| Black Thunder 460 EC | | Print | |
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Bigger is Better No longer can you stand on the docks, look at the size of the boat and the engines in the compartment, and make a reasonable determination of how fast it will go. 
No longer can you stand on the docks, look at the size of the boat and the engines in the compartment, and make a reasonable determination of how fast it will go. We found ourselves trying to guess a speed as we looked over the 460 EC from Black Thunder. Loaded with four McLeod bolster seats, a rear bench and a full cabin, we guessed it was good for around 80 mph with the twin Mercury Racing HP700SCi engines. After running the 460 EC, we’ve decided to get out of the speed prediction business—at least for that day. The stepped V-bottom ran 89 mph, mighty impressive for a boat that weighs more than 6 tons. Performance Thanks to lighter layups, better propellers and improved bottom designs, V-bottoms are running speeds that were seemingly unimaginable two decades ago. Credit must also go to engine builders such a Mercury Racing that are delivering bigger and more reliable horsepower. The 460 EC came with 700-hp engines mated to NXT1 drives that were spinning 17 ½" x 37" Mercury Racing CNC five-blade propellers. Often manufacturers will over-prop a boat but that wasn’t the case with the Black Thunder. The combination delivered a terrific top-end speed without sacrificing acceleration. The boat got on plane in 5.3 seconds with the Mercury Racing 380S K-Planes down and 15 seconds later it was running 68 mph. A short time later, the V-bottom reached its top speed of 89 mph at 5,300 rpm. “For a boat as big as this one is and all the amenities, it’s pretty amazing it goes over 88 mph,” said lead tester Bob Teague. Midrange acceleration was more than solid with the 46-footer going from 30 to 50 mph in 6.6 seconds and 40 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. At 60 mph, the engines were turning a modest 3,500 rpm. At that speed, the boat was getting a little better than 1 mpg. But with 288 gallons of fuel on board, the boat has a nearly 300-mile range. Putting the 46-footer through wide turns at higher speeds, the boat got top scores from our testers. But when the boat was in tighter arc turns, the back felt loose. Running in minimal offshore conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, the V-bottom easily dispatched of swells and wakes. A testament to the build quality, the boat didn’t rattle while offshore. Workmanship With a boat as large as the 460 EC, there’s a lot of room to make errors in the tooling and paint application. But as hard as our workmanship inspector looked in the early morning sun, he couldn’t find any noteworthy mistakes on the tall hullsides. To protect the work was a large vinyl rubrail and pin cleats were appropriately placed around the boat. Stainless rails around the bow and transom sun pad could be used to tie off the boat. Three grab handles were also positioned around the large swim platform, which had a drop-down swim ladder between the drives. When it comes to rigging, Black Thunder has raised its game in recent years. The Mercury Racing engines were installed on mounts that were through-bolted to the stringers. Privately labeled battery boxes held four batteries that were set on diamond plates. Access to the battery switches was under the rear bench seat. All of the rigging was run through tubes for a nice clean appearance. Just as sharp was the bilge that was finished in a smooth white gelcoat. In the cabin, our inspector found equally strong finish work. The headliner was done in panels that were glued to the deck. The panels were smooth and free of waves, a difficult task in a cabin that large. Interior Because the cockpit was so large, the driver could easily take seven of his closest friends. A contoured rear bench seated four people and there was room for three more in the McLeod bolsters with electric drop-down bottoms. Even though the cockpit had four bolsters, it didn’t feel cramped like some poker-run models on the market. At the helm to starboard, the Livorsi Marine gauges for the driver were set on red carbon-fiber panels. The builder also provided a Garmin 3200 GPS map, an Azimuth compass and a Mercury SmartCraft SystemView screen. Throttles and shifters were supplied by Livorsi. To make docking a little easier, Black Thunder provided a bow thruster. Although our drivers didn’t use it, it will come in handy in tight slips. A center walk-through provided access to the cabin. On the port side was an enclosed head locker that was surprisingly small for a 46-foot boat. But the compartment had all of the essentials—a pump-out toilet, sink, mirror and medicine chest. It was finished in smooth gelcoat for easy cleaning. Across from the head was a galley that made an overnight stay on the boat a realistic option. Besides a Sharp microwave and a refrigerator, the galley included a Corian countertop with a sink. For entertainment, it was equipped with a flat-screen television and a Sony 10-disc CD changer. The boat also came with a Cruiseaire heater and air conditioner, a $4,500 option. The padding on the raised V-berth was firm but comfortable. Above the lounges were cabinets for stowage, perfect for stashing smaller items. According to the builder, McLeod Interiors picked out the colors and fabrics but the work was done in-house. And few offshore boats can match the headroom found in the 460 EC. Most grown men would have no problem standing up in the cabin. OVERALL The 460 EC is a big offshore boat that offers dynamite performance and full accommodations. It’s best not to judge the V-bottom because of its size. Black Thunder proved that bigger can be better.—Gregg Mansfield WHAT WE LIKED: A large V-bottom boat without massive power that had good acceleration and a strong top-speed number. WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE: Better positioning of the GPS screen at the driver’s spot. It was difficult to see at times. Click to enlarge.
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