Dog Clutch to Soft Clutch, Auto

Product Description

This is a Precision Marine evaluation.

Should you change your ski boat from dog clutch drive to soft-clutch or auto drive???
This is a question we get quite often from the owners.
Precision Marine's answer in short is No.

It entails a great deal of alterations and experience in turning the engine around and driving the propshaft from the flywheel end.
The propshaft angle requires changing to a greater angle of about 17 or 18 degrees to allow the engine to remain in about the same position and to maintain clearance between the flywheel and the bottom of the hull.
This requires a new skeg and redrilling the hole in a different position.
Replacement of the log base to accommodate the steeper propshaft angle.
The propshaft requires shortening and new keyway cut.
The prop has to be changed from a RH rotation to a LH rotation.
Depending on original engine mounts as they my need changing.
Some rewiring will be necessary owing to the different position of the external electrics.
Hopefully the engine hatch could be turned around and be high enough.
Most cases it is not possible to move the engine forward and maintaining seat to engine cover clearance.
The handling affects of the boat ride may change owing to the steeper propshaft angle.
The prop will have a more lifting effect which should put the hull onto the plane quicker but could drive the nose down more when under-way.
Many boats from years gone by are more suited for a dog clutch drive system for the best performance and handling as often a little shorter than modern length boats which suits soft-clutch or auto with forward, neutral, and reverse.

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