v drive and d drive??? whats the benfits?

wouldya · Outlaw Joined: 31 May 2003 Posts: 101 City: Dallas, TX

I found a good malibu here i was thinking of getting is a 21.6" sunsetter lx. and its a d drive. I know the priciples of how these work but what are the major advantages and disadvatages of each?

Thanks,
Nick

Seth Martin · Moderator Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 891 City: Orlando

Direct Drive
Pros - Slightly better handling, easier access to engine
Cons - Wake is not quite the same as v-drive counterpart, engine in the middle of the boat, not as easy to hide ballast.

V-Drive
Pros - Better wake, engine in the back, easily can build your own ballast system, storage is usually better
Cons - Slightly decreased handling, engine is harder to access

Jake0306 · Posted: Jun 03, 2003 1:07 pm Post subject:

Seth just about sumed up everything. I liek the way the V's look, and you have more room for your crew. I was told by a few dealers now that a d drive with extra ballast added on to stock is just as good as a regular v. I'm not sure though, i've never ridden behind one. The direct drive fits us perfectly though.

ORIG. FRG · Posted: Jun 03, 2003 1:42 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't say better wake, but I like the way a V-Drive is laid out better.

For an all around "SKI" boat a D-Drive is much better

For a wakeboard, more comfortable boat a V-drive is better

I have a V-Drive X-Star (Prostar 205V) and love it but I'm not much of a Skier.

My buddy has a D-Drive Prostar 205 and it throws just as good wake (if weighted properly). He is a skier also, so he doesn't want a V-Drive, From what he tells me you can tell a huge difference in the wake when skiing.

Partyb · Posted: Jun 03, 2003 1:46 pm Post subject:

If you are a wakeboarder, I think you will disappointed later if you do not get a vdrive, assuming you don't know any better right now.

ORIG. FRG · Posted: Jun 03, 2003 1:58 pm Post subject:

calair03 · Posted: Jun 03, 2003 2:08 pm Post subject:

More pros and cons.
Direct Drives are normally a little cheaper and easier to fit into a garage. V-drives are are also heavier and harder to tow and use more gas.
I like either the d/d or v-drive but it jsut depends on your needs and preferances. Which ever you choose, just make sure that it is a Calabria...lol.

tre · Newbie Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 29

To add to the list above:

I disagree with the statement about wake - You can get a wake just as good from a d-drive when comparing to a v-drive.

Reasons to get a direct drive:
a direct drive has much less bow rise then a v-drive.
d-drive handles much better.
d-drive is very easy to work on.

Reasons not to get a direct-drive:
you ride with 10 people and need more seating

Reasons to get a v-drive:
I agree that a v-drive is laid out better seating wise and has more storage areas.

Reasons not to get a v-drive:
major pain to work on - very hard to access anything (even if you don't do your own maintenance the labor to have it done costs more).
v-drives cost more to buy.
too much bow rise.
does not handle as well as a d-drive

It all depends on what is important to you.

1w00d · Soul Rider Joined: 29 Apr 2003 Posts: 331 City: Wichita

I've been behind both. One is an X-2(v-drive) the other is I think the Prostar 205 (d-drive). When weighted right the wakes are pretty much the same. It all depends on if you are mostly going to wakeboard or not. If you are going to wakeboard and ski roughly 50-50 then you definately want the d-drive. If your going to mostly wake then the easier seating arangement in the v-drive makes more sense. Also the built in ballast is the bomb.

wake_fun · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 50

Anyone that says a v-drive doesn't handle well better go test drive a SAN. I test drove an 03' and it handled awesome.

wake_fun · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 50

Anyone that says a v-drive doesn't handle well better go test drive a SAN. I test drove an 03' and it handled awesome.

wake_fun · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 50

Sorry for the double post..................

anti-shoobies · Posted: Jun 03, 2003 5:41 pm Post subject:

V-Drives wrap around seating is much, much nicer. Engine noise is reduced becuase it is the back, also.

Why do you need the handling if you are going to wakeboard. If you want to race around the lake, then the dd is for you.

Partyb · Posted: Jun 03, 2003 5:48 pm Post subject:

orig.frg, that was a real intelligent statement. IMO, he will be happier with a vdrive down the road b/c of the layout of the boat provides more storage space and room to move without stepping on sacs, and also b/c that is what most boarders are buying now. I would not want to buy a ddrive boat, spend a ton of money, and then see that I enjoy vdrives better. I said nothing about whether or not someone was a wakeboarder on not based on their boat. That is a gay assumption. I have a ddrive myself. As an expert on the subject you should know that a ddrive weighted correctly will give exact weight as same boat in vdrive version. And I am aware, old granddad of boarding, that wakeboarding started on ddrives (ex. prostars, 2001). IF you have been following this site at all you would know that I always promote ddrives (again prostars and 2001's) to people who want to spend less money for a good boat. So there.

