The job of a marine engine is simply to turn the propeller around, and the propeller's job is to provide the thrust to drive the boat forward. This thrust has to be taken-up and transferred somewhere, if not, then the propeller shaft will be driven through the engine and will probably bend the crank shaft in the process. It's therefore the job of the thrust bearing and the thrust plate to transfer the thrust from the propeller through to the boat's hull, which then drives the boat forward.

Many conventional engines mount the thrust bearing at the aft end of the engine's gear box housing, which means that the engine bearers have to take-up and transfer the thrust. This puts unwanted strain on the engine bearers which would rather be left to get on with the job they were designed to do, which is to take the engine's static load and absorb the engine's vibrations.

An Aquadrive drive unit, which doubles as a thrust unit, takes all the thrust issues away from the engine and so creates free movement between the engine and the shaft. This means that Aquadrive's engine mounts can be much softer than normal, partly because the engine can vibrate freely relative to the shaft, and partly because no propeller thrust reaches the mounts and strains them forwards. Aquadrive engine mounts are used with engines of four cylinders or more, and our expert staff will rapidly select the correct rubber stiffness for the machinery involved.

What makes a mount good – and safe?
• Only natural rubber is used. Each size of mount is manufactured with up
to four different rubber stiffness grades.
• The steel hood covers the whole top of the mount, reducing the risk of
diesel attacking the natural rubber.
• The mount is “fully captive”. Even if the engine turns over and the
rubber elements rip, the engine is held tight.
• The bolt holes are slotted one way at each end so you can adjust
their position.

Engine Mounts