V Drive or Not

[glenn]

Hey gents and ladies. New to the forum. I have a 2000 malibu lx. Beginning to give me trouble as of age. Normal wear and tear type stuff and am looking at upgrading. With no dealers in the area, I have quite a bit of travel for top notch service. Any way, in looking I am hearing some dependability issues with the V drives in the new boats. Can anyone give me some personal info. Deciding what to deal on in terms of a newer boat. I need something dependable. I can do small and semi complicated repairs. Having to carry mine in for busted transmission seal. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

[SmoothWaterMan]

Not sure why you would hear different - My belief is that the v-drive is as robust or more than the transmission it's hooked to. I've not had issues with either of them in the last 10 years of business.

Now, if you haven't checked your fluid level in 10 years.....

Peter

[glenn]

Not sure why you would hear different - My belief is that the v-drive is as robust or more than the transmission it's hooked to. I've not had issues with either of them in the last 10 years of business.

Now, if you haven't checked your fluid level in 10 years.....

Peter

Just asking. I have learned over the past 5 years how to do my own servicing on the one I have now. Pretty sure that it is just one of those things but never dreamed we would spend the family time on the water we do when I bought my first one. Just trying to determine what the real life is over the long haul. 3 hours one way to a dealer isn't something you look forward to.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Pistol Pete]

I don't think there are any "dependability issues with the V drives in the new boats"

I think a lot of people complain about working on the motors of V-drives due to lack of space around the motor and the fact that the front of the motor is shoved up against the transome. I love my V-drive, it's a 2000 and I've never, ever had a problem with it.

[MalibuNation]

I don't think there are any "dependability issues with the V drives in the new boats"

I think a lot of people complain about working on the motors of V-drives due to lack of space around the motor and the fact that the front of the motor is shoved up against the transome. I love my V-drive, it's a 2000 and I've never, ever had a problem with it.

[wakeup]

No problems on a 06 Vride or our 08 VLX. My next door neighbor had transmission problems in a 06 23LSV but was covered under warranty. No problems since.

[srab]

Any way, in looking I am hearing some dependability issues with the V drives in the new boats. Can anyone give me some personal info. Deciding what to deal on in terms of a newer boat. I need something dependable.

If there are dependability issues with the V drives, well . . . , this is the first I've heard of it. I'm now into

my fourth season with mine, and, with the exception of a non-existent hose-clamp on the hose to the water-

cooled shaft seal (a clumsy oversight, I'm sure, not specific to my boat being a V-drive), I've experienced

absolutely zero problems thus far. Heck, on my boat, even the dreaded V-drive impeller change is a snap.

Since you're used to a DD, though, are you sure that a V-drive is what you're looking for? The V-drive maneuvers

well, but not near as well, I'm told, as a DD.

For what disciplines have you been primarily using your boat? If you enjoy slalom skiing and are coming

from an LX, you'll most probably be disappointed with a V-drive. On the other hand, if you've become

addicted to wakeboarding or surfing, a V-drive would truly be an upgrade for you.

[Bill_AirJunky]

What kind of dependability issues with v-drives have you heard about? Looking thru this forum for quite a while & we rarely ever hear about this kind of thing.

[WakeGirl]

What kind of dependability issues with v-drives have you heard about? Looking thru this forum for quite a while & we rarely ever hear about this kind of thing.

In 3 years on the old MBO & 4 years on this board, that's an issue that I think I've only seen a handful of times. It seems to be so rare that it would actually give me a whole lot of confidence in a vdrive.

[skier92]

I have to aggree with Srab's questions as to what you use the boat for and his comments about the boat handling differences. My friend picked up an RLXI last year and he feels the RLX still skis and handles slightly better and wer'e comparing DD to DD.

[glenn]

Working with my two son's on all three of the watersports. My self personally would like to surf. I used to be a very enthusiastic slalom skier but not any more. I had someone teach me about watersports and it turned my life around in high school. Working on developing that type of atmosphere in the Jackson, MS area.

But mostly as a host to the kids, friends, and pleasure. We are now spending in excess of 150+ hours a year on the water and take two seperate week long trips to lakes across the southeast with a group of boating friends. I always seem to have the kids and their gear, but enjoy the heck out of it.

[Pistol Pete]

I think you'll be perfectly happy with the extra amount of storage space and seating a V drive offers. There's no "problems with reliability" with them or the V drive unit itself.

[wakeup]

I think you'll be perfectly happy with the extra amount of storage space and seating a V drive offers. There's no "problems with reliability" with them or the V drive unit itself.

Ditto, love the space!!!

[k_b_stephens]

V-drive system is tough and proven. While relatively new to the "wakeboard" boats, v-drive technology has been around for decades.