What's up guys....I'm back! Now tell me about these scale TFL drives!

[ScarabChris]

Some of you might remember me. I may be responsible for the scale center console and twin scale outboard craze with my Scarab Sport build back in 2010. I also did the big 54" Fountain with massive twin brushless motors and MHZ surface drives.

I still have all my boats and have added a crap load of cars, trucks and a few drones to the madness. I have been out of the boats for a while. Just pulling them off the shelf now and then for a quick run in the canal.

But I have that 50" Apache hull that used to be a Zenoah gasser. I bought a pair of Graupner drives and never got the build started. I see the hobby has evolved. Now I want to do the 50" Apache with scale Merc drives and brushless motors. But I don't think the Graupner drives will handle the power I want to give the boat.

The drives are held on with one screw, never had a motor attached and never touched water.

Now...tell me about the TFL drives. Will a pair be suitable for a 50" hull and how much power can I give them?

[Peter A]

If you are asking about the TFL P1 outdrive, it has a 2960 2200kv motor on it. I think perhaps a bit small for a 50" boat unless maybe you put three of them on it. I have a 30" dumas scarab hull that is in the (taking it's time) process of being set up with one of these drives. When I eventually get around to finishing prepping and painting the hull it will get put together and run.

20170531_105452.jpg20170903_151257.jpg

[ScarabChris]

Yes the P1 drives on OSE for $219. Hmmm...small for a 50" huh? Small in terms of scale or power to get the boat moving?

[srislash]

Chris, how are you doing? What size is the hull you have in the pics? Is that the Apache?
As far as steerable scale like drives there are a few out there and they may even suit a 50” hull. Werner at WD200 RC has some as Does MHZ Wilkomen.
I am going to attempt making some Arneson style ones quite soon here for a 40” hull that I am doing a single build on.

[ScarabChris]

Yes the hull in the picture is the 50" Apache. I was going to do the build using those Graupner drives but I don't think those can take a lot of power. I'm not looking to make a 60 MPH boat, this will be another scale build but 35-40 MPH with some scale Merc sterndrives would be nice.

[ScarabChris]

Well...I wasn't going to use these Graupner 820 drives until I saw this video. This is what I'm looking to do, more of a scale build so I don't need a 50+ MPH boat. Think I'll give them a try after seeing this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpidgpvVwoU

[Kmot]

Hey Chris, how thick is the transom on your Apache? Because the stock drive coupler was too short for my hull with a 1/4" or so transom thickness and I had to make longer drive couplers. Just a heads up.

[ScarabChris]

Hey Chris, how thick is the transom on your Apache? Because the stock drive coupler was too short for my hull with a 1/4" or so transom thickness and I had to make longer drive couplers. Just a heads up.

It's a standard transom in a 50" Apache and having the drives mocked up I know exactly what you're talking about. Easy to rectify though, I can grind out some of the wood where the drive coupler comes in. Yours is the boat in the video I posted above correct? Most useful was your close up of the steering. I think I may steer just one drive and use an external tie bar.

Search my threads here and see some of the builds I did.

[Kmot]

Yeah that's my AMG boat. I will be looking forward to your build of the Apache using the Graupner Z-820 drives. :)

[ScarabChris]

Yeah that's my AMG boat. I will be looking forward to your build of the Apache using the Graupner Z-820 drives. :)

Yup I am going to do a build thread. I have had all the parts for years, motors, cooling jackets, various plumbing parts, ESC's, etc all bought from Steve here at OSE. I don't remember where I bought the new in the box Graupner drives from. I think I bought the first pair on ebay used, tried to use them on my 54" Fountain build with massive brushless motors and quickly blew the gears in one. I bought a brand new pair of drives but decided to go with MHZ surface drives on the 54" Fountain and that boat is nasty fast!.

For the scale Apache 50 build I bought all the stuff back in 2011 and life got in the way. I bought a new (real) boat, my business took off, I moved to a new house, etc....and the 50" Apache scale build just got left on the shelf.

[fweasel]

Can't wait to see this progress. I love scale power boat builds.

[ScarabChris]

Doing some mods to the Graupner Z-820 outdrives. Sneak peak of just one mod in progress.

[Kmot]

Wow, you are re-shaping the housing?

[ScarabChris]

Wow, you are re-shaping the housing?

I'll post the pics on this in the build thread.

[ScarabChris]

Considering buying a pair of these drives and putting them away for a future project. But looking at their YouTube video....am I correct to assume the top gear set is not sealed from water? Just a screw on cover with a dab of grease?

At the 0:44 mark...what about the gears in the lower unit?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJY_dA-WB4U