We are getting serious about buying our first "professional" boat. The channel we ride in is prone to underwater hazards (logs.) It is only a matter of time before we hit something.
So... the question, what is cheaper to repair if/when we hit something?
Both a direct-drive and V-drive have the same underwater running gear, so unless you hit something bad enough to tear up the V-drive transmission itself (inside the boat) they are equal as far as being prone to underwater damage.
A V-drive typically does have a deeper draft (sits lower in the water) so that's something to consider as well.
Get some good insurance. Run a nibral or brass prop. I also noticed that newer boats seem to have less beefy running gear (with the execption of the drive shaft). Just by looking at it it appears that if you hit something the running gear will bend more easily or sheer off without damaging the hull. I'm not sure if that's really the case, but you might want to actually talk to some manufacturers to see if this is a design feature or not.
Direct drives are easier to replace and repair rudders on and also easier to align the engine in. I'd say the direct drive is probably cheaper to repiar for most situations. Go ask a dealer / repair shop their opinion.
I would go with the DD. I had a 98 malibu V-drive and some how we knocked the shaft out of alignment (proably by hitting something) and didn't know it. One day the shaft broke completley in half going down the lake in about 90ft of water. When we got it fixed we also had some damage to the v drive. It was minor compared to the shaft and prop which is on the bottom of the lake. I would assume if you hit a log you could do damage to a V-drive easily.
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