Axius Drives

L

LBDboater

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2004
RO Number
15780
Messages
127
This is just a food for thought/random thinking question I had. Would Axius stern drives be able to handle a boat such as 75-90' aluminum monohull houseboat? We have two houseboats in our marina which are around these sizes, both utilizing typical sterndrive applications. One of them has bow and stern thrusters, the other, none. Handling these boats in any kind of a breeze is less than enjoyable. Would Axius be able to independently steer the boat and have the same effect where its center to pivot on is so far away from the props themselves?

I have yet to see any of the big houseboat manufacturers (Sumerset, etc.) offer these new technologies, and knowing the little bit that I do with physics and boat handling, my initial assumption is no.
 
My initial assumption is the same as yours. I'm sure independent drive articulation would improve the handling, but I doubt those little props located beyond the transom would have enough bite and leverage to allow the kind of handling that we see in Axius-equipped 30 footers.
 
I have a little different outlook on that project.
My Brother lives in a Houseboat on the Columbia river OR.
He calls a Tug company to do the moving.

Once in a Flood, his whole moorage, lot's of houses,walkways with sheds, etc broke loose and went down river to a mud flat.
The Tug's put it right back in place.

Take the Power out of those Houseboats, sell that stuff, and use the space for better functions.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Thudpucker

I have a little different outlook on that project.
My Brother lives in a Houseboat on the Columbia river OR.
He calls a Tug company to do the moving.

Once in a Flood, his whole moorage, lot's of houses,walkways with sheds, etc broke loose and went down river to a mud flat.
The Tug's put it right back in place.

Take the Power out of those Houseboats, sell that stuff, and use the space for better functions.

Click to expand...


Agree, but it depends on the state. Boat taxes are much less than RE taxes in VA. Some folks do just that and hang a couple of outboards on brackets on the back. Sometimes they work....sometimes they don't!
 
In the Harbors in SE AK, the rule was:"The boat had to be movable on its own power" so a lot of livaboards had an Outboard on the stern somewhere.
Livaboards need more room than mobility. Outboards on brackets are a good idea. One in front and one in back with Cell phones or WalkieTalkies.
 
I've seen a lot of houseboats with outboards for that reason, simply because it was required by local rules. It was rarely used and I'm not sure if it would even run. If I were to build another houseboat I'd seriously consider the same thing; or possibly build a separate pushboat for it. The pushboat could also be used for fishing, as a "dinghy", etc.
 
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