1990 Carver Santego prop rotation question

[Doc Holliday]

Hello Im Doc and new to the forum. I bought the 1990 Santego 2767 a little over a year ago. The boat has twin 4.3l mercruisers and alpha one gen one drives. The guy I bought it from had put on the alpha drives which need repair. I would like to know if anyone who has a boat like this do the drives rotate standard or is one standard and the other counter rotating? Thanks

[buster53]

I’m pretty sure that almost all (if not all) twin engine boats have counter rotating engines.

[Doc Holliday]

Thanks buster53, my other boats were single engine so I was not sure and I have read what you stated before. Both of my engines are standard rotation so I could get an alpha one counter rotation drive?

[tomschauer]

I had a 1988 27 montego. Both engines and drives were standard rotation.

[Viper]

It really depends on the application. Your engines will be standard rotation but not all dual sterndrive applications have a counter rotating drive on the port side. There are many twin apps that incorporate standard rotating drives on both sides. It's not ideal but there are a ton of them out there like that. Best be sure before you commit to anything. Are the drives on the boat with the props? You can tell their rotation by looking at the props. There is another way to tell but check the props first.

[Doc Holliday]

Thanks for the replies. The drives that were on the boat both have standard rotation props. So the best drive application for twin engines would be standard on starboard and counter rotating on the port side? What is the downside of both standard rotation props?

[tomschauer]

The only downside is with both props spinning in the same direction you have a very slight pull to the right at all times when pointing the boat straight.
It is pretty easy to overcome by changing the alignment of one of the drives very slightly left. At least that's what I did.

[Doc Holliday]

@tomschauer, that sounds simple enough. Which drive did you align? Also which engines and drives did you have on your 27 Montego? I really appreciate the info!

[tomschauer]

It was a long time ago, but i believe i turned the starboard drive ever so slightly to port.
with that it would track straight without your hand on the wheel. With your hand on the wheel, you wont notice it tracking right. It is very minimal.
I had the 3.7liter lx 190 hp engines with alpha drives.

[Doc Holliday]

Ok thanks, I will just go ahead and service the drives I have . Reinstall them with that alignment on the the starboard drive and see what she does in the spring.