Z Drive

[CAPTAIN AHAB]

Ah Hoy,

Has anyone come across a Z-drive or small Azimuth-drive that could be incorporated into a 40 foot sailboat (~ 40 hp)? Any companies or brands known?

A drive that is able to rotate 360 degrees and run off of ~ 40hp.

Any insight would be much appreciated?

JR

PS: below is an image of a large version of what I had in mind:

http://www.cmdmarine.com/ftp/zeus/CM...2006-lores.jpg

[Frosty]

I have never seen anything like that in the leisure boat industry but its not a bad idea. I have seen what you are talking about in ferries for manouverability.

If you used a leg and could somehow make it free to revolve 360 degrees, it would be possible to drive it by a toothed belt to a vertical positioned pulley. This would not hinder the legs rotation.

Difficulties would be sealing it.

[alan white]

What might work would be an above-waterline cylindrical well with the inner revolving part in aluminum (from pipe) and the outer from FG molded in, with a caged set of nylon rollers as bearings. Crude but not prone to expensive problems, and far cheaper than a large waterproof bearing/seal.
The toothed belt would work, cheaper than bevel gears and probably more efficient. A simple rod linkage could tie the two together (an automotive rack steering unit could actuate, allowing power steering).

Alan

[Frosty]

A rack and pinion steering would not fascilitate 360 degrees. There would be no resistance to the turning motion so a chain or wire around a similar outer pulley to a never ending steering pully would have your boat dancing ,--literaly.

[alan white]

That's true. The motion would be limited. A worm drive would be better, providing resistance and 360 degree rotation.

[riggertroy]

The HMNZS Canterbury has two landing craft that are fitted with twin Azimuth units, not sure where they are built, they are shrouded,

have a look at this site for another type http://www.schottel.de/eng/r_produkte/NAV/tech_data.htm smallest power rating is 100kW though.