diy surface drive?

[moTthediesel]

Thinking about a surface drive for a very small (1600cc) inboard hydro.
Anybody ever seen a home brewed unit?
Was it successful?

[moTthediesel]

Nothing?
I'm looking at some old plans for a Charles Mower designed one step hydro from 1927. Very much like a small "Baby Bootlegger", if you know that boat.
Plans as shown feature a forward rudder (yikes!) and a long conventional shaft drive to the wheel. I just can't see the sense in dragging 6' of exposed shaft through the water, especially in a boat that needs to go fast with a small engine. And the forward rudder? Makes me think about how much fun it would be to drive a forklift @ 50 mph.
I'm thinking of a non-steering surface drive with conventional rear rudder, something more like a "Simpliciy" style unit rather than an Arneson type.
I have lots of good reference materials for engineering standard props, but I don't know where to look for sizing/pitching/cupping surface drive props.
Can anybody here point me to some good info?
moT

[lucas12]

Go to 'Building a 21' cruiser' in projects proposals.
I have one drawn up can email the dxf's soon
Simon.

[xrudi]

Hello

We produce suface drives for engines between 20 and 70 hp. This might be something for you. Please viste our webpage www.levidrives.com and view our model LD 170-150.

Best Regards

Rudi

[ted655]

There is a builder here that makes his own.. They are fairly simple, but functional. Not sleek or sporty looking. He charges $1500+. Off the shelf components
Ted, Henderson, LA.

[Frosty]

This subject has been thouroughly discussed in the thread "shafts thru the transom'. I think you will find a lot of answers there.

[buckknekkid]

Ted do you have contact information?

[ted655]

I can try to get some info for you, if interested. OR pictures of one of the boats, next time I see one.
Just this month, he is wrapping up his projects and was semi-retireing.
Another type of propulsion they use here in the swamp is a BIG improvment over the straight shaft Go Devils. They are "Pro Drives", made here in lorieville, LA..
A great "outboard" type of surface drive motor. I have gone for test rides with these and they are impressive. A flat bottom boat will "scoot" in 1" of water!
http://www.prodriveoutboards.com/home.htm

[Mudder]

Here is another. We build our own 45 horse engines. www.mudbuddy.com

[Misogynist]

Originally Posted by Mudder

Here is another. We build our own 45 horse engines. www.mudbuddy.com

Does it make enough HP to haul all the wives at once?..... lol... sorry,, couldn't resist that one.......

[RANCHI OTTO]

From my data base:

I give to you the names of manufacturers or models:

Arneson
DBD Marine
Flexidrive
Jolly drive
Levi Marine
Trimax
SDS
Q-SPD
Sea Fury
Saro Drive
Pulse drive
Sea Rex
Top System
etc.

Here you can see The ARNESON installed on my MANTA ASD design (2 x 1150 hp / +50 knots)

[FAST FRED]

For decades the folks in Asia have been mounting a car engine , and a shaft on the stern of FAST small boats.

The prop is immersed fully as the boat is started and slowly lifted to surface drive as speed increases. The unit also pivots to steer the boat .A simple tiller controlls it all.

Should be really EZ to do with your engine , a heck of a lot fewer parts, and nothing in the water at rest.

Perhaps one of our fine members in Indonesia or ? could add a photo.

FF

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by FAST FRED

For decades the folks in Asia have been mounting a car engine , and a shaft on the stern of FAST small boats.

The prop is immersed fully as the boat is started and slowly lifted to surface drive as speed increases. The unit also pivots to steer the boat .A simple tiller controlls it all.

Should be really EZ to do with your engine , a heck of a lot fewer parts, and nothing in the water at rest.

Perhaps one of our fine members in Indonesia or ? could add a photo.

FF

Sounds like the levidrive, which has already chimed in on the thread, or is the one your talking about a diy.

[TerryKing]

http://boatdesign.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1681 post #87 has a photo.

[tom kane]

Originally Posted by RANCHI OTTO

From my data base:

I give to you the names of manufacturers or models:

Arneson
DBD Marine
Flexidrive
Jolly drive
Levi Marine
Trimax
SDS
Q-SPD
Sea Fury
Saro Drive
Pulse drive
Sea Rex
Top System
etc.

Here you can see The ARNESON installed on my MANTA ASD design (2 x 1150 hp / +50 knots)

I think you forgot to mention CAM.PROPULSION PIVOTAL DRIVE..Probably the first ever.. in this line of beasts.