i'm planning on making my aquacraft hammer ep my project for over the winter. i'm going to turn it into a surface drive. i was planning on just using the same setup as the aquajet, with a straight drive shaft going out the transom without a strut, just fiberglass the stuffing tube in. i'm doing this because i want to run the rudder inline with the prop and i can't find any hardware thats inline. i was going to use a 4mm shaft and hook it to the motor with a flex connector. i had it all planned out and such, then i thought of flex cables.

if i were to use a .130 octura flex cable system from offshore, then would i be able to run this same setup. i know i'd need different diameter stuffing tube and a different connector, but otherwise would it work? what do i do with the 3/16 prop shaft? can it run in the stuffing tube too or would i have to buy a strut.

any help is greatly appreciated,
jarrod

Someone on here has converted a nito hammer to surface drive. Do a search to find the thread and PM him for info. I'm sure he'll have all your answer's.

well my question isn't really specific to the hammer, its more general about flex cables. i just don't know how to mount the prop shaft at the end of the cable. does it go in a stuffing tube like the rest of the cable or do i have to use a strut. i'm trying to save money and make as much of it myself as i can. also i haven't found too many struts that would allow me to use an inline rudder. if anyone knows of one for under 110$ then that would be great, otherwise i just need to know if i can run the propshaft in a brass tube.
thanks
jarrod

actually i looked at some pictures of the inside of the cen aquajet and it looks like it is set up the same as i was first planning on doing. with a straight shaft hooked up to the motor with a flex coupler. it'll be cheaper and i already know how i would do it. this is just going to be a sport boat anyway so i don't really need the efficiency and speed achieved with a flex shaft.
jarrod

it is more about getting the strut even/level with the keel line. simply impossible when using a straight shaft, as the shaft will exit at a downward angle. This will adversely affect the handling of the boat and cause you to run too wet or porpoise.

i'm going to run the shaft straight out the back, parallel to the bottom of the boat, and connect it to the motor with a flex connector from offshore:

Graupner 1/8" to 4mm flex coupler
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/products.php?cat=68

this is how the drive shaft is in the aquajet if i'm not mistaken, and that is a fairly high performance boat. i believe the aquajet extreme still ran the straight shaft connected with a flex coupler and it had a 700sc motor and was very quick.
correct me if i'm wrong with any of my facts(i don't have an aquajet[&o])
jarrod

Jrod I am doing one right now. I have the conversion thread over on the ose forum. I am using a proboat steerable outdrive. It seemed the simplest way to get it done.

thanks SouthJerseyFe, i haven't gotten very good at searching and navigating the ose forums yet so i hadn't caught your thread. i'll keep an eye on it. Now i won't have to bug people for info.
i see your going with the proboat esc and a 600, the same setup i was going for. hoping for speed without having to go up to 12 cells. I know what you mean about the radio box, i have no idea how i'm going to get it out of there without destroying the hull, although others have done it. somehow[&:]
jarrod