--- In harryproa@..., "jjtctaylor" <jtaylor412@c...>
wrote:
> I can relate to that. Depends on your prop pitch. Most outboards
> are designed to go (1) way thus have their tips cupped for
> maximum thrust transfer aft. Of course going the other way it
just
> wastes energy off the tips directing it outward. If your prop is
> pitched with a flat pitch it should do as well fore and aft albeit
not
> as well in either direction unless you add a kort nozzle to control
> some of the lost outward thrust. Kort nozzles do well up to 15
> about knots before the drag outweighs the advantages.
>
> I think Rob plans to play with a nozzle at some point in
> development. However there a bunch of engineered solutions
> for manually rotating the outboard if that is your desire.
>
> I personally don't like outboards, and will opt for a single
electric
> drive. Higher thrust to weight ratio. Big prop 16-18 inches and
> rotating slower to get a decent bite. Need torque to do that and
> outboards get really large to handle that. Besides I got plenty to
> do maneuvering in tight quarters rather than try to remember
> which end has the best thrust OR having problems cause the
> prop is anemic working one direction.
>
> I gotta GOOooo in both directions or not happy in the marina.
>
> Regards,
>
> JT
>
Hi John,

Have you considered a couple of Etek motors instead of the Solomon
solution?
The advantages as I see them are:

-Less weight

-Similar power (if a cooling cowl with fan is employed)-
see Myles Twete's site,mentioned at-
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/electricboats/message/2478

-Better manoeverability - able to "turn on a dime"

-Less cost (much less) - a spare motor could even be included

You could still drive 16" propellors if you used a 4:1 gearbox, or
equivalent pulleys.

Regards,

Col Campey