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  1. #1
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    Post 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!


    Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
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    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!

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  4. #3
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    side note: Happy Birthday , Greg, hope all is well !!
    why ask me ?


  5. #4
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    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.

  6. #5
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    I wonder if it has some type of swash plate like a helicopter does to constantly adjust pitch?

  7. #6
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    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!

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  9. #7
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    sooo big rich gotta fancy....... fukeme......lost.....

  10. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by tnelsmn View Post
    I wonder if it has some type of swash plate like a helicopter does to constantly adjust pitch?
    yes thats how variable pitch props on ships work. shaft goes down hollow prop shaft pushes on lever arm on blade inside hub

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  12. #9
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    A swash plate in a heli is totally different as it has 2 axis and pitch. Much more complex.

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  14. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Forkin' Crazy View Post
    A swash plate in a heli is totally different as it has 2 axis and pitch. Much more complex.
    agreed blades are doing different things at same time.
    cpp's much simpler.

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  16. #11
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    Yea, here is something to make your head swim...


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  18. #12
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    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!

  19. #13
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    Looks like a trolling motor on steroids.
    Jim

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