T&T: Cape Horn Trawlers and Azimuth Drives

[jwyachts]

There were 5 Cape Horn Trawlers built with Z-drives: Eden Bound, CH  
#1;  3 were on CH 63s; and the last was on Anjumal, a 2003 CH 65 owned  
by Wray West who has provided great information on his post. Serious  
Freedom, hull #3, has a hydraulic V-drive (not Z-drive) which provides  
engine room layout flexibility and eliminates the need for a shaft.  
Serious Freedom is the Cape Horn that Mike Maurice delivered from Nova  
Scotia to PNW discussed in his post. Perhaps the fuel consumption or  
rpm issue were because of break-in of a new boat - I can't say, Mike  
is the experienced voice on the delivery of which he wrote. Serious  
Freedom consumes 6-7gph at 1700-1850 rpm at 7-8 knot cruise. There was  
a hydraulic seal leak when new which Thrustmaster took care of and in  
the 9 years since, the owner has never needed to add hydraulic fluid.

The Z-drive, which is a 360 degree propeller system, on the 5 CHs  
provides maneuverability at sea and at the docks. As well, it provides  
as much power "in reverse" as it does in forward. The elimination of a  
transmission and shaft is, well, elimination of the inherent problems  
thus associated. All of the CHs with Z-drives, except Anjumal, are  
hydraulic. Wray's mechanical system does eliminate the hydraulic hum  
and the efficiency loss. One 63 owner says his loss is minimal;  
another says there is efficiency loss but worth it. That owner burns  
9.5 - 10 gph at 8 knots; when slowing to 6 to 6.5 knots, the  
consumption is about a gallon a mile. One owner attributes the Z-drive  
to the immediacy of self-righting when he was rolled during the  
tsunami in Phuket. Wray can speak for himself, but I have emails from  
the other owners who say they would never have a yacht that didn't  
have a Z-drive. One of these owners has cruised his CH since 1997, one  
is the original owner since 1999, and one has owned his CH 63 for 8  
years.

The Cape Horn Z-drives were made by Thrustmaster in Texas. The owners  
report excellent service from them. Other than routine inspection and  
greasing, the units should not need anything for 10,000 hours.  
Thrustmaster, whose primary user is commercial, has many international  
locations now that weren't available when most of the units were  
installed at the Cape Horn yard in Nova Scotia. The original pricing  
for the Z-drive option was $120,000.

Judy Waldman
JW Yachts