T&T: Thoughts on hydraulics

[Rudy and Jill Sechez]

Dave-

I will second Jim's thoughts on hydraulics. We installed a hydraulics to propel our previous boat- motor attached the engine, the pump attached to the shaft. Easy installation, very limited maintenance, extremely dependable, easy repairs if needed and hydraulic parts available anywhere heavy equipment is sold and often where auto parts are sold. 

The great thing about hydraulics is that it is not subjected to the vagaries of electricity and, as long as the engine runs, there is unlimited user time, unlike battery operated systems; plus a hydraulic system's power does not diminish, as it would with a battery operated system, if used longer than what the battery was sized for.

Another thing that we liked was, since the speed of the shaft was governed by how far the valve was opened, the engine rpm to shaft rpm ratio was able to be changed (same idea as changing the gear ratio in a transmission) by altering the valve setting. This allowed us more flexibility in picking prop sizes, often allowing considerable savings on props since we had a wider choice of props when looking for one in a used-prop shop. We could often make use of what was available instead of being forced to buy only a specific size.

Rudy
Briney Bug- Port St Joe, Fl