Yanmar reveals saildrive for higher horsepower mono, multihull boats

The new ZF-made SD15 saildrive units are made for engines ranging from 80hp to 150hp, and designed to meet “significant demand from the world’s leading boat builders”.

“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,” Yanmar said.

The saildrive can be paired with Yanmar’s 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 drivelines”.

“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,” Yanmar said.

“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.”

Rather than clunk into gear, Yanmar said the saildrive will use a hydraulically actuated multi-disk clutch to make the shift a lot smoother, and include an output shaft brake.

Yanmar said the SD15 would use a Flexofold folding prop, “which is renowned for its extremely low drag performance”.

The SD15 mated with the 80hp and 110hp engine option will be released globally early next year, with the 150hp option arriving “at a later date”.

Yanmar’s SD60 saildrive, which uses a mechanical clutch, is available for the 3JH40, 4JH45 and 4JH57 engines, and will also be available to mate with the 4JH80 engine.