What the heck is a drive shower

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:47 pm

And why shouldn't I think it's garbage/snake oil?

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

Its a pickup tube device that dumps cool raw water onto top of drive unit while underway....basically its a big straw and yes it works....mainly its for those running merc out drives since they tend to run hot while underway for extended periods of time.

No need for a drive shower with the already cool running VP drive.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:10 pm

Well my boat is a merc alpha gen 2. Laws of thermodynamics tell me that the huge aluminum outdrive acts like a huge heatsink cooling anything that touches it and the 2in of exposed aluminum on top will see zero effect from a straw splashing water on it.

Then again, I'm not an engineer.

wkearney99 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:29 pm

Well, 2" on top, when you're dealing with the fundamental reality that heat rises, could make it worthwhile. But for any of the boats most folks run here? I'd venture it's pretty unnecessary.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:36 pm

If my swim platform didn't cover it, I'd install one just for a conversational piece while drinking adult beverages.

fiznuka · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:22 am

Ask the guys with the go-fast boats that spend 6000-15000 dollars or more on their drives and the only thing in the water at 90+ mph is the prop if they believe in drive showers. I can almost guarantee they have one. :wink:

230 Mike · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 1:16 am

Ever notice how some Mercs are white all over the top? That's because they get so hot they bake on the minerals that are in the water. Some people add drive showers just to keep that cosmetic thing from happening.

LouC · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:03 am

The issue is that unless you have through the transom exhaust, the hot exhaust gas and water is going through the drive and they can get hot, so that's what the drive shower is designed to ameliorate. The older Alpha drives did not hold that much gear oil and they were more prone to hot running than the later ones. The Volvo SX and the OMC Cobra both hold more gear oil and are not prone as much to hot running.
Now if you had a hot running issue, that would make the drive get even hotter because the cooling water would be that much hotter coming out.

Jdpber · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:00 am

a drive shower is key for boats that run higher RPMs for longer periods of time.. especially the high horse power Bravo and custom drives.. throwing that extra water up helps alot..

The Kid · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:09 am

ric wrote:

Well my boat is a merc alpha gen 2. Laws of thermodynamics tell me that the huge aluminum outdrive acts like a huge heatsink cooling anything that touches it and the 2in of exposed aluminum on top will see zero effect from a straw splashing water on it.

Then again, I'm not an engineer.

You do realize that when you are up on plane that the whole upper gear housing is out of the water....a little more than 2 inches...

And LouC there is no difference in a older or newer Alpha drive.. they hold 33oz of lube compared to 81 or 91oz that a Volvo holds.

So yes the drive can get hot.. however I have never even heard of a drive shower until today so I really don't think the rec boater should be that concerned

jsimon · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:14 am

In action

http://www.driveshowers.com/

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:38 am

The Kid wrote:

ric wrote:

Well my boat is a merc alpha gen 2. Laws of thermodynamics tell me that the huge aluminum outdrive acts like a huge heatsink cooling anything that touches it and the 2in of exposed aluminum on top will see zero effect from a straw splashing water on it.

Then again, I'm not an engineer.

You do realize that when you are up on plane that the whole upper gear housing is out of the water....a little more than 2 inches...

And LouC there is no difference in a older or newer Alpha drive.. they hold 33oz of lube compared to 81 or 91oz that a Volvo holds.

So yes the drive can get hot.. however I have never even heard of a drive shower until today so I really don't think the rec boater should be that concerned

I have never seen one and you never heard of one. Because were in New England were the water temp norm is 65-67 and never goes over 70 in the summer time. So you would find them more on lake boats than salt water boats. I am willing to bet, the air temp would be a little higher for them too.

Flying Sushi · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:14 am

Drive shower takes water from near the prop (using the force of the water flowing past the prop) and routes it to the top of the drive and then showers the top of the drive. Mercruiser Outdrives get hot on top, so by keeping the top of the drive cool and keep off leaving mineral deposits,. Also drive shower keeping the drive oil cooler by 20 to 30 degrees. Volvo's do not get as hot and therefore do not need a shower. Our H260 had a Volvo but our new E6 has Merc so one of the first thing we put to our new boat is a drive shower. At around $150 it is a good insurance to have....

Capt. Hoss · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:16 pm

Those look super easy to make if one was so inclined. Just need to find a point to attach it to the drive.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:50 pm

Capt. Hoss wrote:

Those look super easy to make if one was so inclined. Just need to find a point to attach it to the drive.

Yep, a pick up tube with small holes in it.

www.iFourWinns.com

What the heck is a drive shower

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