Bravo drive propeller shaft bearing carrier

Abstract

A propeller drive system for V-hull and catamaran racing vessels including an offshore racing cleaver propeller run on a long, thick propeller shaft coupled with a Bravo Unit Drive Motor at, and above, the water's surface through a tightly fitted bearing carrier.

1 . In a stern-mounted propulsion system for a marine vessel of the type having a Bravo Unit Drive Motor, a bearing carrier at an output end of said motor, a propeller shaft coupled to said motor via said bearing carrier and having a splined first end and a threaded second end, and an offshore racing cleaver propeller on said threaded second end, the improvement comprising a bearing carrier to securely fit and support said propeller shaft when being of a length and girth to ride above the surface of the water through which the vessel is propelled.  
   
   
       2 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said bearing carrier securely fits and supports said propeller shaft when being of a length and girth to ride to a height of 2-½ inches above the surface of the water through which the marine vessel is propelled.  
   
   
       3 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said bearing carrier through which said propeller shaft couples includes an apertured front end of a diameter to receive said threaded end of said propeller shaft and an apertured rear end of a diameter to receive said splined end of said shaft.  
   
   
       4 . The improvement of  claim 3  wherein the aperture of said apertured front end is of a diameter of substantially 2.900 inches and wherein the aperture of said apertured rear end is of a diameter of substantially 3.865 inches.  
   
   
       5 . The improvement of  claim 4  wherein said apertured front end is of a diameter of substantially 4.305 inches and wherein said apertured rear end is of a diameter of substantially 4.283 inches.  
   
   
       6 . The improvement of  claim 5  wherein said bearing carrier is of a length between said front and rear apertured ends of substantially 4.900 inches.  
   
   
       7 . The improvement of  claim 6  wherein said bearing carrier is composed of hard anodized, billeted aircraft  2024  aluminum.