FORUM CHAT Surface drives

irbcoomer asks I’m rebuilding an early Fletcher Arrowbolt – slow progress due to work, funds etc, but getting there. The project is shortly getting a cash injection and part of this will be used to replace the 5.0 V8 with a 5.7. This will yield a few extra horses and has focused attention on the ageing Alpha One drive. While I don’t believe there are any issues with this, it’s going to be marginal on coping with the extra power, so that got me thinking about alternatives. As I’ve replaced the transom and not yet cut out for the drive, I have a blank canvas and I wondered about fitting a surface drive instead! While a new Arneson set-up is a bit excessive on a cost basis, there are other types of surface drive from Levi, Seafury, SDS, Q-SPD etc. Pricing seems elusive, but I’m guessing if I need to ask, it will be eye-watering! I did find an entry-level Arneson used in the US for $7,500, but shipping a pallet from America won’t be cheap. I wondered if anyone had done anything similar and was willing to share experiences, good or bad? FARSCO says Have you thought about a jet-drive? Not sure if you could get the engine far enough forward but a jet fletcher would be awesome! Mapism says The answer to your good or bad question is bound to be the latter – a single surface drive on a 21ft boat is a recipe for nightmare manoeuvrability. A great combo for the Fletcher would be a Mercury Racing 2.5 EFI – a glorious 2- stroke outboard that revs to the sky! You’ll need a bit of luck finding a good used one though – I don’t think it’s produced anymore. Good luck anyway, whatever repowering you go for. Longjohnsilver says You’re mad!