User Tag List
Thanks: 0
Results 1 to 13 of 13
-
04-25-2022, 12:42 AM #1
Fred Kiekhaefer Awarded Patent For New Surface Drive
Most of us know Fred Kiekaefer, as not only the son of the founder of Mercury Marine, Carl Kiekaefer, but as the former president of Mercury Racing. And we all know his engineering and design accomplishments there represent the very soul of Mercury Racing.
After leaving from Mercury Racing, Fred started his own company, K.Lab Design Works, and has just received a patent for a surfacing drive with a cockpit-controlled variable-pitch propeller. Originally known as Project Dolphin, this drive is intended for larger, heaver performance boats, and the prototype unit shown below was tested on a 39-foot deep V-bottom hull.
Back at the Mercury Marine press event in Miami for the introduction of the 3.4-liter four-stroke V6, Kiekhaefer was there and he showed me drawings for what would become this new drive. Moving forward, I'm sure we can expect some really groundbreaking innovations from K.Lab Design Works, and I am definitely looking forward to that!
-
-
04-25-2022, 01:39 AM #2
Nice to have Fred in the mix. Interesting. That hub looks huge.
1990 Shadow bass boat w/ 2.4 200 Merc. Totally resto'd boat and love it!
-
Forkin' Crazy liked this post
-
04-25-2022, 09:46 AM #3
side note: Happy Birthday , Greg, hope all is well !!
why ask me ?
-
04-28-2022, 11:00 AM #4
That is really interesting. Adjustable blades. I wonder how they change pitch. I used to have a variable pitch prop that used springs to adjust the pitch. The springs kept breaking. Fred is a really smart guy, and I am sure he figured it out. I also wonder if this for performance boats or cruisers.
Last edited by Brad Zastrow; 04-28-2022 at 11:03 AM.
-
04-28-2022, 11:33 AM #5
I wonder if it has some type of swash plate like a helicopter does to constantly adjust pitch?
'78 Hydrostream Viking/'98 225 ProMax
Restoration: https://www.screamandfly.com/showthr...Viking-rebuild
Pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/152974...57708863869223
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/tnels
-
04-28-2022, 11:50 AM #6
I would think it would adjust like an aircraft constant speed propeller. They are either actuated from oil pressure or electric.
And with all the monkey motion, the hub has to be that big. It is a surface drive, so it doesn't really matter.
Cool stuff!!! And the skeg bolts on??? Wow!
-
04-29-2022, 02:43 AM #7Screaming And Flying!
- Join Date
- Dec 2001
- Posts
- 9,502
- Thanks (Given)
- 23
- Thanks (Received)
- 269
- Likes (Given)
- 191
- Likes (Received)
- 1975
- Mentioned
- 0 Post(s)
- Tagged
- 0 Thread(s)
sooo big rich gotta fancy....... fukeme......lost.....
-
04-29-2022, 05:41 AM #8Screaming And Flying!
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- Singapore/Melbourne/Italy
- Posts
- 9,096
- Thanks (Given)
- 1008
- Thanks (Received)
- 354
- Likes (Given)
- 4296
- Likes (Received)
- 1950
- Mentioned
- 7 Post(s)
- Tagged
- 0 Thread(s)
-
tnelsmn liked this post
-
04-29-2022, 10:45 AM #9
A swash plate in a heli is totally different as it has 2 axis and pitch. Much more complex.
-
tnelsmn liked this post
-
04-29-2022, 07:05 PM #10Screaming And Flying!
- Join Date
- Jun 2007
- Location
- Singapore/Melbourne/Italy
- Posts
- 9,096
- Thanks (Given)
- 1008
- Thanks (Received)
- 354
- Likes (Given)
- 4296
- Likes (Received)
- 1950
- Mentioned
- 7 Post(s)
- Tagged
- 0 Thread(s)
-
tnelsmn, Forkin' Crazy liked this post
-
05-05-2022, 10:37 AM #11
Yea, here is something to make your head swim...
-
powerabout liked this post
-
07-21-2022, 02:38 PM #12Platinum Team Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2008
- Location
- Maine
- Posts
- 179
- Thanks (Given)
- 113
- Thanks (Received)
- 21
- Likes (Given)
- 204
- Likes (Received)
- 159
- Mentioned
- 0 Post(s)
- Tagged
- 0 Thread(s)
Surfacing with a bolt on skeg?
Thankfully, that family has forgotten more than most of us know when it comes to these things..
Awesome post!
-
07-21-2022, 03:38 PM #13
Looks like a trolling motor on steroids.
Jim
Similar Threads
-
That's not a surface drive... THIS is a surface drive!
By home made tunnel in forum General Boating DiscussionReplies: 3Last Post: 08-13-2017, 05:17 PM -
Breaking News: Fred Kiekhaefer will leave Mercury Marine
By Scream And Fly in forum General Boating DiscussionReplies: 9Last Post: 12-07-2012, 06:28 PM -
Article: Fred Kiekhaefer Will Leave Mercury Marine
By Scream And Fly in forum vBCms CommentsReplies: 0Last Post: 12-06-2012, 02:20 AM