Minx Arneson update

[HallJ]

We have taken it out Friday night for a test run.
Everything seems to work quite well.
Gets up on plane better than I thought.
Reverse menuvering is good, not as good as an I/O but really nothing to worry about. I think it has more to do with the prop design. A cleaver would probably be even worse. It could use a little more bow lift. I have a horizontal stabilizer i will install on the skeg to achive this.
I took it easy the first time out, so no speed numbers for ya. Still need to get some seat time. My freind took some video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq9varFqHFY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sApJwD3EDxg
Enjoy,
Jeff

[gcarter]

So is the tranny 1:1 ratio?
The install looks really good.

[ChromeGorilla]

Ahhh.... so this is the boat I have seen on youtube recently.....:yes:

Looks great!

[HallJ]

So is the tranny 1:1 ratio?
The install looks really good.

Hi George,

How are things? Busy i'm sure.
The velvet drive is 1:1. The gear reduction is done in the Arneson drive itself. The reduction is 1.56:1.

Jeff

[Cuda]

Is there a thread with more information on what all was required to do the swap? Looks cool as hell!:cool:

[Lenny]

Very nice job. :yes: The horizontal fin (stabilizer) , is that now from Arneson? I know Geoo made his and was what made his boat work properly. Any pics of the fin, or is it a one off by you?

[TXDONZI]

What motor are you running in it? Very Nice!!!!!

[Last Real Texan]

Sweet!

[MOP]

I was going down the same path about 3 years ago but was talked out of it by CDMA, the 22 needs power and a lot bow lift I am running a mild 383 not enough ponies. I did have a few chats with Geo, the fin did make a big difference but the greatest speed gain came from the Arneson Rocker plates. George not only got the bow lift he needed but could induce porpoising, a little over 10mph increase in speed plates. 120+ Then he wisely hung it up, he will always hold the title of fastest Donzi 18!!!

Phil

[Boatless]

Looks great!

[Jamesbon]

Awesome job Jeff! I'm "beside myself" right now. Finally we have some first hand experience in the "bigger" boats.

I heard the horizontal stabilizer will do wonders for the handling & bow lift, it'll be very interesting to hear how you do with it.

Are you running the stock Rolla 3 blade? I have a 19 pitch 3 blade, which I'll probably use for the shake down run, but heard a 4 blade cleaver/surface is the best for this set-up.

In light of having the trannie in the extension box, how do you fill/check the tranny oil level? Did you have to alter the location of your engine mounts/height/angle?

Great Job!!

[HallJ]

Very nice job. :yes: The horizontal fin (stabilizer) , is that now from Arneson? I know Geoo made his and was what made his boat work properly. Any pics of the fin, or is it a one off by you?

The fin is made by Arneson. Its a cast bronze part.
I'll post pics after I install it.

Jeff

[HallJ]

Awesome job Jeff! I'm "beside myself" right now. Finally we have some first hand experience in the "bigger" boats.
I heard the horizontal stabilizer will do wonders for the handling & bow lift, it'll be very interesting to hear how you do with it.
Are you running the stock Rolla 3 blade? I have a 19 pitch 3 blade, which I'll probably use for the shake down run, but heard a 4 blade cleaver/surface is the best for this set-up.
In light of having the trannie in the extension box, how do you fill/check the tranny oil level? Did you have to alter the location of your engine mounts/height/angle?
Great Job!!
Nathan,
I am running A 20 pitch Rolla 3 blade. I think you may loose a bit of bow lift when you switch to the cleaver. It seems they are better for top end.
Unfourtunatly the fill/check for the velvet drive is at the same location as the transom cross section. That makes it hard to get at. I could have cut the hole a little bigger. Mine is an older style trannie that uses a 3/4" pipie plug with tha dip stick built in. I had to clearance it a little in order to get it in and out. I takes some patience.
The engine ended up 1.75'' further forward and about 1.5" further down.
It also seems a little flatter.
The engine is a "Tree Fity" making 364hp@5800 Rpm and 368lb/ft.@4600 Rpm
This is with the stock marine exhaust. Its down about 30 hp. when compared to 1.75 inch longtube headers.
I will try to get it out again on Friday.

Here is a vid getting on plane, no problem at all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBGMlOBHnY0

Jeff

[The Hedgehog]

That is a cool project. One that should prove to make you proud. Very hot.

[MOP]

Nate forget the cleaver George went to great lengths to get more lift out of the wheels a lot of rake and cup.

Phil

[DONZI]

Lookin great Jeff !
Thanks for posting updates and your E-mail. Keep the Vids coming.:yes:

This old tech post from Scott B might give you some added bow lift also.
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33672&highlight=trim+tabs





How'd you end up doing the shift cable ?


Cuda, Here's some of Jeff's 1st post's-
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=49342

[Cuda]

Now I know why I didn't see that post the first time. I know damn well I'd open any thread that said "Minx", or "Surface Drive", but I might skip on that said shifter cable. :)

I love the Minx model, when I first started frequenting this site, I looked at all the models, and decided a Minx is what I wanted. I looked for a year and a half before I bought Dale's Minx. If I hadn't bought the 22 for Debbie, I'd still have the Minx, but I made the mistake of putting it in her name, and the 22 sure wasn't going anywhere.:eek!::wink:

[Cuda]

I run four blade cleavers on my Formula with Kaama drives, which are basically the same thing. It tends to run a bit flat, as you can see in the pictures, but there is so much less drag in the water due to the surface drives, it doesn't seem to slow it down. My 302 runs a good 10 mph faster than a similarly powered 302 with a conventional drive. Some people say that surface drives are hard to manuever around docks, but I haven't had much trouble with it. Before someone says it's because I have twins, I generally come in with only on drive in gear, otherwise it's moving too fast. It's best to catch it right the first time, because as you pointed out, backing with a surface drive is problematic at best. I've had mine four years, and have had zero problems with the drives, though I did burn a transmission due to a leaking tranny cooling line.:bonk:

You're a man after my own heart, a Minx AND surface drive!:cool:

[MOP]

Joe there is an adapter to use Merc wheels on the Adrive, I got one with mine. I have watched some commercial boats with conventional style wheels dock and they do have fairly decent reverse, the cleavers are a draw back for good reverse. Cleavers are made for one thing forward motion with stern lift only!

