Quest

Anyone have any first hand experience with the DBD Marine stern drive?
Any general comments?
I am concidering installing one.
http://www.dbdmarine.com/dbdmarine.htm

[Ilan Voyager]

I've never used it so it's only general comments:

Looks nice. As old fashioned naval engineer, I would have a litle suspicion with the ball joint, and a little fear if the controls' articulations get some play. But the conception is straight and logic. Althought the hole in the transom for the link gives me some concern as water has the bad habit to flood in boats by the tiniest hole even with good joints.

The transom has to be deep in the water, or the angle of the transmission may reach the 12-15 degrees. That may lower the efficiency and give hard work to the ball joint (an homocinetic one, coming from the automotive industry).

The price is frankly unfriendly, and you have to add the price of a gear box.

I would consider a surface drive like the Simplicity, which seems to me simpler and more reliable, as I consider the stern drives like Mercury too complicated and unreliable. A personal opinion that I share with myself (french joke).

[Specmar.Aus]

Hello, Ilan Voyager

Can you direct me to a web page for the Simplicity Surface Drive as we are looking at this type of drive for a project boat

Cheers Specmar.Aus

[Danielsan]

http://zf-marine.com/SurfaceDrives/T...Fig14a_450.gif

[Ilan Voyager]

Originally Posted by Specmar.Aus

Hello, Ilan Voyager

Can you direct me to a web page for the Simplicity Surface Drive as we are looking at this type of drive for a project boat

Cheers Specmar.Aus

here's the link: http://www.simplicity-marine.com/Default.htm

As you'll see it's as simple as classsic inboard drive.

In Malaysia closer to you, Mr Rudolph Scholz (xrudi@hotmail.com) makes one very sturdy , on design and with help from Renato Levi, all stainless steel and bronze propeller. I've joined a pic.

[Ilan Voyager]

Originally Posted by Danielsan

http://zf-marine.com/SurfaceDrives/T...Fig14a_450.gif

That's the complicated and expensive way of making; ball joints etc.

Surface drives may be far simpler as those designed by the genial Renato Sonny Levi.

an example for small boat : http://www.simplicity-marine.com/Sim..._100_Specs.JPG

[Danielsan]

Originally Posted by Ilan Voyager

That's the complicated and expensive way of making; ball joints etc.

Surface drives may be far simpler as those designed by the genial Renato Sonny Levi.

an example for small boat : http://www.simplicity-marine.com/Sim..._100_Specs.JPG

You think one can make a similar thing for a one of for a far more democratic price?

greetz

Daniel Peeters

[Ilan Voyager]

Originally Posted by Danielsan

You think one can make a similar thing for a one of for a far more democratic price?

greetz

Daniel Peeters

yes, look at the pic of the Levi Drive in stainless steel. The problem in objects fabricated at almost unity it's the cost.

But I'm sure that a good steel shop can make the Levi drive for a decent price. Mr Rudolph Scholz has also bronze surface propellers at a very good price.

[Specmar.Aus]

Hello Ilan Voyager and Danielsan

Thanks for reply I have looked at both Drives and would prefer to use a transom mounted system due to the ease of the install.
So we will look a bit further, I will E Mail Mr Rudolph Scholz Later today.

Thanks for your imput

Cheers Specmar.aus

[Ilan Voyager]

Originally Posted by Specmar.Aus

Hello Ilan Voyager and Danielsan

Thanks for reply I have looked at both Drives and would prefer to use a transom mounted system due to the ease of the install.
So we will look a bit further, I will E Mail Mr Rudolph Scholz Later today.

Thanks for your imput

Cheers Specmar.aus

You're wellcome.

[Willallison]

Specmar, have you looked at the Q-spd drives? They're made just across the pond in Kiwi-land and might fit the bill nicely....

www.q-spd.com

They offer a very simple non-trmmable one with two rudders which is an interesting unit....can't find it on their web-site, but there's usually an ad in Trade-A-Boat with a pic or two...

[Ilan Voyager]

Originally Posted by Willallison

Specmar, have you looked at the Q-spd drives? They're made just across the pond in Kiwi-land and might fit the bill nicely....

www.q-spd.com

They offer a very simple non-trmmable one with two rudders which is an interesting unit....can't find it on their web-site, but there's usually an ad in Trade-A-Boat with a pic or two...

Truly very nice, surely very, but very, more than very expensive... Carbon is an expensive material and there is not cheap way to work with it. Not for the common small boat.
Carbon while very strong and rigid is fragile: any problem and you have to change the whole spare part.

[Hydro]

Q-SPD SD series has been developed as an alternative to Stern Drives.
They are not as expensive as you may think and they are not made entierly from Carbon (that would make them to expensive).
there is very little carbon it is only used in high load areas.
To get something that works well and has good service and back up some times you need to pay for it.
The end cost of something that works will be less than the first price.