17 August 2004:
CatCanDo Story
Published in Trade A Boat September 2004

Q-SPD chosen as best option for Stern Drive Retrofit

When Cat-Can-Do Charters owner/operator Ian Riddell decided to change his propulsion from stern drives, he had good reasons. He wanted to reduce his maintenance bill, increase reliability and reduce risk of damage, yet did not want to lose performance. So he chose to use Q-SPD SD series surface drives which offer virtually zero maintenance, are lightweight and offer similar performance characteristics to the duo-prop stern drives he had already.

Cat-Can-Do was previously powered by twin 200hp DP stern drives. This retrofit involved replacing the entire engine and drive package with Hino 210hp engines, running though ZF63 and coupled to Q-SPD SD100 surface drives with 4 blade 22” Q-SPD propellers. Before this operation, Cat-Can-Do had a top speed of around 29knots. After the refit, Cat-Can-Do boasts a healthy 33 knots and fuel consumption averages 13 ltrs/hour on typical charter fishing trips. The twin rudders provide exceptional tracking and steering control even in large sea conditions and low speed usability is excellent.

The Q-SPD drive system is designed with low maintenance in mind. It uses water lubricated shaft bearings so there is no risk of fishing lines damaging seals. The composite body will not corrode and is easy to anti-foul and maintain, and there are no external hydraulics to get damaged by the harsh marine environment.

Q-SPD is designed and manufactured in New Zealand by Propulsion Alternatives Ltd of Auckland. Since the release of the SD series last year, inquiries for this purpose built stern drive alternative has been huge. The SD100 is now in production and being sold worldwide, including USA, South Africa, Sweden and UK and many production builders are now offering Q-SDP as a standard drive option. This month the larger model SD150 begins production making the Q-SPD SD series suitable for boats up to 14,000kg (twin drives).

In addition to the SD series a whole range of Q-SPD solutions are available for up to 2500hp, with their largest project to date to supply drive systems for 8 x 25 meter motor yachts being build in Denmark, each powered by twin 2000hp MTU engines and will be have top speeds well in excess of 45 knots.

 

05 April 2004
Q-SPD Enters European Market

Q-SPD Surface Drives are finding good acceptance in Europe, with several orders received from leading production boat builders, including orders for the new SD150 drive system for a range of 39’ production cruisers in Sweden, with expectations of 10 to 20 boat sets per year. Another order is for 2 ship sets of Q-SPD 400 FD drives for Royal Denships’ 80’ Open super-yachts, each using twin 2000hp MTU engines with expected speeds of around 45 knots.

Q-SPD was introduced first into Europe at the Southampton Boat Show in September last year. The response has been extremely pleasing. The biggest attraction to Q-SPD is its lightweight composite construction, lowest maintenance, highest quality, realistic pricing and flexibility of design that allows easy integration into many different applications. Custom designed and CNC machined propellers provide exceptional performance and smooth operation. Of course good looks help too.

Q-SPD is designed and manufactured in New Zealand by Propulsion Alternatives Ltd of Auckland. Since the release of the SD series last year, inquiries for this purpose built stern drive alternative has been huge. “Our first production run was for 12 units which have all sold quickly. All but 2 of these are to New Zealand clients including Silver Tiger Catamarans who have ordered drives for there next 2 builds. Others are being used on either new builds or as retrofits of old stern drives.” Now the order book is filling fast for the next production run.

Propulsion Alternatives continue to supply Q-SPD solutions for production a production power cat builder in Florida using Q-SPD 300 TP adjustable and trimable drives. Another US project is an 80’ Passenger Ferry in which will achieve 60 knots from 4 x 1000hp engines and purpose built trimable Q-SPD drives.

Q-SPD Surface drives are available for power range from 150hp to 2500hp in fixed, adjustable and trimable configurations.

 

 

12 June 2003
News Release, New Product

“Design Award for Innovative Stern Drive Alternative”

The Industry New Zealand Innovative Design Award was presented to Propulsion Alternative Ltd at The Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show 2003 Boat Show, in recognition for innovative excellence in the use of new materials and design of Q-SPD propulsion systems.

The Q-SPD SD series uses advanced surface piercing technology to deliver superior performance from lightweight, low maintenance propulsion package. The Q-SPD SD offers the perfect alternative to stern drives for either new builds or as a retrofits or re-power option. The SD drive mounts directly to a 10º to 12º transom and will cover an original stern drive footprint, so is compatible for most stern drive refits. There are two Q-SPD SD models available for 150hp to 440hp diesel power.

Construction is almost all composite, except for the shaft, thrust assembly, rudder and propeller, Q-SPD is manufactured entirely from Carbon/Glass Fibre and Epoxy. Even the adjustable stern tube is all composite, so no corrosion or electrolysis. All manufacturing is of then highest quality.

The Q-SPD SD is very compact, occupying a similar operating envelope as most stern drives and when combined with a marine transmission, the installed weight of the Q-SPD SD is about the same as an equivalent stern drive system. With the ability to turn up to a 600mm (24”) diameter propeller, Q-SPD SD can be used in single engine applications up to 5000kg and twin applications up to around 11,000kg depending on boat design and speed.

