Quest 31 Sillette-Sonic Auto Lock

[gerrybb]

We bought Starquest just over a year ago, she is fitted with a Sillette-Sonic Catamaran Drive Mk2 driven by a Beta 25hp engine. The engine and drive were all new in 2007 by a previous owner. According to Sillette and the invoice the drive was supplied with an Auto-Lock to ensure that when the drive is dropped it will lock so that when going astern it does not lift up and chew up the lifting tackle and probably damage the drive.
It is evident that when the new drive was fitted the auto lock was removed and the 33C operating cable connected to a welded on box on the arm that the operating spring had been connected to, thus reverting to the original operating procedure of having to manually lock the drive down before going astern.
As I have the leg and base removed at the moment to replace the input seal it would be possible to drill the hole for the 33c release cable through the transom and fit the various bits to put the Auto Lock back into operation.
My question is why has someone gone to a great deal of trouble and expense to remove what on the face of it was an improvement that should prevent damage when going astern, has anyone got any experience of the reliability or otherwise of the auto lock, the original manual lock does have the advantage of being positive (Providing I always remember to lock it down). Also the hole through the mounting plate and transom will only be a couple of inches above the 'at rest' waterline and is only sealed with silicone has this caused anyone a problem.
I would be grateful for any advice.
Gerry B

[svgeru]

Gerry,

I am currently looking into changing our very old Sillette (1983) with the original manual locking mechanism to the "new" auto lock. The manual lock works fine, but on our boat the set-up is such that your foot can press the 33C cable which causes the lock to unlock! With the new autolock this cannot happen as the unlock is a pull, rather than the old push on the 33C cable.

I personally can't see any reason why the new mechanism wouldn't be better than the old.

Here is a good video of the autolock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kQbxnw44m0

Geoff.

[Lotusmantra]

I have a Prout 37 with a Sillette-Sonic Catamaran Drive Mk2 drive and manually raise & lower it with a single line through the deck using a narrow fork to slide under a knot on the rope to hold the drive up. I installed the Morse cable through the mounting plate and have the T-bar on the inside of the cockpit. I drilled that hole in the mounting plate big enough to take the Morse cable's outer housing, about 3/8" +/- and sealed it well with sikaflex. The inner stainless steel push/pull wire is open to the sea. I have a small wedge that I can place behind the T-bar handle to keep the locking claw in the unlocked position until I go aft and lower the leg. If I know I will be using reverse, I remove that little wedge, release the T-bar and the leg is locked. Occasionally, I dis-assemble the T-bar and pull the Morse cable housing slack inside the cockpit, tape a makeshift funnel near the end, tie it so it is vertical and pour light oil down into and between the Morse cable's housing and push/pull wire. I have been using it like that for about 8 years without any problems.

[gerrybb]

Thank you very much for your replies, unfortunately I have put drive back and didn't have time to reinstate the auto-lock but I will fit it next time Starquest comes out of the water, I still don't know why the auto-lock was taken off in the first place, the boat builder who did the work can't remember why it was done. Thanks again.
Gerryb

[svgeru]

Gerry,

I spoke to Sillette about the autolock for our Sonic drive and it turns out that if you have the older design it won't fit.. so depending on how old yours is the auto-lock may not fit. (ours is one of the original Mk2 drives put on the Prouts with a locking mechanism which Prout designed or specified.)

Geoff.