EWOL has designed a new shock-absorber for S-Drive versions named FlexDrive.
On sailing boats, the S-Drive transmission pass-on power and torque from the engine for boat to the propeller by means of shafts and gears.
During navigation, in case for boat of sudden danger there may be needs for abrupt reversal in propeller rotation and these manoeuvres after many years could eventually damage gears.

E3 (E-Cubed) is a feathering propeller, so unlike folding propellers E3 have a much reduced blade weight and inertia, it is completely made of high resistance stainless steel and the relative rotation from forward to backward position happens with very limited radial movement and accelerations. For this reason the propeller and the S-Drive are not subject to high loads and risks of damages even without anti-shock devices.

However EWOL wanted to anyway develop FlexDrive, a device having minimal footprint that keeps propeller size unchanged and absorbs any inversion shock.
FlexDrive is positioned inside the propeller hub between the Sail-Drive shaft and the central propeller gear, this guarantees weights distribution and protection against elastomer aging.

FlexDrive is available as of now on all E-Cubed S-drive propellers for boats.

E-Cubed will be displayed at the Mets 2008 - Amsterdam 18-20 Nov. 2008 - booth 02.105 & at the Nautic - Salon Nautique de Paris 5-14 Dec. 2008 - booth C018 hall 2.1.