Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Is there any reason that a boat with Arneson surface drives would be undesireable? Is there any advantage to the Bravo 1 over the Arneson? Any opinions here?

Matt

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

I had a boat with a single Arneson and LOVED it. It takes off really slow but once on plane there is nothing like it. I would definitely like to have another boat with Arneson's one day. The only draw back I could see is the price of props and the limited selection of props to use. But when it comes to high speed turns, nothing else will will turn as perfectly and as effortlessly as the Arneson.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Arneson's are great. The only downside is docking. A little slow to get up on plane. Magnum is right, the props are costly. Pic of mine below. I come up on plane at 45mph but once on plane can hold it down to 20-25 mph depending on the water.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

45MPH and still dragging?! WOW! Perhaps some vent tubes would help that. Still cool ass all getout though.

HMMM, the only AT with Arnesons has a nice ring to it right? :D

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

The biggest advantage to a bravo drive in a high horsepower app is to the stock holders of visa and mastercard when monday morning comes and you have to order yet another one to be up and running by the following wknd,Smitty

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

No reverse?

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Of course there is a reverse... in the transmission........ :rolleyes:

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

I can't think of any reasons.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Is there a reason they tell me it wont work with a boat that has a notch??? Is it a height mounting issue or something with water flow under the boat to the prop??? I'd realy like to go this route with my 22 Stinger :)

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Actually A notch is prefered in a twin engine V setup it aids in
getting clean water back to the propellers.

The hulls on mid eighties Hustlers were actully designed
to take full advantage of the Arnesons.
Such as modified Lifting strakes to act as a oversize pad and Notched
Hull. Transom angle and or wedges.

Speeds on these hulls with 600hp per engine gets you close to 106mph
with close to 20 feet of wetted surface.

These propellers are 18 inches on center and 45 inches off the back of the stern.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Does anyone have any experiences of putting Arnesons on a dual or even triple applications on a larger boat, say like a 4300 Nortech or a 42 Outerlimits. And...would getting up on plane be longer or shorter than say a #6 boat with equal power. Thanks Jeff

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

No input here, other than I heard that the 388 hustlers were picking up 5-8 mph by changing nothing but bravos to arnesons, pretty sweet!!!!

I'm also curious about JASSMANS question as well???? Even in the 37-38 foot market????

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Rik's on line here sometimes or you could just call him and ask.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Trimable cylinders will cure the problem with planing.
My boat planes in less then 5 seconds. and with the 5 blades it will hold plane down to 19
mph.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

There are many boats with more than two Arneson's on them ranging from the Harley's with four Cat engines and four Arneson ASD8 Drives to the current 48' Fountain with triple Yanmars and ASD8 drives.

I am currently building a 50' Hustler with triple Yanmar 500's for the Miami boat show.

Planning, this has a lot to do with the set up. HP, weight, reduction, propellers sizing, etc…

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Thanks Rik. Thats the boat I was hoping to look at the Ft.Laud show, but then found out it would be at the Miami show. Have a good Thanksgiving, Ill give you a call Friday or Monday when you are back in. Thanks Jeff

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

The only thing I have heard is the price of the props. :rolleyes:

Darin

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

The price of the propellers is up to Mercury as we both have the exact same propeller spline.

Unfortunately, I cannot get a Bravo propeller to work as the hub is about 2" larger in diameter than our drive unit it. Else, I would have made that work years ago.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

I the long run the price of props is quite reasonable. I can't count how many clients have cracked, damaged beyond repair, and tossed blades on bravo style drives used on high HP applications. I can count on one hand the number of speedmaster props that have had a catastrophic failure.

Over the course of several seasons of hard boating with big power the Speedmaster props will still be going strong, not necessarily true about the Bravo style props or the Bravo style drive either.

Several of the race boats we work with use Speedmaster style props and with the 525's those props will outlast the boat where the Bravo style props are lucky to get a full season behind a 525. The Arneson Drive will take the power and you won't have to worry about a drive or prop failure while running hard in rough water.

Matt

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Just make sure you clear them when you dive off the back of your boat, or else it will be a spectacular vasectomy.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

GLH, would one not have the exact same concerns from the exact same propeller installed upon a Merc drive?

