Aussie made 39' Ocean Trek with Levi Surface Drives

Hi All,
I am looking at a 39' Ocean Trek power cat made in Qld Australia which has Levi Surface Drives fitted.
Does anyone know or seen a design of this boat, curious as to how efficient the surface drives would be at low speeds and whether or not there would be any replacement parts available for these drives now that Levi Drives are no longer available. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

Welcome to the Forum 2REN.

I presume that cat is for sale, and you are interested in buying it, or is this just general interest in Levi Drives?
If it is for sale, and you are interested, then maybe you might be able to negotiate the price down sufficiently such that you could afford to buy a new propulsion system?
If you are mainly interested in low speed use, then converting to shaft driven propellers (via vee drives) MIGHT be viable?

 

Hi bajansailor,
Yes it is for sale and I am interested in buying it. The interest in the Levi Drives is due to their speed/fuel effecincy and the shallow water operation, (the area I live in Queensland Australia is renowned for shallow water and changing sand bars) hence why I would like to keep them.
I know from other threads on this forum that the Levi Drives are no longer made, so it's hard to get any specs on them.
I was trying to find out how well they work at low speeds, as you can't go everywhere at 20 to 30Kn. And if they need replacing I'm sure replacement Arneson Surface Drives could be fitted, ($$$) all good reasons to, as you stated, negotiate the price down sufficiently.
I'm not sure the design of the boat would lend itself to a vee drive, but all ideas are good at this stage, it all comes down to the almighty dollar.
What sort of drive/motors is in the 49' Ally Cat you designed?
Thanks.

 

I hate to think how much a pair of replacement Arneson Drives would be for this cat!
How much are they asking for the cat?
Have you had a detailed look at it in person yet?
Maybe you could inquire as to what spares (if any) would come with the Levi Drives?
And maybe even commission a survey - if you are happy doing your own assessment of the hull, a survey of the machinery and drive train could be useful.

Re the 49' ally cat in my avatar photo - she has very narrow hulls, and for the past 25 years has been carrying up to 50 pax on coastal cruises here.
When she was first built she had 2 x 70 hp outboard engines - these gave a maximum speed of 16 knots with approx 10 people on board.
Some years later she was refitted with 2 x 150 hp O/B engines, and these gave a max speed of 25 knots with 10 people on board.

Edit - is the boat that you are interested in the one in the link below?
Ocean Trek Sea Executive 39: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | New South Wales (NSW) - Lake Macquarie Area Newcastle NSW https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/ocean-trek-sea-executive-39/322795

Another edit - if you are not happy with the surface drives, it might be possible to fit water jets instead?

 

They'll be as efficient as any other type of drive at low speed.
Why do you ask, fishing?

No, unless you get really, really lucky or have access to a machine shop.

As Bajansailor mentioned, jets would be a nice upgrade when the time comes, providing the aft hull design / shape is "jet friendly".

Oh yes, and welcome indeed to the Forum.
( 2RENOV8 or not 2RENOV8 is that the question? )

 

Hi bajansailor,
I just received a price from Areson for an ASD8 Inline Drive Assembly, good thing I was sitting down already, $50K AUD each, parts only, does not include freight from the USA or installation.
They want $155K for the boat.
As the boat is about 900Km away from where I live I was trying to prepare myself as much as possible before looking at it.
Unfortunately the broker that is trying to sell the boat doesn't communicate very well, I'm starting to think there isn't enough commission in a boat under $200K for them to bother, or there is too much wrong with it.
I am a retired Marine Electronics/Electrician and over the years have had to inform so many disappointed people that their "new to them" boat they have just purchased needs thousands of dollars spent on it just to make it seaworthy, so yes any boat I am going to buy will have a full survey including mechanical inspection (oil analysis etc.) I might check the electrics myself I have already had to pass on a boat that I had put a deposit on because the owner decided he didn't want a survey done.
So now I'm starting to think I'll go back to looking for something like your 49' Ally Cat with the outboards, cheap to run and cheap to replace/repair relative to an inboard. The link below was the sort of boat I was originally looking at, perfect for the area I'm in, but so hard to find.
Used Custom for Sale | Boats For Sale | Yachthub https://yachthub.com/list/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/custom/309874

