Hammer surface drive
 

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

RE: Hammer surface drive
 

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.

RE: Hammer surface drive
 

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

RE: Hammer surface drive
 

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

RE: Hammer surface drive
 

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.

RE: Hammer surface drive
 

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

RE: Hammer surface drive
 

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.

RE: Hammer surface drive
 

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:D.
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