Prop to Strut Distance

[alohajeff]

I had the boat off the water for the first time in two months and decided it was time to correct something that had been nagging at me for a while. There was approximately 1-1/4" space between the prop and the strut. I cut .720" off the shaft and it has changed the boat for the better. It carries the bow nicely now and I picked up a nice chunk of top end MPH. It also reduced the bow steer and made the steering feel less grabby. All in all, one of the best mods I've done to the boat only cost me a blade and some time.

My question... does anyone know how Spectra set up their V-drives from the factory? Was it common for a V-drive Spectra to have a LOT of space between the prop and strut? What sort of prop to strut spacing are the Spectra V-drive owners running?

Aloha

[CampbellCarl]

Jeff,
On my Howard 24' (Spectra clone), it's currently not enough to get the prop puller in between the prop and the strut. I'd guess it at 1/8 - 1/4". I have to disconnect the shaft at the v-drive, slide the shaft back a little then get the puller in there. I wanna add 1/4 - 1/2" so pulling the prop ain't so much of a pain in the ass.
Carl

[alohajeff]

Jeff,
On my Howard 24' (Spectra clone), it's currently not enough to get the prop puller in between the prop and the strut. I'd guess it at 1/8 - 1/4". I have to disconnect the shaft at the v-drive, slide the shaft back a little then get the puller in there. I wanna add 1/4 - 1/2" so pulling the prop ain't so much of a pain in the ass.
Carl

How does your boat handle now? I am very surprised at how radical a change the prop to strut distance made on a boat this big and heavy. I'd expect it on a big engine flat hull, but on this V-hull 24' tank I didn't think I'd notice the handling difference as much as I have. I left the space I did for two reasons, one, prop pulling ability, two, the key way groove in the shaft only allowed me to cut so much before I started to loose key way engagment between the flange and the shaft.

Aloha

[CampbellCarl]

How does your boat handle now? I am very surprised at how radical a change the prop to strut distance made on a boat this big and heavy. I'd expect it on a big engine flat hull, but on this V-hull 24' tank I didn't think I'd notice the handling difference as much as I have. I left the space I did for two reasons, one, prop pulling ability, two, the key way groove in the shaft only allowed me to cut so much before I started to loose key way engagment between the flange and the shaft.

Aloha



Jeff
I think that it handles well and carries the bow about right. I got the boat this way so I don't know anything any other way. No bow steer with this setup (actually no bow steer or any other kinda steer). No turn fin so on plane it takes about 100 yards to get the thing to turn around. Got a fin from Gary Hairebedian and gonna install that, should help turn the boat. Pulling the strut today for replacement (broke over Labor Day week).
Carl