Sold my Formula 357 and now up in the air on next boat. Wife wants 400ss, will settle for a 419 which is more my style. I've always been a Formula guy. But just tossing around other options. Wife loves the interior room of the Black Thunder and I will agree I am real impressed in what I have seen. Never been in one.
Speed is not a priority, but 75mph would be fine. I usually run 40mph all day long with the 357. Open it up once in a while when running with others. We run 10min to the beach and spend most of time there.
Hauling this size of boat is no problem with the Topkick.
The Bravo XR seem to be the weak link on the BT (14,000bls). Lots of talk of needs to upgrade. The 400ss (17000bls) also runs the Bravo drive but you don't read, here much of these drives being a big problem. Yes they do break, but it is not mentioned much with the 400. My buddy had a 400 for 5yrs and stated he never had any drive problems with 500's.
So running a 43 or 46 BT reasonable, gradual on plane, keeping drive in the water, cruising around 40mph most of the time.
If driving with this style, what are the experiences of others keeping the Bravo XR together? Still need to be rebuilt ever 100-200hrs?