YANMAR Introduces Benefits of Saildrive to Larger Monohulls and Multihulls

YANMAR has answered significant demand from the world’s leading boat builders with the introduction of the SD15 saildrive solution for larger sailboats with engines from 80 HP to 150 HP.

Enabling the 50-to-65-foot monohull and multihull sector to access the installation and user benefits associated with saildrive systems for the first time, the new SD15 is already successfully installed on a Sunreef 50 following extensive field testing on a Kufner 54.

The SD15 saildrive, made by ZF, can be coupled to the YANMAR 4JH80, 4JH110 and 4LV150 common rail engines, offering a new option to a vastly extended range of sailboats and catamarans using higher horsepower engines that have previously relied on conventional drive lines.

Compact, easy and safe to install with no specific alignments required, the SD15 simplifies the production process and reduces costs for OEMs while also allowing increased design flexibility. The boat owner will experience low vibration and noise on-board, low drag, improved propulsion efficiency and fuel consumption, and excellent hydrodynamic efficiency, increasing comfort on-board for motoring while not under sail. The SD15 saildrive, which has a light aluminum casing treated to maximize corrosion resistance, is durable and reliable to ensure longer service intervals.

Additional features of the saildrive include hydraulically actuated multi-disc clutches for smooth shifting performance and an integrated output shaft brake. The SD15 matches with a Flexofold foldable propeller, which is renowned for its extremely low drag performance.

For smaller sailboats, the SD60 saildrive, with mechanical clutch, is currently available, custom engineered to match the 3JH40, 4JH45, 4JH57, and 4JH80 engines.

The SD15, in combination with the 4JH80 and 4JH110, will be available to the market from Q1/Q2 next year, with the introduction of the 4LV150 option scheduled at a later stage.