Surfacing marine drive with contoured skeg

A marine drive (10) has two counter-rotating surface operating propellers (12 and 14). The upper end (302) of the leading edge (288) of the skeg (194) is spaced forwardly of the lower end (310) of the trailing edge (306) of the skeg (194) by a horizontal distance greater than the horizontal length of the torpedo (188), for full rudder control. The skeg (194) has a first zone (318) with outer surface profiles (12P-15P) which are continuous and define continuous skeg sidewalls (320, 322) therealong. The skeg (194) has a second zone (324) above the first zone (318) and with outer surface profiles (9P-11P) along horizontal cross-sections, which profiles are discontinuous and define skeg sidewalls with openings (192, 193) therein. The horizontal cross-sections along the second zone (324) have discontinuous gaps (332, 333, 336) therein defining a cored passage (196) within the skeg (194) communicating with the openings (192, 193) in the sidewalls (320, 322). The skeg (194) has a third zone (338) above the second zone (324) and with outer surface profiles (8P) along horizontal cross-sections, which outer surface profiles define continuous skeg sidewalls (320, 322) along the third zone (338). The horizontal cross-sections along the third zone (338) have gaps (340) therein defining the continuation of the cored passage (196) upwardly within the skeg (194) and communicating with the torpedo portion (188 at 198).