Sterndrives on a vessel that is permanently in saltwater - OK or bad idea?

Just looking at options for a new design/build, and am wondering if sterndrives are OK on a boat that is permanently in saltwater or will corrosion stuff them up?

 

Not only the corrosion, shells as well.

 

Not ideal. The best way to deal with that is outboards or a lift for the boat or trailering.

 

I should mention that the engine would have closed cooling rather than drawing seawater through the engine.

 

But you asked about the drives, so we were referring to the drives, not the engine.

Barnacles are especially trouble for immersed drives. Even here in Minnesota, we have zebra mussels that fill every nook and crany of many boats. If not for haul outs; we'd have loads of troubles.

 

Roger that - will cross stern drives off the list! Cheers!

 

Sterndrives are used in salt water by the thousands. One method of protecting them is to use a bag around them that gets filled with fresh water at the dock. They sell them ready-made, but they are fairly easy to fabricate.

 

I'd estimate that easily 50% of all recreational boats in our saltwater location have sterndrives. Several of my own boats have/had sterndrives. They require annual maintenance and proper coating and anode replacement. No big deal.

 

What the man said!! There's more salt water than fresh in the world; there are more sterndrives in salt water than in fresh.

 

To put an additional point on it...I have several boats with sterndrives that are over 50 years old or close to it!..and have spent their entire life operating in saltwater. All of those happen to be Volvos...250, 270 and 280 (my favorite older sterndrives). But I've got friends with Mercruiser units nearly that old too.

 

OK many thanks everyone for the varied input!

 

Oh, clever idea...