I had also had reservations about sail drives when looking for my next boat. I spoke with a lot of people who actually owned a boat with a sail drive and the overwhelming majority of owners really liked them. There was nothing said that would would have prevented me from purchasing a boat with a sail drive. So I did.
I have owned boats with shafts and sail drives and can tell you from first hand experience that I prefer a sail drive. Some people worry about the seal at the hull failing and sinking their boat but if you ever saw that seal, you would realize it would be very difficult for it to fail. When I purchased my boat I had the original seal replaced as it was 14 years old but still looked new. I tried to puncture the old seal with a screwdriver but it was extremely difficult to do. It was easier to damage the bellows on my previous boat with a PSS dripless shaft seal. The sail drive seal is protected by the hull and sits about 8 inches above the bottom of the boat. You would have to do a huge amount of damage to your hull before the seal would be exposed. Changing the seal is a DIY project if you are somewhat handy. I will definitely do it myself next time. My engine had to be slid forward a couple of inches to remove the sail drive. There was one mechanic doing the work and he had no problem moving the engine by himself. The sail drive on my boat is 16 years old and doesn't have any corrosion. Keep it coated with the proper paint and you won't have issues. Maintenance costs are similar to those of a shaft drive. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another boat with a sail drive as I don't see any downside. Ted Drossos C&C 110 Lady in Red
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