Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

I was talking to the Manager at Ilmor today and he told me of another surface drive manufacturer that has a really nice surface drive setup that uses a single cylinder drive trim with a ITS type steering. It is called ZF surface drive. I have never heard of it but I went on their website and the system looks great. The webiste is www.zfmarine.com

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

The ZF "Trimax" is the drive that was run on some of the Buzzi boats that were being raced over here a few years back.

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Rik, do you have any triple set ups, I know it's rare, especially on a V. What is involved in the steering set up, and is it any more work overall for Nortech vs the bravo set up. Nortech has done quite a few trip 525 set ups w/2" shorties and have gotten it down on drive heights and set up, high 80's-low 90's. They finished a trip Ilmor 625 bravo boat which was just under a 100mph, which I thought was a great achievement, and are still tweakng it. I am looking at trip 750's (like my last 4300 but twins and #5 on boxes) and a lighter layup. I do not want a bravo boat, and I know the tranny will scrub some speed vs the bravo, but obviously is bullet proof, my question is with the same power say the 625's how will the drives perform in getting up on plane and top end vs the bravo set up. My goal is 107-110 with out blowers and a reliable set up on drives, getting up on plane quicker as well as better midrange than my last set up. Thanks Jeff

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Sounds like your going to have one sweet, and unique, Magnum! Keep us posted..........

I'm sure twin engine magnums don't have any problems with sufficient bow lift, but I would think it might become an issue with a single. Did Arneson address this issue with your application?? There is a 18' Donzi with an Arn on here that had to add trim planes/fins to the sides of his skeg to create bow lift, so he could air it out on smooth water, etc. I guess you may not really know until it hits the water. I love that feeling of "carrying the bow", and I've always heard that you can't get that with a surface drive......................Eddy

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Eddy....I have had many conversations with George Desmond, who has the 18" Donzi with the SD. He has helped me tremendously on my project, and is a great guy to talk to. His boat, by yhe way is for sale, or was, on OSO. It has to be the fastest Dozi of it's size...120 MPH...and he's selling it at a bargain price too.

Except for the hull & deck, I'm completely gutting everything and repositioning a lot of things to maintain the C of G. You will not see any changes to the overall apperance, except for new upolstery, buckets, interior and so on. And, I will have fins like George's to "carry the bow".

If you go to Arneson's web site, there is a great story and pictures of Georges Donzi. It would appear, that the fins act as a hydroplane, and it worked great for him. I won't know for sure, like you said, how it will perform until it's in the water. I will probably have to make other changes too, but don't know what till sea trials. Tony

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Did you ever do your conversion,I'm interested in how a single v reacts/handles with the arneson. 950 hp in my single baja 272 eats best bravo parts out there for lunch every 50-75 hours,Smitty

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

I was considering arneson(sp) on a v bottom but the bow lift issue worried me. They say the rocker plates help.

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

I too was considering the Arneson when I built my Y2K but knowing how the Superboat likes bow lift I wasnt ready to try it. Its a different matter if you have an air entrapment hull or the benefit of twins. Definately have to fill in the notch on the Superboat

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

If the hull has a notched transom and one is wanting to use a single Arneson, then the notch is an issue for the correct mounting of the Arneson. A twin side by side is not an issue.

However, if the hull runs well with a high X dimension Bravo it will work fine with an Arneson as well as once you surface a Bravo you are not getting any positive trim either.

Superboats require a ton of positive trim. I would suggest an insert in the hull for a surface drive to add some Rocker to the bottom, else it will run flat from what I've been told.

There are ways to address this, propellers being the easiest way.

Jazz, triple are no problems. It would be the same as I have on the 50' Hustlers or the 48' Fountain Express cruisers. Once again the center engine might need the notch addressed but this is not a huge thing.

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

artic are you running stock bravos or beefed up.

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Max machine worx with all the upgrades,1 main drive then 1 I use as a spare while fixing the other,Smitty

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

How much $$ do yoy guys spend a year on Bravo maintainance?

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

I repair and freshen my own drives,it only cost me about 600-700$ in gears, bearings and seals the last couple times I broke a drive so about 1000$ a year between oil changes and parts plus the 20,000$ I have tied up in the initial purchase price of my drive and my spare drive,Smitty

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Man, that sounds great. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Our boats are basically the same dimensions, except mine has very large outer strakes, and should be be a bit lighter even when both are singles. (4,200 lbs factory claim BBC/trs) I had to yank the Blower off my 540 because I didn't feel like rebuilding the TRS every season or less (I've killed two.) It really sucks to make your boat slower!!!!

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Thanks Rik, when you get a chance post a pic of the ASD-6 with prop guard you had sent me before the storm. I went through your website, looked cool, saw the new 7, 30' Skater looks awesome with that set up, but, which sticks out less the the new 7 or bravo set up, and which is better for trip 750's. Thanks Jeff

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

The 6 and the 7 kits are the same lenght.

I can't resize the photos to post on OSO but I do know that on the Hustler thread there is a shot of the 388 with the TMP engines that has the guards on.

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Rik, what is the diff. in price, hp / tq ratings, and what makes these two drives different. Which is better for my application. I like the way the 7 looks, those Skaters are badass.

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Either one.

I made the 7 for the cat applications. Different steering, rudder and tie bar system and few other things.

Both will work for a V bottom application, 2 or 3 engine applications.

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

I like the way the 7 looks is it possible to fab up that prop guard on this as you did on the ASD6, thanks Jeff

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

The same guard will work on both drive units.

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Thats the exact same #'s am running with My B-Maxs but with 750hp in My Hustler.Cool :drink:

Rob :D

Re: bravo to arneson surface conv.
 

Send an email to [email protected].

I am building a old 82 midnight express with #6 Arneson drives and he has been very helpful.