Ryan_m · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 653 City: glen ellyn

if the boat is made out of the same hull, and comes in a v drive, or a d drive..... you should be able to get almost identical wakes out of them. The only reason why the v drive gets the "better wake" is because of how the wieght is distribuited compared to a d drive. The engine is in the back, not the middle. A with some extra ballast, a d drive with the same hull, can throw out the exact same wake. That said... a dissadvante of a d drive, is the location of the engine, it limites storage along with getting in the way.

wouldya · Outlaw Joined: 31 May 2003 Posts: 101 City: Dallas, TX

well i'm going on a test drive tomorrow to see how i like the d drive boat...i have to say it was very very clean for 4 years old. had ike 274 hrs. seemed to be in good condition..anything i should look for in particular? any help would be great. Sucks though it has no tower so i have to buy one of those. I'll be shopping those now

Nick

wouldya · Outlaw Joined: 31 May 2003 Posts: 101 City: Dallas, TX

here's a link to the boats i'm looking at. the same guy has both.tell me the honest truth what you guys think. i've never owned a boat more less a competition wakeboard boat. are either of these good deals. it's the 1st and the 4th boat. the top one is really clean 270 hours, no rack or stereo mods. the 4th one is got some damage on both rear corners from where the guy hit the dock in the gelcoat, and two of the seat cushions are starting to come unsewn a little, also the 4th one has about 500 hrs on it with a new motor at 400 hrs. Do you guys who actually have boats think these might be a deal?
Nick
http://www.dallasboats4sale.com/pages/malibu.html

Fishmaster · Posted: Jun 03, 2003 6:49 pm Post subject:

I need the "people room" more than anything so I'm starting to want a V-drive more and more as my next boat. The SAN, VLX, SSV, Avalance and simlar with built in ballast systems, perfect pass wakeboard series and many other awesome features are undeniably incredible wakeboard boats but there are also some "sleeper V-Drives" like the Correct Craft Super Sport that can be had for far less money, even after adding some sacks and a PP. That's my $0.02, but then again I'm behind an outboard today so my next step will be a huge improvement whatever either way.

Bill

Josh R · Posted: Jun 03, 2003 6:54 pm Post subject:

I'm weird, I don't like V-Drive seating... I perfer to lay on one of the side sacks in a D-drive.

It's harder to film in a V-Drive too.

Mariognarly · Addict Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Posts: 853

RanMan · Outlaw Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 186 City: Pittsburgh

V-drives are roomier inside and have better 'hang out factor'. Nothing like having the stuffed bikinis on the engine deck catching rays. That hump on the ddrive is good for nothing but a quickie.

Josh R · Posted: Jun 04, 2003 5:47 am Post subject:

Yeah, its much easier to sit on the Engine cover and film. Sounds little but its not. I don't like sitting on V-drive seats backwards all day. Plus the ski pole on V-drive engine covers makes it annoying too.

anti-shoobies · Posted: Jun 04, 2003 7:16 am Post subject:

wouldya, MONSTER TOWERS!!

Jim M · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 2933

RanMan, extremely good points. I like it.

ORIG. FRG · Posted: Jun 04, 2003 11:02 am Post subject:

TRE, read your post, you said nothing about why a V-drive wake is better then a D-drive, EXPLAIN

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

I personally dont like v-drives as much, its a pain climbing over the giant sundeck, especially if you have a boat owner who is anal about boards (fins) touching the vinyl. That said I think the Moomba Kamberra is awesome, v-drive and walk thru stern!

Wouldya, I would be leary of the boat that needed an engine rebuid @ 400 hours, thats pretty low and it would indicate to me that the owner didnt take care of their crap. I see that one is for sale at Buxton marine I would definetly go talk w/ Phil he is a great guy and they are real honest about the quality of their boats. I dont know much about Malibus so this may be irrelevant but if I got a Malibu I would definetly make sure it has the wedge.

tre · Newbie Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 29

I did not say a v-drive has a better wake. I said a d-drive can have a wake as good as a v-drive. one manufacturers v-drive does not weigh any more then the same manufacturers d-drive (with the same hull). If the hull is the same, then the wake can be the same (with proper weight placement). The only difference between the two is the distribution of the weight. The v-drive has more weight in the back of the boat. We all add weight to our boats anyway - so the placement of the weight will be different between the v-drive and d-drive - but the wake will be the same (with proper placement).

SDS · Newbie Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 36

I like the huge sundeck on our V-Drive. That's where I ride when I'm not driving. I also looked at the Moomba Kamberra (walk through stern seems like a good idea), but we decided on the Outback LSV instead (tower yes, ballast no). It throws a very good wake unweighted. I'm a little disappointed with the slalom wake (hoped it'd be smaller), but there's always a jet-ski around to slalom behind, and I don't ski that much anymore anyway.

STPHNSN23 · Guest

i like my d-drive, but anything is good compared to my i/o.

Get2TheRiver · Posted: Jun 06, 2003 8:39 am Post subject:

You can't beat the hotties laying out on the V-drive sun deck...

JD · Soul Rider Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 320 City: Bellingham

I like my V-Drive

anti-shoobies · Posted: Jun 06, 2003 3:29 pm Post subject:

V-Drive is the way to go.

MrBlean · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 12:33 pm Post subject: Weighting Prostar 205 D-Drive

[quote="ORIG. FRG"]

My buddy has a D-Drive Prostar 205 and it throws just as good wake if weighted properly (as a V-Drive)

ORIG.FRG - Can you ask your buddy how he weights his 205 DD? I am both a skier and boarder and hence have a 205 DD. I've only recently added BigBump sacs front and rear and am experimenting with the weight distribution. The BigBumps are nominally 700lbs each fully loaded. Any advice your buddy can give that will save me some time trialling various distributions will be appreciated. Very Happy

Snow Skate Wake · Outlaw Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 124

Everyone keeps saying the D-drive is just as good if weighted properly. But that is just the thing. Have you ever seen a well weighted D-drive, there is no place to sit, you have to put the sacks just on the floor. I don't care how much balast you have, you'll always like to have some sacks, and won't have anywhere to put them with a D.

Wakeboy551 · Posted: Jun 09, 2003 7:16 pm Post subject:

well, where do you put them on a V-Drive? They have to be out on the floor as well. I mean, in the back ski lockers, yeah, then where's you stuff go? AND you can't put all of your sacs in the back, some must go up front....those gotta sit somewhere don't they?

JER