Drive alignment question
 

I was changing the drive oil in my Donzi 33 Daytona today and noticed that the drives when steering is straight seem to be toed in about 3/4 of an inch measuring the difference between the center line of the extension boxes to the center line of the prop shafts???..... is this a normal set up or should I adjust the tiebar so they are perfectly parallel???

As I recall ( measuring at the front of the gear cases, then at the prop shaft centers)
You want 1/8"toe in of you have inside rotation or 1/8" out for outside rotation

Props do rotate inward

Yours is set up outside then

If it is really out of alignment that much you are in for a good surprise in better handling and gained speed. I gained 2 MPH and mine was off only 1/4 inch.

I misread that earlier. My bad. I noticed my 32 restoration project was off over a 1/2" also. When I get it in the water this June I figured I would mess around with it and see where it runs best. I only measured zert fitting to zert fitting on the top of the gimble as a baseline and propshaft center.

Just to clarify, toe in is when the front of the gear cases are closer together than the prop shafts,
Out is when the prop shafts are closer together than the front of the gearcases

Agree, 3/4" is a lot!

Yup.

An extreme case some years ago, I owned a Sea Ray Pachanga 27 with twin 502's and, cleaver props and NO tie bar. When I bought it, she was steering all over the place and couldn't drive her past 60 ish. Pulled the engines, gimbal bearings replaced and fitted a tie bar. New boat...... With a medium load, she ran 86 mph over a measured nautical mile (timed) and confirmed 86.9 top speed on gps. Chine walked a bit, probably needed a set of K planes instead of little baby Bennetts tabs.

Can't recall if the drives turned in or out but I'll never forget the difference when they were pointed in roughly the same direction!

RR