Buying a Boat with a V-Drive? Read This First
By Chris, Hale Marine · 40+ years rebuilding Velvet Drive and ZF transmissions
Why cast-iron V-drives are a problem
Every cast-iron V-drive we pull apart shows the same thing: the shaft and the gear splines both wear from the constant back-and-forth of the drive. On one unit the wear was bad enough that you could see the gear wiggle on the shaft.
It's an age thing, not an hours thing. Once a cast-iron V-drive is more than 10 to 15 years old, the shaft and gears show this wear no matter how the boat's been used. Chris sees it on every one that age or older.
The bigger issue is parts supply. Velvet Drive is no longer manufacturing the gears, shafts and other components for these units; by August 2021 the gear sets themselves had stopped being made. On at least one rebuild, sourcing a replacement gear set from Velvet Drive took the shop almost a year. We've been looking for someone to build us shafts and gears, but as Chris put it, he doesn't know if there's any replacement available.
What this means if you're boat shopping
Chris has said it plainly on more than one build: if you're on a boat with a 1004 or 1005, sell it. Velvet Drive isn't producing these components any longer and the gear sets aren't available. If you're shopping and find a boat you like with one of these V-drives aboard, keep that in mind.
If you already own one
If your V-drive is still running fine, that's good news. Just understand that when the gear set does wear out, sourcing the replacement can take a long time. The last set we got from Velvet Drive took almost a year. And don't let a clean-looking unit fool you. On one 1005 we opened up, the reverse planetary looked brand new and the output and input shafts were in perfect condition, and the gears were still shot.
A cast-iron V-drive rebuild costs more than a 71 or 72 in-line rebuild, and parts are why. With Velvet Drive no longer making the gear sets, we're often hunting one down before we can even start, and fitting and shimming what we find takes days of careful work rather than a standard turnaround. Call (804) 333-3677 for a quote on your unit.
What we check before a V-drive ships
When a rebuilt V-drive goes out the door, we check neutral pressure, forward pressure and reverse pressure, listen for abnormal noise or vibration, and look for leaks at the shift lever, the output coupler and the trunk seal. It gets a new neutral safety switch before it ships.
What we can do
If you've got a V-drive that needs attention, or you're trying to figure out whether a boat you're looking at is worth the risk, give us a call before you buy or before you assume the worst. We still rebuild these when the parts can be found.
Call (804) 333-3677, Monday through Friday 9 to 3 Eastern, or email sales@halemarine.com.
Related guides
Common questions
Why shouldn't I buy a boat with a cast-iron V-drive?
The shaft and gear splines wear from the drive's back-and-forth on every unit past 10 to 15 years old, and Velvet Drive is no longer manufacturing the gears or shafts for these transmissions.
How much does it cost to rebuild a V-drive?
More than a 71 or 72 in-line rebuild, because the gear sets are no longer made and finding and fitting parts takes days of extra labor. Call (804) 333-3677 for a quote on your unit.