WAKE ADJUSTMENT
With more weight on the original running surface, the center of gravity changed and new large diameter propellers we had issues with the port side of the wake being washed out. In an industry that has no tolerance for compromised wake a solution needed to be implemented. After unsuccessful hook and rocker changes a shaft angle adjustment ended up working perfect. The rooster tail produced from the changed prop was being mixed in with the transom tails. the twisting thrust water was washing out over the port lip. By changing the engine mount perch locations on the stringer plates and adjusting the shaft strut recess angle the shaft was tilted down just a few degrees forcing the thrust water deeper under the transom tails resulting in a clean and symmetrical wake.
After some dry-board sketches we started building a full scale prototype. We pulled dimensions from the CAD model and mocked up the cockpit area and the first removable seat. We payed with handle locations, vinyl seams, foam thickness and hinge design before settling on a design.
Before this boat was built in full scale a foam prototype was cut on a five axis router. It was then sprayed with primer, sanded and painted before being presented to the board of directors. The model was approved and the project continued.
Super Air Nautique 210
My favorite V-drive boat created at Nautique was the SAN-210. The original 210 was very successful in sales and had very desirable wake characteristics. But in an industry that was demanding more options and accessories, more interior space and the finish of a full liner deck the 210 had to be updated. The running surface stayed almost identical to the old design but the hull sides were flared out to accept a much wider and longer deck.
The Lean-back itself is made from fiber reinforced plastic. After a 3-D model was developed a 5-axis router cut a plug. From that a mold was produced. The mold has integrated cup holders, recessed fastener cavities and hinge mounting locations to reduce parts and insure a proper fit. After a piece of expanded PVC is upholstered and secured to the back the only visible fasteners are covered with a die-cut piece of logo'd nonskid.
The combing pad that covers the stern when the reversible seat lean-back is not in the upright aft position has an engine access door built in. I designed it with PVC hinges cut on the 3-axis router table that allow the door to stay hanging open or be lifted out completely with no tools or extra steps. The spring loaded slide latch at the top has a nylon strap that is easily accessible from the outside. This little door allows terrific access to the water strainer, closed coolant overflow and engine oil dipstick through a watertight bulb sealed opening.
The front edge of the seat has two dowel pins lathed from stainless and attached to an anodized aluminum bracket. The dowels are indexed into the side seat tracks. The tracks are 3-axis routered from high density polyethylene and reinforced with a polished stainless plate. The shape allows the seat to lock in place facing either direction and provides a surface for the seat to sit on. It's strong enough to support the leveraged weight of someone sitting on the lean-back in the upright position.
The hinges I developed for the folding stern seat were made out of stamped aluminum and then anodized. They had to limit the travel of the backrest to hold it upright and pass the required ABYC standards yet allow the back to fold down horizontal and support passengers walking on its back surface. The cassette style pivot design protects extremities from being pinched.
REVERSIBLE Stern seat