Drive Rotation
 

Since the drives are off the boat for checking while it's getting painted (being de-graphic'd back to white) I was wondering if it would make any sense to consider having them put back on "backwards" for in-rotation. Boat is big, heavy, moderate power, smooth riding ... and slow. F-402, probably 12,000# normal running weight with fuel and people, 450HP or so a side, max speed right under 60 mph.

-Greg

O.K. : Not quite enough info. Boat length? Deadrise? C/L-engine seperation? Need to know more before giving bad advice. --- Jer

If they are BRAVO drives you can't change rotation by swaping the drives. You change rotation on a Bravo drive by switching the props and changing the cables on the shifters.

Yeah TB, I had my head stuck back in the middle ages and thinking TRS's. But as I said: "Not enough info. yet for good advice" --- Jer

no! you need all the sternlift you can get. it will only make you're boat hard to dock. the only boats that benefit from inward rotation are light steps,and,that takes proper testing by people that know what they are doing.

Based on the age, and that it's a Formula, I'll bet it does have TRS drives, like my '85 302. AudioFN tried reversing his TRS drives, and ended up putting them back. He kind of liked their handeling under power, but not around the docks. His engines are very close together, maybe 29 to 30 inches.

jpclear: the 302 is 6900 lbs dry, probably 8500 - 9000 actual weight, 24 degree deadrise, and 31" b/t c/l's (I think from memory!) Non-stepped hull. I THINK the 402 is the same stats on deadrise and c/l. What do you think the change would do on our boats?

my boat is faster with the props turning in for more bow lift and I don't see a difference in handling at the docks. I do have a raised X dimension.

Opie 272 reversed them on his 272 Formula and picked up (if I remember correcly) 2.5 mph by turning them in:eek:

Guess the F-402 is just too old for most people to know about it (plus I heard they built less than a dozen of them). It's a true 40' 2", 24* V, TRS drives, 35" centerlines. Currently running Bravo-1 4-blade props (1-2 mph slower than Mirage at top but about 6-7 mph faster at cruise).

The boats at Art Lillie's shop getting paint and "you might as well's". I'll talk with Art when he gets back (off racing again) but thought I'd ping the board as well.

-Greg

The only V hulls that I've seen gain much speed by turning them in were on high horsepower boats with boxes. And they're still a biotch to dock.
But if you've got the time, and a strong back to lift those TRSs, I guess it couldn't hurt to try.
My $0.02
Gary