Or am I missing something?

Take a good look at a Speedmaster drive. #3, #4, #5, and really even the #6. There is nothing to keep your or me from being impaled from the propeller.

I have made a guard from the ASD6Kit/Bravo Conversion drive to prevent this scenario from happening if one were to jump off the back of the boat.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

The first shot is a pair of #6's off of a 4300, the second is my 4300 with Stelling boxes and #5's. Mine do stick out a little farther but no more than the Arnesons. Im use to it at this point.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

What cannot be seen too clearly in Jeff's photo's is that there are actually no propeller guard, cover or deflector on the SSM#5 drive units. The cav plate on the SSM#6 drive is narrow at best when compared to the propeller diameter.

Seems that people like GLH can never see the obvious through their bias.

Granted, the physical looks are deceptive as the overall length of a SSM#6 is 48” and this is the same length as the standard ASD8-10 drop box drive but it is some 6" longer than the ASD8 in-line drive that we use on the diesel applications.

The numbers are the numbers.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

I surveyed a 50' Nortech with 4 Yanmars and Arnesons. I'm sure it was a lot of work to figure out how to trim up the drives without the props touching, but Nortech seems to have a handle on it. The sea trial was amazing as was the rooster tail. This boat even had a little Fisher-Panda generator that was so quiet I didn't at first realize it was running!

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

I once heard that the turning radius was larger is this true or not?

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

I'm confused. I've got SSM V's on my Slingshot ( NO boxes ). The props extend ~ 9" past the swim platform. I just doublechecked some photos I have of a Slingshot with Arnesons (Black Cloud). The props extend another 9-12" on Rich's old boat. What am I missing other then maybe boxes? My boat came with a folding swim ladder. Must make the attorneys salivate when they see it. If I were more computer literate, I'd post the pictures. Lou

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

i measured jeff's boat with #5's & boxes & the front of the prop hub is 2.5 inches further back than a #6. so a #6 is about three & a half feet off the transom.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

anyone know of a ASD6 for sale? Or any leads to one? Looking for one with the drop box. Thanks

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Also If one of your drunk buddy's fall off the swim platform and stick one of those Cleaver's in there GUT

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

that can happen with 6's too.... i have seen it :(

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Rik is coming out with a plate to cover up the prop, from top side only, so it will protect your jewels when you've had too much to drink and decide to jump off. :drink: Jeff

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

i have a ads #6 on a 19' vee bottom, it's been on the boat for 13 ish years the only problem is a rope rapped on the shaft and pull the seal $3.00 repair. mine docks great after you get used to it. if you need bow lift you will lose that. i just love it. good luck

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

what about the bravo conversion kit to arenson? i saw a add in powerboat, does anybody no anything on these?

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

ttt

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

There have been a few threads here on that conversion. Seems to work well. A friend is rigging his Cig with them.

It's being done by Steve Seaton, same shop that did the conversion on Blown Away.

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

Here ya go

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=87633

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

and the original thread.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=78420

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

thanks thats what i was looking for 16k i don't think i will be looking anymore, 16k times 3= :eek:

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

If you really break it down, in a Twin high hp set up say TMP-1100's and #6's or save another 12-13k per side using ASD-8's vs a triple set up with TMP-750's, like I presently have, and the bravo Arneson at 16k, which is just as bullet proof for that particular hp ends out being 40-50k cheaper with the same approx hp. Plus with triples you will get on plane quicker, possibly have a little more control, have less hp per motor which makes it more reliable, which equates to less money on rebuilds over winter at 10k per side. I'm just talking here, give me some feed back guys, thanks Jeff

I will be down at Nortech in about a 1 1/2 weeks test riding a triple diesel set up on a 50' with Arnesons, thats when I will feel 100% sure which way to go, stern drive or Surface drive.

There is room for a third motor :cool:

Re: Any disadvantage to Arneson drives?
 

let us know how the test goes, i run low 90's right now i don't see myself spending 50k plus to break a hundred.

now when TMP puts in my stripperpole :D that will more than make up for me not breaking 100mph :D