Surface drives...
 

Anyone use this type of drive. I have a Cafe and am considering dumping the damm Bravo's and going with the Pulse Drive. Any info on any type of surface pericing drive system would help (Arenson, Trimax, etc.).

Mongo

Go with Arneson... ;)
http://www.donzi.net/photos/callardgeoo4.jpg

GEOO,

Looks pretty damm good! Can you get good bow lift if you need it?

Mongo

GEOO .. I talked with Rik a little about your install. He mentioned the fin you can see in the photo. What did that do?

The fin helps give bow lift. It depends on your boat. Some boat's designs have good bow lift built in. Some bow lift; ie. cat's & tunnel's, is created with the help of the air flow around the hull.
Outboard boat's play with the CG and move the engine back to create more bow lift.
The faster you go the more lift the stern, (prop, outdrive) will have and the more bow lift you will need to counter the stern lift to balance the boat.

The "fin" helps neutralize the effects of the prop& drive lift.

My boat would run fine at 60mph above that it created to much stern lift and the fin is needed.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/gallery/...002_2a-med.jpg

For those of us with Bad eyes that is 100+ mph and 7000 rpm :eek: ;) :D

And when you say to much stern lift .. you would loose speed? or the boat would get loose? We have Arneson’s rocker plates so I’m hoping the rocker will keep the stern down for us.

And again I’m looking at your photo. What’s your speed and RPM’s in that shot?

Yea, 100mph in a 18' boat one handed.

D_Casten,

If the bow doesn't ride high enough, then you'll run into bow steer. The lower fin will add more appendage drag, but you gain speed and controllablity. by having less wetted surface. You can try it without the fin and if you need more bow lift then add the fin, that's what I did. It all depends on your boat set up and speeds you'll be running.

What size boat? Weight? HP? Type of speed??

Rik, is great at helping you set up the boat.

It’s a 26ft Crownline that weighs 5,000lbs, 454mag with a Whipple. We cut the hook out of the hull and added the Arneson rocker plates. We’re only getting 65mph out of the boat because of a real low X dem. So the bravo conversion kit would make that a mute point. Along with the speed I’m hoping for a better ride and to make use of the rockers.

A 5000 lbs boat with approx 550 hp, my guess would run low 70's. How fast did the boat go before the Whipple? How much boost?

55 was all it would do stock and we picked up about 3mph when we cut the hook out. 5lbs boost on the whipple. It was designed as a pleasure boat so it will be a little slower.

A like boat with a stern jack, 502 whipple and shortened drive is running (I believe) 70+. So with the proper X dim. and extension box I believe your speeds are correct. Any guess what it will do with the surface drive?

I think your boat runs well for the weight, power and set-up.. The Arneson will run 5-8 mph faster then a low X dim. Bravo, maybe 2-4 mph faster then a sternjacked, raised X dim. custom Bravo unit. But the Arneson can handle 600-700hp without any mods or repairs!!! The Bravo will need to be rebuilt if you ever go for more power. What the cost differance between selling your Bravo and buying an Arneson? Do you have external steering? The Arneson comes with the ram!!

Thx for the input Geoo might give you a call when we start installing. Had forgotton about the stearing but should be easy with the bravo conversion kit.

Casten,

Have you looked at the Pulse Drive? Check it out and compare it to Arenson. If you are going to go surface drive, I think it is the way to go. I'm doing it on my 35 Cig.

Mongo

I did and they looked great also, but Arneson has a bravo conversion kit that will bolt on without any drilling or transom work. I’m sure open to any input you have on the pulse drive though.

I just spoke with Tony Mills over at Pulse (954-788-0810) and asked him if they did a kit like that. The answer is yes. It never came up in conversation for me as my Cig orginally came with TRS and has the room in the engine compartment to move the motors forward to accomodate the trannys. If you haven't comitted to Arenson yet, I would give Tony a call. I think you'll be glad you did. Let me know how it goes.

Mongo

Imongo, thanks for that info.

Also, "thisistank" from here was talking about making the switch a few months ago, and he might have, but he did a great ammount of research and got prices for complete kits for the drives. I am sure he could help us some too.