surface drives

[pop nz]

Hi people

I am told that I should get on this boatmad forum if I want to know anything technical, is that right?

I am thinking of installing surface drives in a 12m rib (haha yes I can here your comments now) the rib will be designed for going around NZ getting pretty wild so the most important thing is reliability. I have looked at SF30 Seafury, pulse drive and trimax. What is the best type of surface drive and why?

Thanks for the advice

[glen76]

could be worth pm ing jlindsay on here. John had somet to do with his dad john seniors 37ft rib with single arneson surface drive. He may have some words of wisdom.


out of interest heres the boat!

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F101860/

[Matt]

Hey pop!
I'll probably just repeat what I said on rib.net - which I can't do, as per my tag line.

Jon (Fuller) has some experience with surface drives, used to work on a raceboat with em.

[pop nz]

Hi guys

thanks for the help i will try and contact the man with the rib, how fast is that rib?

does anyone know the price of either pulse drive or trimax?

i am looking into the cat 3126b, can anyone recommend a better engine for long hauled trips (reliabilty)?

thanks

[Matt]

J Lindsey (both of em) are good guys.

The 2 suggestions (so far) for surface drives are very performance oriented drives (albeit very rugged as well). You could also look at fixed, more commercially oriented drives like mike bellamy's ones - Lancing Marine. Don't really know of any others since it's not something I've ever particularly researched, but there are loads, each with their own interpretation.

[pop nz]

matt

i am looking into the cat 3126b, can anyone recommend a better engine for everyday running?

have you had much experience with jets? i am still in two minds as you can see, should i go for jets? should i go for surface drives? whats more reliable?

[Cookee]

Sunseeker fit Trimax with a 2 speed gearbox and I think Buzzi fit or used to fit Arnesons - both reliable kit, but I would fit something that is serviceable locally unless you can do it yourself. Jets are mostly for the fun factor and only efficient at a specific speed range.

[pop nz]

Nice one people, sent an email to all drive manufacturers, I hope they get back to me with a price and on guarantees with their product. I'll let you know. The other option I could go for is what coders mentioned, the outboards, but my problem is that I don't have a petrol station, does anybody know where I can buy a big petrol storage tank on wheels? Then I have the opportunity of having outboards, which would be good from a maintenance point of view. Does anypone know how much fuel a F250 yamaha goes through?

[Matt]

I would be pretty surprised if buzzi uses arnesons when he could use his own trimax drive.

Originally Posted by Cookee

Sunseeker fit Trimax with a 2 speed gearbox and I think Buzzi fit or used to fit Arnesons - both reliable kit, but I would fit something that is serviceable locally unless you can do it yourself. Jets are mostly for the fun factor and only efficient at a specific speed range.

[Cookee]

Originally Posted by Matt

I would be pretty surprised if buzzi uses arnesons when he could use his own trimax drive.

You learn something every day!

[Matt]

This just popped up in the google ads at the top.
I don't know anything about them, but perhaps another to add to the list
http://www.seafury.com/marine_pierci...ve_system.html

[Matt]

The trimax drive has a good deal of race winning history attached to it.
http://fbdesign.it/hcesa.php

And has even been fitted to the odd rib:
http://fbdesign.it/hrib.php

[pop nz]

hi matt my mate runs these drives on www.excitor.co.nz they seem to be good he runs the boat day in day out, have a look at his web. i hope to get a few pics sent through from jason on this site he has a pair for sale.

[Matt]

I'm sure I recognise the arse of the boat Jason's drives are on