable...

chaz28o · Posted: Aug 04, 2004 10:24 am Post subject:

The funny part is, 25+ years ago (when I got into boats) V-drives (bubble decks) were what we were looking for (and if you couldn't get a nice V-drive, you got a jet-drive) However, it wasn't for room nor wake (except lack there of)

Funny how things come full circle...

noneya · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 796 City: Roxboro, NC

Yeah boats never break down! hahaha Have any of you who said this actually owned a boat???

D-drive is cheaper to buy, easier to maintain (repairs and routine maint) and cheaper to get worked on.

A V-drive has a better seating layout and a better unwieghted wake.

If the hull is the same for a d and v drive you can get the same wake if you use the same amount of weight, you just have to place it differently in the 2 boats

SHSjAGs08 · Newbie Joined: 03 Aug 2004 Posts: 29 City: Mansfield

yeah thats my boat

WhirlyBird5 · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 261 City: Belmont

Trust me when I say a VD will be much more worth it in the long run, and that is a nice boat you have.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

SHSjAGs08, then for the love of pete, KEEP IT!!!!!!

I have a 95 Sea-Ray 240BR (similar config, but 1.5 feet longer) and I would NOT sell it to buy a WB boat - EVER! Talk about cruising in style...

It is a beast though. Neutral

hamkj · Soul Rider Joined: 19 Dec 2003 Posts: 303 City: City

1. V-Drive has more interior floor space and easier to get around. When your rider gets out of the water if is more difficult to keep everything dry. The Direct Drive you kind of have separation betweent he rider coming out of the water and your spectators in the main cockpit of the boat. V-Drive is a nicer boat to lounge around in when you are not riding. Nice sun deck etc. But on the down side more vinyl to fix because of the wear and tear of stepping on to the sundeck every time you go and ride or get out of the water.

2. The difference in weight in reality between the two designs is not always a big difference. If you have a V-Drive you are putting the weight at the back but you are putting the weight of a full gas tank in the middle. With a direct drive you are putting the weight of the motor in the middle, but the weight of a full gas tank in the back.

3. Reliability they are the same except as mentioned the V-Drive transmission. The Direct Drive is way easier to service. Just take a look at where the impellors are located etc. You will see what I mean.

Other factors... resale value...

I think a V-Drive caters more to the serious wakeboarder and a family that uses it for mostly wakeboarding.

The Direct Drive can be weighted for wakeboarding or weight can be removed to make it a ski boat. They also cost a little less and easier to service as a do it yourselfer.

I think you open the doors for more buyers with a direct drive and you have a specific market when selling a V-Drive.

I own a V-Drive... knock on wood, no maintenance yet!

Have fun with what ever boat you choose.