http://zf-marine.com/SurfaceDrives/index.cfm

T .. dead linky

www.zf-marine.com/surfacedrives/index.cfm

Geoo's old setup didn't even have a tranny. Motor spins, prop spins. On or Off nothing inbetween. Not particularly friendly around the docks.

His newer setup may be different.

GEOO, George had a simple plan of attack when building his 18' Donzi.

No 18' Flat Bottom V drive has a tranny and there are thousands of those, why then did he need one?

That plus he did not have the space for a transmission and drive line.

Worked really well as he has hit 120 in the little rocket!

Trimax G-drive for a Yanmar 440hp (just under 800 lb. of torque) is approximately $ 5000. Once again, the trouble is the fact that the entire transom needs to be configured for this drive system. Ideally, the boat needs to be designed around this drive system. When the boat is correctly balanced and intended for Trimax, trim ability becomes a very overrated thing. I never felt the need to trim mine. Large "SeaPlanes" tabs come with the setup and do a fine job in dealing with any correction you need to make. Naturally, trimming becomes important in racing when you need to get those last 2 or 3 mph but in a pleasure boat, I'd gladly trade those 2 mph in favor of not having to worry about leaks, changing seals, gaskets, O-rings and whatnot. Besides, Trimax has other advantages which compensate for this inability to trim and which make it just as fast if not faster than other surface drive systems. Best ideas are often the simplest ones...

Just thought that I'd post this pic. Seems it wouldn't be that difficult to fab something like this up. A pair of them would make for a killer swim platform!

ST-your drive price seems to be extreamly good. What all are you including in that number? Rudder/steering? Trans? Transom assembly? Prop?

Speaking of swim platforms.... No one mentioned the pulse drive. These surface drives may not be as "Hard core" as the arneson etc but seem well suited to a recreational performance boat, better for families, rafting up etc. I If I recall, these had some larger torque capacities as well. I looked pretty hard at them last yr but ended up buying an 03 single vs building a new twin boat.

Trimax rear platform makes for a real good swim platform with molded steps and grabrails to make water access easy. It also effectively deals with the danger of jumping in water and getting too friendly with cleaver blades like possible with Arnesons.

As far as prices are concerned, 5K is for the drive only. It includes the shaft, the thrust ball, transom assembly, oil tank, ventilation tubes and rudder. But Trimax is actually sold in kits. A 2 drive kit is around 40K. That includes everything except the engine: the drive, steering, the transom assemblies, two rudders and ZF trannies as well. Just add motors...

That doesn't sound too bad. Anybody know what two Arneson #8's would run?