I guess my point is that for a direct replacement, I am looking at the Imco SCX. Yes it is new and there are setup trial and errors to be looked at, but it is that way with any new drive. I did a search on the SCX and they were talking 15mph loss, but gained back 10 with height adjustments and felt they could find the other 5 with props. I know of a #6 on a single engine boat that would only go about 80mph with 1300hp, till they figured out the setup.
The least breakable is the #6, but they also break. And to retrofit.. you are talking major surgery and BIG money.
If you retrofit an NXT, you pay big money or buy a new boat or buy a package with the 700 or now the 525.
At first I heard that Fountain wouldnt install the NXT because of the bullet doing funny things. Eveyone is worried about bolting on a drive and going just as fast. There are compromises and trade offs in this world, no different with outdrives.
The Bmax is another alternative, but I know of guys burning up the lower gears in their setup, in less than 10hrs. Treating the gears helps, but new bigger lower gears, like the SCX is, I think a step in the right direction.
If you guys think back to when the Bravo first came out. It was a big improvement over the Alpha. The TRS was still the way to, until people experimented and got the bravo to do more than it should..
But we as boaters keep searching.. If some one could build a decent size boat that ran 100mph for 1000 hrs, that only used 10gallons of fuel per weekend, only some of us would be happy.. :) :)

I agree about the idea of bigger gears being the answer. I think if a BMax had a lower unit with some beefier gears they would hold up a lot better then they do now. IT also depends on the boat, some are easier on lower units then they are on uppers and vice versa.

I saw the new SCX drive in person about a month ago, it was installed on an Activator. The lower unit is almost as large as a Bravo 3 lower case. The drive was installed and had a loss of 5-7 mph after it was dialed in.

Bmax...I'm keeping my fingers crossed with the new Cryo treated lower gear sets...The uppers have never failed.

Thanks for the info Panther, I was getting ready to pull the trigger on the SCX, 5-7 mph loss is unacceptable. What type of loss on the Konrad ??

Make it 130mph and I'd be happy... :drink:

I would venture to guess it's about the same due to the added weight, possible weight distribution issues with the addition of an extension box and transmission, drive heights and parasitic losses in the drive and the transmission.

Darrin, All of the bravo style bravos are still just bravos. You might want to look into a set of Konrads. Since Aaron made the change he has not had one drive issue and the company is great to deal with. Mindi Doller did the conversion and is a first rate shop and business to deal with. Call me if you have any questions.

You're running 625 Ilmores correct? Most Ilmore packages are sold with Teague drives and I have heard of very few problems. You should be fine with that. Yes Teague drives break, everything breaks when you put enough power through it, but with the 625s, you should be good to go.
-Tom

one word answer "ARNESON":evilb:

I've had no problems with my B-Max 2 years.