The outdrive resembles the bottom half of an outboard motor and is composed of two sub-units: an upper containing a driveshaft connected through the transom to an engine which transmits power to a 90-degree-angle gearbox; and the lower containing a vertical driveshaft receiving power from the upper unit gearbox, transmitted through another 90-degree-angle gearbox to the propeller shaft.
The boat is steered by pivoting the outdrive, as on an outboard motor; no rudder is needed. The outdrive is pivoted up for trailer travel and between uses to avoid fouling.
The outdrive can be matched with a variety of engines in the appropriate power range; upper and lower units can often be purchased separately to customize gear ratios and propeller RPM, and lower units are also available with counter-rotating gearing to provide balanced torque in dual-drive installations.
Sterndrive engines are similar to those used in true inboard systems. Historically the most popular in North America were “marinised” versions of Chevrolet and Ford V-8 automotive engines. In Europe diesel engines are more popular, ranging up to 400 hp in models such as the Volvo PentaD6A-400.
Other brands of sterndrive include MerCruiser
Typical Sterndrives / Outdrives
Rebuilt Mercruiser Sterndrives
according to wikipedia.org
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