Bravo drives
 

Hi first I would like to say hello I have been lurking around here
trying to gain some info before jumping in and buying a boat.
My question is can some one explain the differences in out drives
bravo 1, ( is there a 2 an 3) XR , #3 is there a #1,#2 ,#4 and the #6
also what is NXT . And if I left anything out please feel free to add it in.
I appreciate it in advance Thanks

Yes there is a B1 B3 B1xr NXT and #6 are whats out there now new. older drives are TRS #2 #3 #4 #5 with some A's and other numbers and letters in there And don't forget the Blackhawk and Alpha drives.

It would be better if you just told us what you wanted to do so we can all fight over whats better for you.:lolhit:

Turbo: A Bravo has an internal transmission, meaning the F-N-R is built into the drive. The Speedmaster 2,3,4,5,6 use an external transmission between the engine and the outdrive coupling. With the Bravo you can set the engine closer to the transom inside a boat. A Bravo XR is a stronger version of a Bravo 1.

The Bravo drive will not takes as much beating as an external transmission drive. When a 10,000 lb boat leaps free of the water its propellors start to spin faster and when they catch the water on re-entry the shock load is sometimes more than the Bravo can withstand. Result is broken drives. The Bravo also uses a cone clutch transmission (I trhink) and this is not as forgiving. Bravo 3's are dual prop drives (counter rotating) and they are used for pleasure craft mostly.

To confuse things, IMCO and others make their own version of a bravo XR drives.

The NXT is a smaller version of the Speedmaster #6. A # 6 will handle gobs of power, 1500 hp lets say. Most Bravo XR is a max of about 600 hp more or less. Some other members will chime in here.

Wannabe

What is the cost difference to purchase a Bravo 'xr' drive vs. a #6? I thought someone told me the 'xr' drive is less than 5K with the #6 running over 35k.

New XR's are about 9k. Regular Bravo 1's about 5k. SSM #6's are about 30k. These do not include the prices of the transom assembly.

Here is a link with everything you need to know
http://www.go-fast.com/mercury_mercr...ern_drives.htm

New XR's can be had for $6K...just gotta look around. #6? try five times that!

Wannabe thanks for your detailed explanation

It would be better if you just told us what you wanted to do so we can all fight over whats better for you.:lolhit:[/QUOTE]
Thanks I am thinking about a 38 ft boat , I will be boating in LI NY

Here is a link with everything you need to know
http://www.go-fast.com/mercury_mercr...ern_drives.htm
Thanks this helps a lot

Also What are and why use extension box's

Thanks I am thinking about a 38 ft boat , I will be boating in LI NY

Here is a link with everything you need to know
http://www.go-fast.com/mercury_mercr...ern_drives.htm
Thanks this helps a lot

Also What are and why use extension box's[/QUOTE]

What power are you looking at, are you going to want to bump up the power later or just leave it alone. A good set up for most any just weekend boat that your not trying to set speed records with is the Merc. 525 with the ITS XR drive sys. ITS is like having a ext. box and hyd. steering all in one. An ext box moves the drive back into cleaner water and you can get a Higher X dim. with them, that means the prop is higher witch lifts the boat out of the water more. Some boats it helps some not as much the builder would know the best. Most newer 38 foot boats will run in the 80's with twin 525's, great motors redo the heads at 250 hours then the whole thing at 500 or more if you dont beat on it. They will also run just fine on 87 oct. fuel. If your building a new boat look at the new stuff from Ilmore they are the V10 Viper motors, they have 3 motors from just over 500 hp to over 700 hp and just came out with their own drive and the whole deal is lighter than the Merc. stuff.

If you are just getting into Performance boating or this is your first big boat I would stay under 600hp per motor for more reasons than I could list then move up later. The same 38 foot boat with Merc. 1075's and #6's will cost 150k-200k more at first and be 7 times more in running cost.

Any opinions on the NXT drives?

Is there any info on the power loss of say
Bravo
NXT
No 6
Arnesons?