L-drive
Sailing yacht with L-drive (normal shaft system)
L-drive refers to the shaft system mainly used in motor or sailing yachts .
The propeller shaft is attached directly to the engine and reversing gear as an extension of the crankshaft. The propeller shaft emerges from the hull via the stuffing box , in the case of long keelers it is almost horizontal, with short keelers it is inclined obliquely downwards, and in the case of short keelers it is additionally held by the shaft bracket. The propeller is located directly at the end of the propeller shaft .
The propeller is located very far aft on the ship's hull, so that ships with an L-drive have a very pronounced wheel effect .