Z Drive

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/CMD-ZeusDrive2006-lores.jpg

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.