ZF Trimax Surface Drives
- Thread starter Magnum
- Start date
KevB
Well-Known Member
Looks like you need a big solid overhang from the bottom of the hull to support the prop shaft. Arnesons are mounted on the transome and just sit under the bathing platform don't they? Looks like the hull has to be designed specifically for those drives?
jfm
Well-Known Member
Been around for some years. Main diff is they dont steer, use a rudder. Arnies can be moved left and right to steer, so no rudder, and therefore a bit less appendage drag. Also I think on some ZF installs they dont move up and down either, so same again
Didnt that sealine C39 job come with a choice of Arnies or ZFs (the latter being cheaper)? Can't remeber
Didnt that sealine C39 job come with a choice of Arnies or ZFs (the latter being cheaper)? Can't remeber
Divemaster1
Well-Known Member
Then you have the PulseDrive ....
sort of a combination f the two .... no hull mods, but with rudders ... great for sterndrive replacements (and comes with a swim platform on top ....) /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
PulseDrive
masaccio
Well-Known Member
Yeah...used them on the Sunseeker XS2000 (coupled with a ZF two-speed gearbox), and the FB55 I tested had four of them (coupled to four 820hp Seateks...eeek!). The ones in the XS2000 seemed to require slightly less work on the throttles in rough seas than the Arnesons, but there didn't seem to be much to chose between the two systems. Seriously beautiful piece of engineering.
Magnum
RIP
Sounds good. Still kick out a nice rooster tail then? What about slow speed manoevering?
masaccio
Well-Known Member
Didn't do an awful lot of slow-speed stuff...spent the time trying to crack 80 knots (and not quite managing in either). As I recall they felt pretty similar to Arnesons. It's interesting to note that Fabio Buzzi fits Trimax drives to his military boats, so I suspect that they may be more robust (and squaddie-proof) than Arnesons. At METS (marine trade show in Holland) a few years back they had a Trimax drive with cut-aways showing the internals...it was a beautiful work of stainless steel art, and I want one for my office.