Which Drive to use?
 

I'm building a Domn8er 25' deck boat approx 4400 lbs. I'm installing the Ilmor 625. Which drive would be recomended as I don't want to keep buying drives or rebuilding them. Dealer keeps insisting on the Imco SC with a 1" lower. I am also considering the Bravo 1 XR with the shorty sportmaster drive. Also considering the Konrad drive but I have yet to see anyone who does warranty work on them in Havasu, AZ, or who has ever dealt with them. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I don't want to do this again!! thanks!!

Depending on how you drive, I would think that a Bravo XR would do just fine. I'm running Bravo One uppers with more than 625 hp. Easy out of the hole, and keep the boat in the water.

Or, you could buy a konrad drive, and hammer it out of the hole every time, while jumping barge wakes without ever worrying or
giving the drive a second thought! Konrad will cost more but at that power level, it will be nearly indestructible.

Riverrat:

A Few questions:

1. How are you getting an Ilmor without a Teague Platinum Drive?
2. Why would you want anything other than the above---the combo has a 1 year warranty?

I would re-evaluate my choice plus if you want a tough drive unit my choice would be a Max Machine Worx 900.

Just a thought/opinion.

KAP

Answers

1) Domn8er is an Ilmor dealer and that package is through Teague.
Also I was told the Imco SC drive was warranted for 1 year too

2) I wouldn't hesitate with any of the drives. Just hope any of them will hold up to the power. Just not too sure wich one is the strongest. I also feel the dealer is getting the Imco drives at a better deal thats why he is trying to sell me on the Imco SC drive.

I am running about 750 HP about your weight and have had no problems with my B-Max. Bravos became throw aways, and it has up to a two year warrany and half the price of a Konrad and no modifications.
My $.02

For what your doing, Konrad is the only way to go and be problem free. All other drives that are even Bravo related are going to give problems. I've been around this industry now for 35 years as Merc. Technican. Call me before you make a decision. We are a Konrad dealer and service center. Can give you a price equal to what you would pay for a Bravo XR drive and Gimbal. Call me; 954 237 0332

IMCO told me to go scratch after I blew two of them on 715 hp in less than 20 hrs. So unless you're talking about the Imco 1000 SC, there's no warranty. In fact their words were; "what part of no warranty don't you understand." :(

I too went with the BMax's and I'm more than half way thru the 2nd season with 100 hrs on the ocean and no problems. The first season on the drives I had 715 hp, now I have 830 hp per side. Still no problmes, nnock on wood! You get a 1 yr warranty and can purchase an additional 2 yr warranty for $1500 a drive (3 yr warranty).

In my boat Konrad was not an option for me. Total re-rig of the boat to get the correct X-Dimension and I didn't have room under the hatch to raise the engine. Plus it was $26k per side plus labor to re-rig.

In a boat as light/short as yours I think a properly set-up/shimmed XR will hold up well.

Imco has no warranty on there SC drives unless something has changed recently.

Konrad or Bmax.

A XR will last if your easy on it and not try and spin a hugh pitch prop out of the hole.

Max Machine Worx 900. great drive as well..

There is a good drive shop in havasu.

check on hotboat dot com for the drive shop in havasu