Actually, not true in all cases. I have a '76 Silverton with v-drive, in my
case the engine block is mounted to a Borg Warner Velvet Drive tranny, which
is then bolted to the Walter V-drive gearbox. My Velvet drive is 1:1, my
Walter V-drive gear box is a model 10 with 1.5:1.

Next, the poster that said that a Borg Warner Velvet Drive is available in
stright or V-drive is correct. It IS available in various straight and
V-drive configurations, with different "V" angles and gear ratios. The
V-drive configuration is one sealed unit. The V-drive configuration isn't as
common as the straight drive.

You are correct in that most boat manufactures that use V-drives do so to
keep the engines below the cockpit deck, thus allowing for more room in the
cabin.

Later . . .
Captain Dave Fortner


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
I believe the Borg-Warner "Velvet Drive" trademark can be a straight or
a V configuration.
They made both.

The "V drive" component is completely separate from the transmission. You
still
need a gear box to select FNR, and I don't know why you couldn't use just
about
any mfgrs tran. The straight shaft running from forward facing tranny
couples
to the "V" drive assembly. The V drive is 1:1, so no additional
calculating is
involved when considering reduction rations in the main gearbox.

Not uncommon for the stern tube to be directly *below* the engine on a V
drive
configuration, allowing the engine(s) to be farther aft than on a straight
inboard.