Is it zee drive for you?

I was recently drawn to review the Hobie Mirage drive claims, and in doing revisited some of my HPB links and mail. One of the perhaps legitimate considerations over pedal/prop drives was that the bicycle-type cranking arrangement, however efficient, requires more vertical height. Even so its proponents like em.

Recently a new power arrangement has made its appearance: the Z-Drive:



Essentially two thin cables, connected to two sliding pedals, are wrapped in opposing directions around a drum which drives the prop/shaft using a very simple clutch arrangement. When you stop pedaling the shaft/prop freewheels.

Excellent!

It gets better:



The pedals now slide back and forth on a center bar which can be mounted as low as you please. Lower than a Hobie and way lower than the bicycle crank drives.

The whole system has great advantages:

1. Much simpler, much more durable than the Hobie or bicycle drives.

2. Cables can be mounted and run much more effectively. No need for speed robbing openings in your hull. The prop is more effectively sealed.

3. The prop freewheels, even further reducing drag over the Hobie/bicycle drives.

4. The system is smooth and much quieter than the Hobie.

5. The ultralow positioning adds considerable and noticeable stability.

I believe the HPB boys have done it again and we may be looking at the future of pedal power. Or maybe not...


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Link to more pics