I just saw your additional post, yes that is the boat, and I hadn't thought of a conversion to jet drives, I'm not sure I would be unhappy with the Levi drives, it just worries me that they are probably 35 years old and there is no parts available, I might see if I can work out what jet drives would cost, I have always been impressed with the Hamilton jet boats, I helped a Mate rebuild an 18'er back in the 80's, it was a scary thing at full throttle.
Thanks for your input, all good "food for thought".

 

Hi BlueBell,
Yes, there will be some fishing involved, always up for a free feed
I do have a Mate with a machine shop (but some frienships aren't ment to be strained that much).
I do like the idea of the jet drives though, I will do some research on that before I give up, I do like the boat but I have learnt over the years to think with my head not my heart when it comes to boats.
Still curious about the efficiency of the Levi drives at low speeds, not just in running cost but manoeuvrability for a 12 tonne boat. Have you had any experience with them?

Thanks for the welcome, I might modify that quote and add it to my handle "2RENOV8 or not 2RENOV8, that is the question" (just wish I new the answer)
Cheers.

 

@2RENOV8 I was just looking for other powercats for sale on the boatsonline webpage, and an interesting and very motley collection turned up - here are links to some that might be of interest (?) - some have outboards, others are diesel shaft drives - I limited the search to the east coast of Oz.
I was going to send you these links in a private message, but it looks like you are not (yet) able to receive PM's - I think you need 5 posts to your name before this can happen. So I will list them below.

Powercat 11m Power Cat With 4 Stroke Mercs: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Aluminium | Queensland (Qld) - Sunshine Coast QLD https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/powercat-11m-power-cat-with-4-stroke-mercs/326790

Custom: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp Foam Sandwich Vacuum Bagged | Queensland (Qld) - Townsville QLD https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/custom/333051

Norcat Challenger 1100 Flybridge: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | Queensland (Qld) - Rockhampton Area Yeppoon QLD https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/norcat-challenger-1100-flybridge/331592

Norcat Challenger 1100 Flybridge: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | Queensland (Qld) - Rockhampton Area Gladstone - Nev Brooks Commercial Boat Sales https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/norcat-challenger-1100-flybridge/330124

Noosa Cat 2700 Long Cab Hard Top: Commercial Vessel | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | Victoria (Vic) - Gippsland Area San Remo VIC https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/commercial-vessel/noosa-cat-2700-long-cab-hard-top/331414

Simpson 32ft Power Cat: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | Queensland (Qld) - Brisbane Area Coastal Marine Boat Sales https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/simpson-32ft-power-cat/329715

Baha Cruisers 340 King Cat: Trailer Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | New South Wales (NSW) - Gold Coast Area Jacobs Well, QLD https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/trailer-boats/baha-cruisers-340-king-cat/329386

Crowther Catamaran: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | Queensland (Qld) - Wide Bay/Hervey Bay Area Hervey Bay QLD https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/crowther-catamaran/322943

Noosa Cat 3100 Cuddy: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | Queensland (Qld) - Sunshine Coast Area Mooloolaba QLD https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/noosa-cat-3100-cuddy/328164

Kevlacat 3400 Flybridge: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp Kevlar Reinforced Grp | Victoria (Vic) - Geelong Area Queenscliff VIC https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/kevlacat-3400-flybridge/328416

Norcat Challenger 1100 Flybridge: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | Queensland (Qld) - Cairns QLD https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/norcat-challenger-1100-flybridge/306935

And finally, this looks like an interesting vessel for a marine electrician -
Compu-craft: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Aluminium | Queensland (Qld) - Rockhampton Area Gladstone - Nev Brooks Commercial Boat Sales https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/compu-craft/290133

 

Thanks for that, I appreciate the effort involved in putting this list together.
I have actually been looking at some of these, the problem I have is the ones that can do the speed I would like, don't have the right layout, and the ones that do have the right layout, all do 6 to 7kn, which doesn't work that well for me but I may have to learn to live with it.
As for "The Perfect Project for a retired Marine Sparky" what the hell are some people thinking when they dream up these ideas, they built a solar powered boat that "Can run on batteries only for short periods" Why?