Phil

[HallJ]

Lookin great Jeff !
Thanks for posting updates and your E-mail. Keep the Vids coming.:yes:
This old tech post from Scott B might give you some added bow lift also.
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33672&highlight=trim+tabs
How'd you end up doing the shift cable ?
Cuda, Here's some of Jeff's 1st post's-
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthread.php?t=49342


Good call on the trim tab mod. I think I will give it a try!

Jeff

[Boatless]

Joe there is an adapter to use Merc wheels on the Adrive, I got one with mine. I have watched some commercial boats with conventional style wheels dock and they do have fairly decent reverse, the cleavers are a draw back for good reverse. Cleavers are made for one thing forward motion with stern lift only!
Phil

This is not totally true.

A lot of things influence a boats handling and propellers are a large factor in this area.

Hydromotive makes a 5 bladed propeller that most of the Fountains use on their Bravo boats. This design has a straight rear edge and produces a lot more stern lift than a standard Bravo propeller.

Likewise, there are cleavers can give bow lift. Different tip shapes, rake angles and cup locations affects the bow height.

What works on one boat size cannot be blanketed to another. GEOO did not have a standoff box so there is a different leverage point with the project Jeff has put together.

As far as reverse, the # of blades affects this, the shape of the blades, the distance from the transom and more affect this function.

A cleaver has a Blunt edge at the rear so they are not as efficient when reversing, but they are not impossible to reverse either.

Once again using Hydromotive as an example, although they are a Bravo propeller they also do not reverse as well as a Merc Bravo prop.

[BigGrizzly]

The Hydromotive P%X is a copy of the bravo. There are several new players on the field with 5 blades which need to be explored Precision, turbo being one. in every case when we put 5 blades OXP in place of hydro every thing was better. Problem is surface drives doesn't have much exposure to prop guys, a very limited use.

[Cuda]

Joe there is an adapter to use Merc wheels on the Adrive, I got one with mine. I have watched some commercial boats with conventional style wheels dock and they do have fairly decent reverse, the cleavers are a draw back for good reverse. Cleavers are made for one thing forward motion with stern lift only!
Phil
I know they make an adapter to go from the 19 spline small shaft on my Kaamas that will allow the use of the big hub Merc props, but they cost $350 each, and it's not like they give those props away either.:eek!:

[DONZI]

<a href="http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2683229010101021175ctUNQC"><img src="http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/5991/2683229010101021175S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="arneson adapter"></a>http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/5991/2683229010101021175S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2683229010101021175ctUNQC)

[HallJ]

Hey,

I've got some pics of fin that came with my drive.
I have not run with it yet. There's an eccentric spacer to adjust the pitch.


Real good then,

Jeff

[Lenny]

Hey,
I've got some pics of fin that came with my drive.
I have not run with it yet. There's an eccentric spacer to adjust the pitch.
Real good then,
Jeff


Thanks for the pics. I see Arneson is now doing what Geoo "did" ... ;)

[Boatless]

Thanks for the pics. I see Arneson is now doing what Geoo "did" ... ;)

Ugh, I think it's the other way around.

It looks like those pieces that Jeff has are very old.

Didn't GEOO say that he got all his stuff from Arneson??

[HallJ]

Hi everyone,

I have run the boat with the horizontal stabilizer. I did the trick!
The bow runs quite a bit higher. I may try a little more pitch later.

The handling is good. The low speed manuvering is good as well. When your in tight spaces you have to remember that there is four feet of stuff hanging from the back of the boat!!!!!!

Reversing is no problem. In some situations reversing and steering moves the boat a bit lateral, it works out kind of nice when docking.

Once it's up on plane the prop really bites when you put the hammer down:yes:

The velvet drive (with some Huber Marine goodies) is great, it's almost my favorite part of the swap.

Hydraulic steering is also a welcomed addition. I havn't any top speed numbers yet, the cooling system needs a relief valve. I will try to install it soon.

Overall I quite happy with the swap. The rooster tail as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Jeff

[Boatless]

Congratulations. It is so rare to see someone try something outside of Merc, and there is also little support for people that do try that I feel you need all the encouragement you can get.

This site has its fair share of haters, if it isn't Merc it isn't right attitude, but with examples such as yours, it give us all hope and an alternative.

[Lenny]

This site has its fair share of haters, if it isn't Merc it isn't right attitude, but with examples such as yours, it give us all hope and an alternative.

..ahhh WHOM ??? :confused:

Everyone here has been GREAT over my last 7 years and we all entertain WHATEVER anyone brings to the table. Arneson, Kaama, E-Drive, 200-250-270-280-290 DPX, XDP, Blackhawk, V drive, Casale, Berkley, Eaton, Cobra, King Cobra, Alpha, B1-B2-B3, TRS, Speedmaster,...

I think we are pretty much open, friendly individuals...

:)

Once again, beatiful project on the MINX. SEE the difference between what Geoo had for a skeg horizontal trim and what you NOW have ???

[realbold]

Congrats! I seriously considered the same swap till I saw the price tag :eek!:
That and the cost of rocker plates... :eek!::eek!:

[XMETAL]

Ok I know its a 6 year old thread but have there been any updates. Now that I have the new boat and I know it wont get wet this year Im exploring ALL options. ASD is definately one of them!