48 Sundancer with Arneson Drives

M

Morgan Jane

Active Member
Sep 10, 2010
422
Occoquan, VA
Boat Info
2008 55 Sundancer
Engines
Man 900's
Anybody got an opinion on what the characteristics of a 48 Sundancer with Arneson Drives would be like?
Would it work or does the hull design have to be known from the start? Can you convert a V-Drive boat to surface drives?
 
You can do anything you want in America. All it takes is money.

Out of my $$$ range, but I would call Saro marine in Germany or Harry Schoell before I went to Arneson. Just my opinion. Arnies are mostly race drives with race repair costs when they break.

Good Luck. Keep us posted.
 
I dont really know much about arneson surface drives, but here is a pic from a a 60 some footer Sunseeker...looks quite abit different than vdrives.
 
In the 90's, Searay made some large Sundancer and Super Sun Sports with surface drives. There was a 63 Sundancer with 1300HP CATs and surface drives in my marina. 40 kts+ boat but owner was always saying that it was tricky to handle.
 
I guess my first question would be "Why do you want to mess with a well proven drive system to try something that you might not like and might give you tons of headaches and cost a ton of money to do?
 
Surface piercing drives are just that…….they run with the bottom 1/2 of the prop in the water. That means they have almost no drag, far less than even PODs. The trade off, at least on a 630DA, the only one I've been on, is low speed handling. We almost needed a tug to find the dock when the one headed to a dealer's show in Knoxville stopped here for a few days. Incidently, Rob Parmentier was in Sales at the time and he was running the boat.

Now, the question of why you would spend a ton more for a little more speed and ruin a wonderful handling boat, I think might fall in the "more money than sense" department.
 
Now, the question of why you would spend a ton more for a little more speed and ruin a wonderful handling boat, I think might fall in the "more money than sense" department.[/QUOTE]

Would it be a ton of money?. I have been looking at the Fountain 48 express cruiser. Running at 40 mph it gets over 1 mile per gallon. I run around in a lot of shallow water with logs and debris. But I like the layout of a 48 Dancer. Just tossing the idea out there? Mostly, I just like what I like and I like things that are different.
 
Yeah Arneson surface drives are for high speeds and straight lines also they must have extreme horse power to run them which means extreme fuel bills and if you have to ask about the price , you can't afford the drives .... Stick with V drives


Boltman
 
I've seen that 68' Sunseeker manuever around the dock...he doesn't seem to have ANY problem with slow speed manuevering at all....do what ya want...it's your money.
 
boltman said:
Yeah Arneson surface drives are for high speeds and straight lines also they must have extreme horse power to run them which means extreme fuel bills and if you have to ask about the price , you can't afford the drives .... Stick with V drives Boltman
Click to expand...

How did you draw the conclusion he can't afford it?
it appears to me he is asking questions about the operational and engineering aspects.
seems like interesting stuff. I didn't know these existed until 5 mins ago.
 
Bottom Line said:
I dont really know much about arneson surface drives, but here is a pic from a a 60 some footer Sunseeker...looks quite abit different than vdrives.
Click to expand...
Minor hi-jack ... Sorry.

Anyone know what the big trim tab looking thing above the starboard prop is ??
 
I have fairly extensive experience running a few boats with Arneson Surface drives, most recently my friends 64 Pershing with a pair of MAN 1550HP. The Arneson drives have some interesting characteristics, you can't get these boats up on plane in water less then 12ft of water, as they need very clean water for the props to bite, slow cruise is something they don't do well, you can put them in gear and do 11kts at idle speed with both motors in gear, you can push the throttle to 80% load and only do 14kts, then when the props start to bite, hold on!!! it's like something smacked you in back and you watch your speed and load start climbing, before you know it your hauling 90,000lbs of boat at 45kts!!! (if your wondering, 240GPH!!), we would usually settle in at a "modest" cruise of 38-40kts, with a 300ft rooster tail!! This being said, Arneson's are not for everyone, they do require a far amount of adjustments on the drive angle (similar to a stern drive), they are a lot of work to get up on plane, I don't see maintenance as too bad, but definitely more then conventional drives.
 
Would it even be possible without major engine and transmission reconfiguration and possibly hull and transom modifications? I'm not overly familiar with the 48, but I assume props are in tunnels and the shafts exit the hull closer to midship from the V-Drives, whereas the Arneson drives require a shaft exiting directly through the transom. It seems to me the transmission is on the wrong side of the engine in a V-Drive to convert to surface drives, or do I misunderstand?
 
I have his old boat. Still lovingly cared for going on my third season.

Bill, build it. I bet you can. It would take a while. I'd love to see that.
 
Billfletcher said:
How did you draw the conclusion he can't afford it?
it appears to me he is asking questions about the operational and engineering aspects.
seems like interesting stuff. I didn't know these existed until 5 mins ago.
Click to expand...

Makes two of us... I never saw anything like this, that's why I love this board.; I learn something new all the time
 
Last edited:
It seems from watching Youtube vids of the Arneson Drives the coolest thing you can say about them is they throw a big rooster tail.

Oh my I think I'll spend a TON of money so my boat can throw a big rooster tail.
 
Gofirstclass said:
It seems from watching Youtube vids of the Arneson Drives the coolest thing you can say about them is they throw a big rooster tail.

Oh my I think I'll spend a TON of money so my boat can throw a big rooster tail.
Click to expand...
You already spent a ton of money on a boat that only burns one tank of fuel a year....what's the big deal:smt043 If you got it spend it anyway you want. Take a look at their website for a little more info. They even make conversions for Bravo drives....I'd have a fast, fuel efficient 280DA that could even throw a rooster tail. I'd have a bow covered in bikini'd bling with a cool boat like that.:grin:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,118
Messages
1,426,465
Members
61,034
Latest member
Lukerney
Back
Top