First Surface Drive ?

When was the first surface drive used ?

I give you this from 1926...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RNiZoek8qM&feature=channel_page

 

I don't remember the year but I think Hickman was credited as the inventor of the surfacing propeller while trying to get a propeller to function well in the turbulent water at the center of a Hickman Sea Sled. Those that followed his career would suggest that much of Hickman's genius was lost on his drive to make the Sea sled viable.

 

I read somewhere that it was a French man who was fishing in shallow water and he kept moving the prop up and up and to his surprise it kept on working,--kinda.

Ok watching that I dont think it is surface drive but a hydroplane.

 

The paddle...

 

was it not that guy that built slo motion from seattle

 

made in finland?

 

Yes, 1926 at Turku Boatyards, designed by Zake Westin and no that boat´s not a Hydro.
It´s currently having new sealing done for the deck and the engine is getting an overhaul.
It´s a flatbottom with a structure built for the propshaft so actually the hull ends halfway at halfway on the engine cowls @ so the engine and gearbox is in the tunnel almost completely.

 

Sounds interesting…do you have any pictures of the hull?
Do you know what propeller they originally used?

 

Sorry, Finland, but there certainly were surface piercing props earlier. First in US was C. Sharps, patent registered 1869 (with a yawed shaft btw), then the fairly "modern" shape of Fauber, France, (1914). Followed by Gerber (Austria 1926) and then of course Hickman, who actually made it work in his sea sleds.

 

I'm betting the Surface drive is as old as the Archimedes Screw idea.
They needed a rear bearing to make the screw work but couldn't submerge the bearing, so they just 'half submerged' screw!

 

first surface drive

France,Paris Exhibition Circa 1900.First outboard motor offered for public sale.
this drive was adapted through all the french colonies.Longtail boat has become the refrence title.