I found this one which is a converted yacht, the perfect layout for us but only does 6 to 7kn.
Simpson 10.5 Sail Catamaran Simpson 10.5: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Fibreglass/grp | Queensland (Qld) - Gold Coast Area Hope Island https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/simpson-10-5-sail-catamaran-simpson-10-5/318283#:~:text=Simpson%2010.5%20Sail%20Catamaran%20Simpson,Area%20Hope%20Island%20%7C%20Boats%20Online
Not really what we want because when you have been used to going to the spot you want to get to in an hour, and now it's going to take you three hours, it's a bit hard to adjust.
Guess I'll just keep looking for boats like this.
Dean Welsch Catamaran Woody Island 30: Power Boats | Boats Online for Sale | Composite Duflex | Queensland (Qld) - Gold Coast Area / VA Marine Sales & Service https://www.boatsonline.com.au/boats-for-sale/used/power-boats/dean-welsch-catamaran-woody-island-30/304751
Thanks again.

 

Mechanically, Levi drives are very simple. Any worn parts could be replaced at a competent fabricator.

 

Yes, twin Arneson's and twin Hamilton 42's.

I can't see any problems there.

Bajansailor gives sound advice.

 

I had been in touch with ''Rudi'' Scholz - a friend and partner of Sonny Levi (both now are in a better world).
Levi drives are pretty straight forward in their set-up, and spares could be made in a talented workshop?
I hate to mention it: some surface drives of a similar set-up are made in China, and could be worth a thought about replacement units.
As for low speeds... that's actually not the idea
Especially in reverse, surface props are not kind to the helmsman.
- ''Arneson'': think of the many parts outside at the transom. If your boat is land-stored, you may be able to control barnacles. However - mounting this system may result in necessary alterations of the transom's structural lay out, and as they are 'longer', the aft platform as well may want an alteration.
- different drive systems: this may affect the engine bed arrangement and lead to more work than expected. I'd also recommend to see how much space the engine room offers, where the resulting engine position will be, and how this affects the weight trim.

 

Re the Simpson 10.5 cat 'Crazy Horse' in your link above - you note that she only does 6 or 7 knots, but then she only has a pair of 30 hp engines with sail drive legs.
They mention "AU $150,000 Now reduced" - is $150k the reduced price?
This cat would go faster if she had some more powerful engines; 10 - 12 knots should be achievable, but 18 knots would probably be wildly optimistic.
Would 10 - 12 knots be fast enough for you? And if it is, can your budget cope with buying new bigger engines (and probably bigger saildrives as well) for her?

 

@HakimKlunker , what do you know about the final disposition of Levi Drives? No corporation carrying on after the founders' ends perhaps.

 

Hi DogCavalry, thanks for that comment, I had just pressumed they were as complex as something like the Arneson drives but after looking for a pic of them I found the 2014 catalogue. For the size of the motors in this boat (2 x 285Hp Volvo's) I think it would probably have the LD 240-250 drives fitted (not the side winder version just the standard unit with no external steering ram) which, as you said, seem to be very simple indeed. Which makes me feel a lot more comfortable with them. Looking at some pic's of the engine bay of the boat I can see that the hydraulic steering rams are inside the boat (so no external rams to be damaged by excessive exposure to salt water) and I don't believe there is any sort of trim adjust or universal joint coupling, just straight shaft type coupling. (less parts to wear out) Although in the description for the LD 240-250 it does mention a 12 degree transom angle for correct installation, I'm not sure if this boat will have anywhere near that angle. But after these discussions I am feeling better about spending some time and money on going to look at the boat, depending upon whether or not they can arrange for sea trials and an out of water inspection at the time.
Thanks for your input, much appreciated.