drive spacers
#1
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drive spacers
Today I launched my cobra cat for the first time Engines running great and ready to go.I tried to put it up on plane and no good. Props just blowout. I tried everything to get them to grab.I know my X is high [prop shaft center about a 1/2" heigher than bottom of boat], but I thought it would roll over onto plane with a little work but I guess not.I would imagine that I have to get a pair of drive spacers but what size would do the job well? I tell ya between trying to get this boat out of the driveway [can't when neighbors are parked across street] and knowing it's going to be hard on fuel I'm ready to go back to single 26' to 28' boat Would still like it to be a tunnel though. can anybody tell me what size drive spacers I should use? any suggestions. how come my friends cobra with outboards goes on plane and his props are about the same hight?
Last edited by Two K's; 09-21-2003 at 06:26 PM.
#3
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Thanks for input Tinkerboater, The props are mach sterndrivers 26p Jbrauer is running a twin setup like mine and his drives prop shafts are even with the bottom mine are slightly higher and I don't think he is having any problem getting on plane It does make sense about the weight of the outboards on my friends cobra .I just don't know if I should go for 3" spacers or buy shorter ones. Thanks Keith
#4
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Try different props before you start adding spacers, maybe some Bravo 1's.
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www.mercruiserparts.com
www.go-fast.com
www.bammarine.com
www.cyborgtransmissions.com
It's not alive -www.BoatStuffExpress.com - temporarily retired
#6
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If I have to add spacers do they become a weak link in the drive? I'm also picking up a lot of seaweed in the low water pickups. the holes on the nose cone are even with the bottom so I think their skimming from top of the water. Thanks again for input.
#8
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Hey Marty, Was hoping you or Jbrauer would respond. Hows your cobra doing? Mine is getting there I still have some finishing to do like the cabin, hatch lift and canvas. I figured I would run it before winter and work out any bugs. I'm going back to the ramp this weekend with a couple sets of props to try. thought I had a set of bravos to try but couldn't get them so I'm trying others But I'm still trying to dig up one more bravo before weekend. I think Jeff is running bravos on his cobra with very good results But I think when we compared drive measurements mine was one inch higher. Wanted to call him but lost his number. I heard that Pete C. of cobraboats thinks that they work well with cleavers. I don't think it will plane but I'll try them [borrowed a pair from my friends cobra . I'll post results. I think that a 2" spacer would make it a trouble free ride. A 3"with out question should do it and if I want I could mill them shorter. Thanks guys
#9
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Hey Kieth! Glad to hear you're getting your Cobra wet.
I've tried a lot of different things and think I've got my boat pretty close now. Unfortunately I lost a motor during a poker run in July. I spun a couple rod bearings. It should be back in in a couple weeks.
Definitely get some Bravo 1 props. I've tried 29" Hydromotive Q-IV's, 30" cleavers, 28" Bravos and 31" labbed Bravos. Only the Bravos get on plane relatively easily. The Q-IV's and cleavers sucked out of the hole and weren't as efficient in cruise or top end for me. Want to buy some cleavers??
Plus the labbed 31 Bravo's are the fastest so far at 100 GPS, bouncing on the rev limiters and in the heat of summer. I want to try some labbed 32's next year in cool weather. Maybe 105????
How many HP are your motors?? Try to get a set of Bravos to try. I'll bet 28's or 30's will work. If they're labbed probably 32 or 34's. There are a pair of 34's on eBay right now for $325 for the pair!!! If you're running enough HP per side, they may be the ticket.
After trying to get enough water pressure, I ended up installing 1/2" spacers in my outdrives and using Bob's Machine Shop LWP nose cones. The center of my propshafts are now 1/2" below the tip of the sponsons and it appears to have solved the problems. This process took months of testing different intakes and I'm still not sure if I need the 1/2" spacers. I may take them out next year and try again.
Also, if the water is calm the boat wants to "stick" to the water above 90. Add some chop and it frees right up. I'm going to take ALL of the weight I can out of the bow and see if that helps.
Finally, keep your boat!!! It took me a while to work it out, but I love the results. I'm sure I've got another few MPH to find yet and it runs great as slow as 30 MPH with my wife aboard. The only bad thing is that you and I are on our own with twin I/O Cobra's so it's trial and error.
Here's my office number again 800-645-6083. I'll be out today, but back in on Friday. I have a meeting at 10:30 your time for about an hour, but should be available otherwise. Also, I might have to go to a customer site, but not sure. Either way, give me a call. If I'm out leave you number on my voicemail and I'll call you back when I get in.
Again, glad to hear you boat floats - now we just got to get it to fly!!!!!
Here's a pic from a run we went on to keep you motivated!
Jeff
I've tried a lot of different things and think I've got my boat pretty close now. Unfortunately I lost a motor during a poker run in July. I spun a couple rod bearings. It should be back in in a couple weeks.
Definitely get some Bravo 1 props. I've tried 29" Hydromotive Q-IV's, 30" cleavers, 28" Bravos and 31" labbed Bravos. Only the Bravos get on plane relatively easily. The Q-IV's and cleavers sucked out of the hole and weren't as efficient in cruise or top end for me. Want to buy some cleavers??
Plus the labbed 31 Bravo's are the fastest so far at 100 GPS, bouncing on the rev limiters and in the heat of summer. I want to try some labbed 32's next year in cool weather. Maybe 105????
How many HP are your motors?? Try to get a set of Bravos to try. I'll bet 28's or 30's will work. If they're labbed probably 32 or 34's. There are a pair of 34's on eBay right now for $325 for the pair!!! If you're running enough HP per side, they may be the ticket.
After trying to get enough water pressure, I ended up installing 1/2" spacers in my outdrives and using Bob's Machine Shop LWP nose cones. The center of my propshafts are now 1/2" below the tip of the sponsons and it appears to have solved the problems. This process took months of testing different intakes and I'm still not sure if I need the 1/2" spacers. I may take them out next year and try again.
Also, if the water is calm the boat wants to "stick" to the water above 90. Add some chop and it frees right up. I'm going to take ALL of the weight I can out of the bow and see if that helps.
Finally, keep your boat!!! It took me a while to work it out, but I love the results. I'm sure I've got another few MPH to find yet and it runs great as slow as 30 MPH with my wife aboard. The only bad thing is that you and I are on our own with twin I/O Cobra's so it's trial and error.
Here's my office number again 800-645-6083. I'll be out today, but back in on Friday. I have a meeting at 10:30 your time for about an hour, but should be available otherwise. Also, I might have to go to a customer site, but not sure. Either way, give me a call. If I'm out leave you number on my voicemail and I'll call you back when I get in.
Again, glad to hear you boat floats - now we just got to get it to fly!!!!!
Here's a pic from a run we went on to keep you motivated!
Jeff
Last edited by jbrauer; 09-17-2007 at 07:47 PM.
#10
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Hey Jeff, Thanks for info I'll give you a call after the week end. Friday I'm going to english town race track for a swapmeet [looking for vette stuff] Sorry to hear about your engine Hope alls well soon.I had problems with mercs high perf module on one engine not sparking all the time They wanted 1100.00 for a new one and if any coils went bad I wouldn't be able to get them any more so I bought two new style ign systems and engines run great After seeing your exhaust system from pictures you sent I was able to make pipes similar and they work good too. I'll talk to you next week, Thanks again Jeff
Last edited by Two K's; 09-25-2003 at 10:30 PM.