Thoughts On Hydraulic Drive To Prop !

[adrianh]

As an engineer with experience of hydraulic drives, and seeing some of the boat installations, I would steer well clear of a hydraulic drive.

They are expensive, will require the correct design and installation ( which I have yet to see on a boat) to ensure a long operating life without problems.

They require a much higher level of maintenance than something like a PRM gearbox ( cost £750 ish plus drive plate). When they do go wrong it will be expensive to repair and require specialist knowledge.

A hydraulic system wastes a lot of power in friction of the oil - ie heating of the oil.

 

Unless you have a special need for a hydraulic drive I would not use this on a boat.

[MtB]

 

Wow ! Thanks guys, Love the forum it's just what we want to know, Is something possible or not, & at this point i think it might be the way to go, Can't see too many disadvantages .

 

 

Have to say, it doesn't seem as though you've looked very hard then!

[BGA]

 

 

DC

 

Just to clarify, are you saying yes you use Hydraulic drive so yes it is possible, Yes it is in use and Yes it is useless??

Yes

[Pete of Ebor]

We once had a hire boat with hydraulic transmission, but it had what appeared to be a standard Morse controller. It didn't run at a constant engine speed, but the Morse throttled the engine as in any 'normal' boat. It does mean that the engine could be fitted transverse, or even at the front, thouigh there may be some loss of power with long hydraulic pipe runs. No idea how the BSS would take to hydraulic pipewwork in the cabin.

Edited July 2, 2015 by Pete of Ebor

[Timleech]

We have hydraulic drive on our tug, to allow transverse engine and get round issues over prop shaft height. Variable displacement pump, swash plate motor, all suplied/specified by ARS Anglian diesels. It works very well, but I have to say that it's rather noisy at higher speeds. This it seems is in part because I plumped for solid pipework for the main runs.

 

I'm quite happy with the fuel efficiency, but we do have a large slow-turning prop.

 

Tim