Prop walk thoughts.

[alexco38]

I like a Caterpillar drive as on Red October.

 

[NotCook]

Gonna throw my hat in the ring here.

My dream is a brushless electric motor driving a ducted AziPod with power coming from a diesel power generator. With a full feathering prop.

Sign me up! That is my dream, too! But, I need one to drive 78,000 pounds of boat. I could still use my Perkins 6-135, but I would need to add a generator to it. My little 10 KVA Westerbeke genset just wouldn't be enough.

I want that Azipod bad!

 

[Sailm8]

One word " flux capacitor" Oops two words, my bad.

 

[Ron20324]

cat drive?

I like a Caterpillar drive as on Red October.

Is that Caterpillar drive a bolt-in conversion from a Hampster-in-a-cage drive?

 

[Bill Roosa]

I think the caterpillar straps to the sides of the keel.

On a "shame on us" note. this whole thread has been about motors (well props which are pretty useless with out a motor).

We could be using our sails!!!. Clean, green, quite, long range, cheap to operate and can drive the boat at hull speed

So I'm thinking a shroud/duck would only slow me down under sail (more drag and no way to feather/fold). So why would we even be talking about such a "solution" unless we where closet motor boaters.

I feel i need a shower.

 

[alexco38]

Why can't General Dynamics make a small nuclear generator so i can use Catapaler drive. Scary thoughts.

BTW, prop walk is much noticeable when you throttle the engine slowly. An old salt taught me to burst the engine to minimize prop walk and disengage the gear right-away. But if you need it to going sideways, just use little throttle in gear.

Anyway, the world didn't end today. Now I have to go back to work. Crap!!