3JH5E / SD50 saildrive ratio & prop

I suspect I will be on here a lot researching and asking daft questions!  The first of which are below  (apologies if these have been covered in other posts - I did do a search but didn't see anything obvious).

I'm sure others more knowledgeable about the clanky stuff will chip in but I would say don't go for a fixed prop; far too much drag.  I have the Flexofold which has performed well but I reckon I'd be equally happy with the Darglow. Only needs servicing on annual lift-out. I understand that there's a dedicated ropecutter for the SD60 but the scissors type that I've been using on my SD50 has successfully sliced through several crab pot lines.  Given a recent (and ultimately needless) scare myself I looked into replacing my SD50 with the 60 and I gather its quite straightforward with an adapter plate.  No way I'm clever or brave enough to do the job myself so my efforts would be restricted to paying a Yard. 

I hope the Surveyor has provided a comprehensive explanation of why the old SD and prop melted away so thoroughly and what to do to stop it happening again.  It would indicate a lack of care by the former owner so caveat emptor applies, as ever.

Do play around with the 'advanced search' button looking carefully at the options.  There's probably few issues that someone hasn't suffered in the past and there's certainly plenty of stuff on corrosion in SD legs.

3JH5E - or 3JH4E?  

Do remember that the only stupid question is the one that you don't ask.

Iain

I have a feathering prop on my old (as yet unsold!) boat and it adds at least a knot of boat speed when sailing, but they are expensive...

The saildrive was galvanic corrosion - the previous owner had the boat in the water, moored in a marina and plugged into shore power, and it was unused for 2.5 years. The anodes were gone and sadly, chunks of the propeller and the structural integrity of the SD50!  I'll be checking all of the electrical bonding, etc.

Agreed the change to the SD60 should be straightforward with the plate - just expensive!  I'll probably fit the HydroAxe cutter.

It is the 3JH4E - typo error .

She is a two owner boat, last owner since 2014. I am replacing the standing rigging, the saildrive, propeller, and the seacocks, all of which are original. I am then adding a bowthruster as I often sail single-handed and she is just that bit bigger than my current Westerly (I am hoping not to need it very often, more for peace of mind). I will also be adding heating, an AIS transceiver and, probably over the winter, the full width swim/bathing platform as she has the open transom and twin wheels.

She is now ashore and I am hoping to have her moved to the south coast in early June, with launch any time from mid-June onwards - the SD60 is on a 6-8 lead time unfortunately so that is delaying things.

Martin