My brother had a 24' Baja Outlaw years ago with the 454 and Alpha drive that he built pretty well, it ran mid 70's. It couldn't be any worse than running 700hp through a Bravo.

Yup. Real life data shows bazzillions of 5.7cid 300hp-400 hp engines in frt of alphas for bazzillions of years without blowing up. Tons of 383cid boats too, but the bigger power 383’s in heavy single engine boats have more chance to break one, but very little do.

Extremely easy to break alpha shifting over 850-900rpm. 800 seems to be a reliable maximum. I literally know 1000rpm will break one in a dozen shifts or so. Doh. :)

I’d vote for the Baja Boss 252 w/ BBC. Great looking boats and you can’t beat the sound and performance of a BBC with through the transom exhaust on the water.