Hydraulic outboards
 

I know I have discussed this before but i finally got a chance to look
over hydraulic motors. The idea is to use a gasoline engine inboard
on a boat and transmit the power via hydraulics to a hydraulic motor
that is submerged. This way you can have great flexibility of tilt
and trim etc. When we discussed this before, somebody said that
hydraulic motors have poor efficiency but efficiency ratings (rotary
power into hydraulic power) is commonly 75% and some are as high as
95%. RPM at the output might sound like an issue but I see rpms
listed as high as 2800rpm. Such a drive would have a very simple
transmission.

Hydraulic outboards
 

On Sep 11, 3:41*pm, wrote:
I know I have discussed this before but i finally got a chance to look
over hydraulic motors. *The idea is to use a gasoline engine inboard
on a boat and transmit the power via hydraulics to a hydraulic motor
that is submerged. *This way you can have great flexibility of tilt
and trim etc. *When we discussed this before, somebody said that
hydraulic motors have poor efficiency but efficiency ratings (rotary
power into hydraulic power) is commonly 75% and some are as high as
95%. *RPM at the output might sound like an issue but I see rpms
listed as high as 2800rpm. *Such a drive would have a very simple
transmission.

It's not my specialty, but I'll do some looking into that.

I don't really think it's the best way to go, but you might be onto
something.

Hydraulic outboards
 

wrote in message
...

I know I have discussed this before but i finally got a chance to look
over hydraulic motors. The idea is to use a gasoline engine inboard
on a boat and transmit the power via hydraulics to a hydraulic motor
that is submerged. This way you can have great flexibility of tilt
and trim etc. When we discussed this before, somebody said that
hydraulic motors have poor efficiency but efficiency ratings (rotary
power into hydraulic power) is commonly 75% and some are as high as
95%. RPM at the output might sound like an issue but I see rpms
listed as high as 2800rpm. Such a drive would have a very simple
transmission.

A guy tried something like that on a fairly large (36-38') sailboat at the
marina I have my boat at.
It was on the hard and everytime I walked by it, I was trying to figure out
what the strange protrusions were on the hull.
It had one on the rear, but also two more port and starboard of the keel,
about 5 feet from the stern. They appeared to be capable of rotating, as
well as providing power to a center shaft of some type.

Curiosity finally got to me, so I asked the lead mechanic at the marina what
it was all about. Turns out the boat owner was a hydraulics engineer of
some kind and had designed a hydraulic propulsion system, driven off his
small diesel power plant. It included the two, rotatable, hydraulically
powered "rudder" motors, plus a larger, main propulsion motor.

Apparently, it worked, but was prone to all kinds of problems. The boat was
on the hard in order to remove the entire system and return it to it's
original configuration.

However .... the Grand Banks we had was equipped with a hydraulic motor that
served as a stern thruster. It was mounted on the transom, obviously below
the waterline, and was powered by a pump driven by the main engine, with
stainless hydraulic lines running from the pump to the motor. Worked fine.

I'd hate to spring a leak in one of the hydraulic lines though, especially
if the Environmental Police or USCG happened to be nearby.

Eisboch

Hydraulic outboards
 

On Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:41:08 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

I know I have discussed this before but i finally got a chance to look
over hydraulic motors. The idea is to use a gasoline engine inboard
on a boat and transmit the power via hydraulics to a hydraulic motor
that is submerged. This way you can have great flexibility of tilt
and trim etc. When we discussed this before, somebody said that
hydraulic motors have poor efficiency but efficiency ratings (rotary
power into hydraulic power) is commonly 75% and some are as high as
95%. RPM at the output might sound like an issue but I see rpms
listed as high as 2800rpm. Such a drive would have a very simple
transmission.

They make a four HP electric outboard. I think it's 48 V. It would
nestle on the centerline, between two outboards or sterndrives, on a
twenties size fishboat, and it might be enough for trolling.

Casady

Hydraulic outboards
 

On Sep 11, 3:41*pm, wrote:
I know I have discussed this before but i finally got a chance to look
over hydraulic motors. *The idea is to use a gasoline engine inboard
on a boat and transmit the power via hydraulics to a hydraulic motor
that is submerged. *This way you can have great flexibility of tilt
and trim etc. *When we discussed this before, somebody said that
hydraulic motors have poor efficiency but efficiency ratings (rotary
power into hydraulic power) is commonly 75% and some are as high as
95%. *RPM at the output might sound like an issue but I see rpms
listed as high as 2800rpm. *Such a drive would have a very simple
transmission.

Well, Kaplan and Asoc. are doing it on a larger scale, but that might
give you something to look into. Man, thats a big lower end!

http://www.alkaplan.com/drives/