Since we are into this techical mode, does anyone know anything about the mercruiser Blackhawk drives that where made in the early 90's. Thanks mark

bolts to Bravo gimbal.
Has Bravo-style cone clutch shifting.
Surface-piercing drive with counterrotating propellors.
Water pickup in skeg.
I believe it has dual vertical shafts to share the torque load (but not positive).

Discontinued.
Max hp rating 550-ish.

The Blackhawk drive was a very unique piece. It will only work
on certian boats that have been specificly built for the drive.
Eliminator,Donzi,Wellcraft and Hustler built boats for the drive.
The internal components of the drive are right out of a Bravo III
sterndrive just put into a different houisng. The actual houisng
has been discontinued by Mercury. The propellers are also very
hard to find.

I test drove and did the performance evaluation on the first Superboat 21 that was built with a 502 EFI mated to the blackhawk drive. I was almost killed. When the boat hit 90, it started to simultaneously porpose and chine walk. My skills as a driver were not to the point where I could regain control, however, the replacement driver had much less of a problem.

Photos from Hot Boat Magazine at www.superboatpowerboats.com/21.html

Jennifer

Thats very cool Jennifer 90+ you get my vote!

Best Regards

Thanks for the replys. There is a 24 exciter for sale in the classified listed under misc v's. That is bolted to a blackhawk drive. It used to be Team Exciter in 1995 and 1996. It runs 90 now according to the owner with 650 hp. If I take off the Blackhwk and use a Bravo 1 what do you think the boat will handle like etc. I am looking for something to run in POPRA. A bravo would have trim etc but would increase drag. Also has any one run one of these hulls in the 80 - 90 mph range.
Mark.

90 + That ain't $hit. After I got kicked out the 21, I got to drive the chase boat - a 24-foot Skater - at 110. Now that was a fun boat to drive.

The water on the bay was calm that day, and the conditions favored the cat. The V-hull needed a little chop. It's simple hydrodynamics.....

Jennifer

Jennifer There is flip side to the “It’s simple hydrodynamics” sounds to me like a little working knowledge of the above was needed and applied to the shape of the hull bottom used for your ride that day by the Builder! Could have reduced the excitement factor

We wanted to use them on our B class race boat but Merc said they would never stand up to the punishment. The problem was that the bite on the water was so strong that the gears would snap upon re-entry from a jump.

I guess they would be oK for lake use. Not in the ocean.

There is a reason that they are discontinued.