Antique drive question

[Captain Silver]

Greetings,

Several years ago I attended a farm auction and bid on a very interesting antique drive system. (unfortunately it sold to someone that had much more cash than I could part with)

This unit was driven with a "hit & miss" engine that was positioned about mid-ship. The drive shaft and prop could be raised into a housing so that the prop was completely hidden and the boat could be dragged ashore or loaded on a trailer without any danger of damage to it.

I have been searching for info on this system but without a name my attempts have failed.

Is anyone here familiar with this old type of drive?

[Landlubber]

Yeah, they were often used on bay boats too, allows access to shallow waters for beaching. Not at all uncommon really.

[bruceb]

There was one popular brand used on small marsh boats called Dispro I think and other brands/copies. Most of them were very low hp units. Bruce

[FAST FRED]

Many of the early New Jersey Sea Skifs had a similar setup.

There was even a commercial prop setup , with a universal in the shaft , to assist.

Google the NJ boats and you will find photos of the boats.

A universal under push loads is poor engineering , except with very small HP .

FF

[Captain Silver]

Thanks for the replies. Through another source I found the "Disappearing Propeller".
Here is the link,,, http://www.disappearingpropellerboat.com/history.html

I'd like to build a drive unit similar to this for my 14" aluminum boat. I'm not interested in high speed but good maneuverability is hoped for. The photos in this link,,, http://www.disappearingpropellerboat.com/1921catalogue2.html ,, show the position of the prop in it's original application.

My idea is to make the drive shaft longer so that the prop is closer to the stern. Will this idea affect steering?

[Lt. Holden]

Arcadia &/or Lunenberg Foundry in Nova Scotia manufactured hit or miss engines and the "haul-up shaft system" you describe. Capt. Jim Orrell (Texas Dory Boat Plans) referenced them in particular, for use with his 27' St. Pierre and Hurricane Dories. I don't know if they are currently manufactured or available.

[ned L]

FYI. --- This feature of a 'disappearing', or fold up propeller was NOT used in New Jersey. The pound boats of NJ had the prop shafts coming straight out of the back of the boxed or rolled garboard keel.