Mercury's Deuce High Project

[msm]

After viewing Greg's thread on the rccar, http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49901, it reminded me that Merc was, or was planning, to build a full-sized remote-control bassboat. I think I remember seeing it in one of the work bays at Merc's test dock on the river in Oshkosh back in the early part of 1997. The idea was to safely test the Deuce High outboard that was under development at the time. The concern was that the boat might get really out of shape at high speed if one of the counter rotating props failed, and this way, no one would have to risk life or limb. Does anybody know how the tests of this motor went? Was it any faster? Did it handle any better? I don't believe it ever went into production, so I'm assuming it looked good in theory, but not in practice. It was similar to the MerCruiser Blackhawk drive and the Yamaha TRP (twin rotating propellers) except it had a clutch mechanism that allowed it to plane on only one prop, with the second prop freewheeling, until higher speeds, at which point the second prop shared the load.

PS: Really liked the video Greg. Keep up the good work!:)

[vishus]

DUECES HIGH : from what I understand, it was too exspensive for consumer sales, and was not able to handle high horsepower, so Merc shelved the project. (sounds like the blacktrac system...)

I have an article from Popular Mechanics that showed a 150 and 200HP version. Looked cool with the cowl graphics and trick twin prop combo...

sid

[Hydrovector]

is sitting in the lobby at Mercury High Performance. It looks cool.
but what vishus said is what I remember them saying while on tour there at Balz fest a coulpe of years ago.

[blkmtrfan]

ducehigh

[KaptainKirk]

and as I remember what they said was whats in the lobby was an actual working unit!
And that the price was way outa sight for the consumer and thats why they didn't do it....not that it failed just two much money!

Wonder if they ever gonna sell that one in the lobby ?????

K. K.

[MODVP22]

I took this picture spring of 2001 during a vist to Mercury Racing. It's sitting in the lobby opposite the receptionist desk. Rick Mackie of Mercury High Performance gave me a short history lesson on this thing. Supposedly, there were 2 Deuce High motors, one was a 200 ProMax, seen here, that was taken to boat shows and trade shows, the other, no one really knew what the powerhead was, 260? drag? F1?, but was put on numerous boats and tested. Just like the BlackHawk outdrive, there is no steering torque, one driver took his hands off the wheel at 115 and the boat ran straight as an arrow. As I recall, he said one test boat was a Mirage?? Jag? RiverRacer? Qmaster? with two 34 pitch props runing 134MPH:eek:

[berg969]

i was under the impression that the lowerunit had 2 gear ratios

[Balzy]

Like they all said above. Fred K. himself told us it turned out way too expensive. He drove a boat himself with the one you guys have pics of in the lobby. He loved it, no steering torque at all, just way more money than the consumer could afford. If I remember right he said the lower unit alone cost Merc more to produce than the whole motor would sell for to the consumer.

The thing is way COOL looking though !!!!!!!!!

[Backfire]

Has anybody looked in Raceman's garage for one of these?
Backfire ;)

[FrenchPhil]

Didn't Yamaha have 1 of those a few years back ? If I can remember it was a 150HP V6,
Never sold much though.

[berg969]

i have one on my yamaha havent been able to try it with at high speed yet

[MODVP22]

Backfire,
yes, I looked when I was there. He mentioned something about them and I had that pic in a photo album with me.

They would have been a cool piece to mess with. Obviously not for the everyday HotBoater, like the BlackHawk, they tende to throw a high tail at low RPMs, that would be interesting on a bassboat, LOL. The lowers were completely made by hand.

[Kavalk]

Had a two speed shifting transmission and the water pickup was in the bottom of the skeg.

[Alan Power]

It was a 2 speed motor.
2 speed, 2 prop, hence the deuce! Or so I believe!

Does anyone know how this shifted gears?

Alan

[props4u2]

It didn't shift gears, the second prop kicked in.


Lee

[Fish]

it may have been too expensive then, but I wonder how that price would compare to motors today... might sound like a bargain.:p Still one of the coolest motors ever, maybe raceman will sell me one of the three he has LOL

[stoker2001]

Supposedly, there were 2 Deuce High motors, one was a 200 ProMax, seen here, that was taken to boat shows and trade shows, the other, no one really knew what the powerhead was, 260? drag? F1?, but was put on numerous boats and tested. Just like the BlackHawk outdrive, there is no steering torque, one driver took his hands off the wheel at 115 and the boat ran straight as an arrow. As I recall, he said one test boat was a Mirage?? Jag? RiverRacer? Qmaster? with two 34 pitch props runing 134MPH:eek:
Mike Mullins told me back in 1998 that he drove/tested the Mirage at LakeX with the deuce high
Cant recall which HP rating,but he did mention mid buck thirty speeds
and i think it would be the chit,to bad it never materialized
does anyone remember the two 20' east coast Stokers with stroker smallblocks and Blackhawk drives?
unbelivably quick,fast and stable
unfortunatly one guy had a fatal crash with one,that was alchohol related,so the story goes

[Alan Power]

It didn't shift gears, the second prop kicked in.


Lee

Interesting!

Would be an interesting combination with a Verado.

Was the yamaha the same, or was it a constant two wheel drive?

[Mark75H]

Both props turn all the time ... and I think berg is right, the ratios and prop pitches are complementary but not exactly the same

Another thing that would add to consumer cost of operation is that you'd have to buy and try PAIRS of low production props to dial in your boat; think $1,200 - $1,400 a pair

[powerabout]

Maybe a bravo 3 and a lenco on the driveshaft??

[CLIMAX]

We have been working on this lower unit for a couple of years now. The working prototype is nearing completion as we speak. Will keep you guys posted as We progress.

[PFord]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a237/paultnichols/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-04/4CF549B2-EA63-4463-A8CA-2A1B703A0504_zps1fqdv9i8.jpg (http://s12.photobucket.com/user/paultnichols/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-04/4CF549B2-EA63-4463-A8CA-2A1B703A0504_zps1fqdv9i8.jpg.html)

[CLIMAX]

It is a shame it was not produced. Revues were good just cost prohibitive at the time. Of course we never got a chance to see how long it would live. The concept of no torque steer came from the torpedo. Yamaha does use it as many do here fishing shallow water, A boat with four wheel drive. But we also want to finally be able to see the performance side. Time will tell.

[MODVP22]

Here's the "test" motor on a Mirage RiverRacer about 1996-97 at Lake X.
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