Maintenance is virtually zero as there are few moving parts and all hydraulics, couplings and linkages are inboard. The Q-SPD SD has an integral thrust bearing. Propeller immersion and angle is adjustable ±3º to optimize performance. Exhaust ventilates the propeller for fast acceleration and low planing speed. The specially designed propellers are CNC machined for best accuracy and quality providing for exceptional smoothness and quiet operation. The unique twin rudders provide exceptional manoeuvrability and offer particular advantage for single drive installations.

Propulsion Alternatives manufacture drive systems for up to 2000 hp and offer a wide range of drive line solutions with a particular emphasis on smoother and quieter boating.

 

14 April 2003
New Drive Module for Q-SPD Range

Propulsion Alternatives have developed a new drive module for its range of Composite surface drives systems. The Q-SPD 250 FX module is a fixed drive module that offers the option to adjust the propeller position at sea trials in order to tune the propeller in for optimum performance.

The propeller shaft is adjusted using a unique sealed pivoting thrust bearing housed inside a ball joint, offering a nominal shaft angle of 6º ±3º or ±2” propeller immersion adjustment. Unlike other adjustable drive systems, the thrust unit is inboard for easier care and longer life.

Surface propellers operate partially submerged so changing the propeller immersion can be likened to changing the propellers diameter. At the same time the shaft angle alters changing the direction of thrust relative to the boats centre of gravity. This combination allows tuning the propulsion system without expensive propeller modifications and down time as needed with most fixed drive systems.

The adjustable thrust block is isolated from the hull using a large damper bush so propeller noise is kept to a minimum. Thrust is taken on the transom, not the engine mounts or beds. Long life seals and bearings are used through-out and the stern-tube is water lubricated, providing maintenance free operation for many 1000’s of hours. Exhaust is directed into the main drive body to help ventilate the propeller. As with all Q-SPD drive systems, the main body of the 250 FX is laminated using carbon/glass fibre and epoxy resulting in light weight, very strong and corrosion free. All metal components are stainless steel.

Q-SPD 250 FX drive systems are being supplied to production boat builders in the USA for 15m motor yachts and sports fishers. The 250FX is suitable for a power range from 400hp to 1000 hp and can be used with the Q-SPD’s transom mounted or under-platform mounted rudder system. It can be offered for different transom angles to suit the application and is also available in direct drive mode without adjustment, and with or without integrated thrust bearing.

Propulsion Alternatives offers a range of surface drive systems for up to 2000hp. Also due to be released this month is the Q-SPD SD100 which will provide an alternative to Stern Drives and capable of accepting up to 440hp.

 

Sept 2001
Editorial - WBW

PROPULSION ALTERNATIVES LTD uses Carbon Fibre to create the world’s lightest surface drive.

Q-SPD surface drives system are claimed to be the lightest surface drives in their class, and yet pack the ability to absorb more power than many other equivalent sized systems. The use of aerospace technology and latest composite construction techniques ensures that the maximum strength and durability is achieved for the minimum possible weight.

Q-SPD was developed by Leigh Michau, Managing Director of Propulsion Alternatives Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand, in response to the worldwide need for speed. As boat and engine weights decrease, and power and performance abilities, not to mention expectations increase designers and builders all over the world are looking for light weight modern drive solutions.

"I believe Q-SPD is lighter than any other surface drive system in its class. What's more it is probably stronger and requires less maintenance than any other system. The stern tube is fully water lubricated and the long life bearings are virtually maintenance free. Of course being composite, there is no fear of corrosion.

Q-SPD has a trimable propeller and uses a trailing rudder for steering. This combination provides the TRUE ultimate in surface drive performance at all speeds. Building in composites also makes it easy to be flexible about design and application. There are many options for configuring Q-SPD solutions into both new and existing vessels. "Currently we are manufacturing drive systems that will absorb up to around 1000hp, but we can respond to even higher power very efficiently due to the advanced composite manufacturing methods used.

To complete this propulsion package, Propulsion Alternatives work with some of the worlds leading propeller manufacturers, so can coordinate the best propeller for the job. Further more, “we specify only ISO484 Class 1 or better tolerances for all applications. This is the only way to ensure best quality and performance is achieved.

The test boat was an ideal platform for testing the Q-SPD system drives, as this boat already had fixed surface drives installed. The retrofit of Q-SPD in October 2000 proved the many advantages of the new system. This boat is a 48 foot sports boat, is 8 tonnes loaded and is powered by twin Yamaha ME420 diesel engines each producing 240hp. Notable performance advantages included faster acceleration, smoother and quicker transition through the ventilation zone along with quieter and smoother operation at all speeds. Small gains in top end speed were also recognised, but most notable is that the ability to trim the propeller resulted in 3 to 4 knots better speed at the same rpm in the mid range and cruise speed. Further, the vessel stays on step longer than was possible with the fixed system. These performance advantages can be attributed to Q-SPDs ability to trim the propeller for optimum performance, effective ventilation and a number of other special design features.

Propulsion Alternatives' initial target market has been high-speed pleasure craft where the demands for performance are high. We are currently supplying solutions to boat builders in USA where Q-SPD will be used in production and semi-production sport fishing boats and pleasure boats, capable of speeds up to 50 knots and more. There has also been keen interest in the system for pleasure craft, high speed ferries and pursuit vessels in Australia, USA and South East Asia.

Propulsion Alternatives Ltd also represents a number of other marine propulsion products in New Zealand including the renowned UltraJet water jet drive system form the UK, Bruntons Propellers, AUTOPROP Automatic Variable Pitch Propellers and Python Drive flexible coupling systems.