Talking of Props........Part 2

[JORIDAPILOT]

However, I don't think sterndrives are derivatives of outboards, although I'll always listen to reason and absolutely stand corrected. I remember my Grandfather and my Dad talking about engines and drives and I don't remember there being a link. As I understand it, outboards were originally designed for craft which were powered by oars, the sterndrive evolved through a necessity to reduce space within cruisers, that is, to put the engines in the stern to give more space within the boat itself.

Outboard engines historically, have been built for fast craft revving to 5,800rpm, whereas sterndrives are more.....how can I put it, well they have more grunt/muscle pushing tonnage at speed but not at the speed of outboards.

I found this article, which doesn't really say why but a development of the need to overcome the defficiencies of outboards and shaft drive inboards.
http://www.rbbi.com/folders/pat/isd.htm

[salamis]

A very good read Paul interesting the intrigue arround the development of the AVC drive. Something you might be intersted in Paul about the Volvo Aquamatic drive:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-Penta-Aqu ... 53dd142f0e

[JORIDAPILOT]

A very good read Paul interesting the intrigue arround the development of the AVC drive. Something you might be intersted in Paul about the Volvo Aquamatic drive:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-Penta-Aqu ... 53dd142f0e

This is Volvo Penta's take on the development
http://www.volvopenta.com/volvopenta/gl ... story.aspx

[Capn Jack]

Interesting reading from the memoirs of a US engineer. If you are to believe it....the two friends discussed an invention on a plane then fell out over a woman and the one who they say didn't invent it ran away to Volvo and lied to his teammates and to his company.

The fact remains that various inventions were drawn and registered long before these two yanks supposedly had the bright idea to invent the sterndrive on the back of outboards.

It is undeniable that Volvo were the first to bring it into production and that these 2 business men made it happen. It's equally true that they were not the first to come up with the idea, in addition I still think that the sterndrive was developed on the back of producing a drive system which not only brought the propellers from under the boat but which allowed larger engines which produced more power into smaller boats and which gave cruisers more room. When I was little, I'm sure a boat we had, used an Enfield drive, made in Britain, it was a long time ago and I'm think there is a picture somewhere in my mums attic.

Typically when the yanks get hold of an idea they want to claim all the glory, but they should have credit for taking the risk to produce it. An example is....who invented the light bulb, in fact it was an Englishman called Humphry Davy and not Thomas Edison, to credit Edison, he made it work!