Prop in front?

[randmhall]

Guys, Armani-troll did it again. He started a debate among respected members of the forum. Shouldn't all of his posts be in the Joke Thread? Like maybe require forward facing props to have a plywood cage and a spotlight to warn the fish?

 

[GypsmJim]

Guys, Armani-troll did it again. He started a debate among respected members of the forum. Shouldn't all of his posts be in the Joke Thread? Like maybe require forward facing props to have a plywood cage and a spotlight to warn the fish?

I'm sorry. I was just going to say that, but you beat me to it.

 

[Skybolt]

At least this is more of a discussion then the plywood and lights were.

 

[highslice]

At least this is more of a discussion then the plywood and lights were.

I plan to mount LED headlights on the plywood I covered my bow with. I should be good to cross to the Bahamas at night.

 

[Skybolt]

I plan to mount LED headlights on the plywood I covered my bow with. I should be good to cross to the Bahamas at night.

Ha! Ok Ariminus ...

 

[Arminius]

These new drives have a place i guess. Not around here. Its shallow a lot. With mud and sand. I would rather the skeg hit and bump prior to the prop. Prop recon here is $250 for a SS. Nope, i dont want that being my depth guage first.

I was waterskiing directly behind a 150 hp outboard when I saw the engine flip forward. I swerved and the log passed beside me uneventfully. There was no damage to the SS prop. The manual said the Merc had poppet valves in the trim/tilt system to allow the engine to tilt forward when the skeg or drive encountered an immovable object. Presumably, the drive on an I/O would have similar hydraulics. Minor damage to a skeg is repairable with a skeg protector, hammer or welding. Wakeboarding had not occurred to me as a rationale for the Swedes at Volvo-Penta putting the machine together backwards. I expect whackiness out of the country that gave us the Saab and Christine Jorgenson and could not get past that.

 

[Pirate Lady]

I bump bottom a few times a year. As you said the drive will bump up. As I’ve read somewhere…
A depth guage is to confirm you hit bottom.

 

[Todd Sing]

Wake surfing is a hot topic, at least around LKN. I don't think there are any NC laws about the boat type, yet -- and while not the best idea to wake surf behind a traditional IO (I wouldn't do it) and the primary reason for forward facing drives on wake boats, the likely hood of somehow hitting the prop when you are 10-15ft behind a boat moving 15-18mph is pretty low. I have never heard of that happening, but I guess it could if the boat suddenly slows down etc.

The bigger issue with the wake boats is the huge wakes they throw and the seemingly cluelessness of some of the operators. I mean these are expensive big boats built for the sole purpose of throwing a huge wake! And they are very good at that one function! Throw in 15 alcohol infused college aged kids, a 5000watt stereo system that will rattle your fillings loose and old people like me run for the hills! Or at least another spot on the lake. Well, there is a little part of me that would like to join in!

But back to the forward facing drive -- I think it's a solid design and not just for wake boats - as mentioned Volvo has used a forward facing drive in the IPS system for years. I would not be adverse to having one in my sterndrive (not wake board) boat.

I am on LKN too. 100% agree on running from the noise and the wake. They are actually moving pretty slowly too, its like waves from the ocean after they go by. The forward facing prop is interesting but the damage factor has to be high with no Skeg to protect it.