dregsfan wrote:
The new drives came out a few months ago. The dimensions are the same. The housing is all new with molded in indexing pins and small backwash deflectors. Most Mirage drives rock or clunk . Some more than others. Slop is irrelevant when in the water.
This is absolutely correct. The latest drives have a molded skirt that strengthens the spine, streamlines the water flow in the drivewell and eliminates the old rubber "drive seal".
Each boat mold is hand made so there are some small differences from model to model in the exact fitment of the drive in the well. Additionally, Polyethylene shrinks 4% when cooled from the oven -- no two rotomolded boats are completely identical. Since the Drives must fit all boats, they cannot seat properly if they are allowed to rock side to side, so there is some fore and aft rock designed in. The amount varies by boat but averages about 1/4". This is inconsequential because when you pedal, the thrust point is at the front of the Drive; the drive does not rock backwards (unless you're pulling rather than pushing with your legs
). To say it differently, the Drive employs a three point contact; the tail is just a position holder unless you reverse the Drive to go backwards.
If you want to apply a rubber tube or hose section to the nose or tail to minimize this action, just be sure not to induce side to side rock that could preclude proper lock up in the Click and Go units.