Go to bravoshop.net and talk to the owner. About a month ago, I talked to the owner of BMAX. The new BMAX drives are built better than the older ones. A lot of bugs have been fixed. Don't get used ones. The new ones are rated at 900hp. I can't remember how much they cost, but I remember they were not too much. I think $14,000 per side, but I may be way off. When the time comes, I may be getting BMAX drives because of cost and HP rating. I would rather have Arnesons, but ....$$$$$

Everyone is beating up Arneson on cost. How much is a bravo setup from bellhousing to prop shaft new from merc. Since that is junk for over 600hp, maybe a better option is to look at the cost of the nxt setup again from bellhousing to prop shaft. No used parts should be considered to compare apples to apples.

If the Arneson surface drive bolted on the bravo gimbal, I'm sure it would be alot cheaper.

From experience, the customer service/support with Arneson is far superior to Merc and doesn't matter if you buy new or adapt old used ones.

Kris Vogt

That's the rub...pioneers got shot in the azz with arrows. BUT the BIG difference with the arnesons over the scx or the bmax or whatever is the ability to run REAL props. The gain in bite, speed and handling is where its at. And regardless of whether or not you go to the arneson an NXT or Indy you will also likely require some adjustment to motors/drive height. If I can get comfortable the arneson conversion would really work, I'd do it. BTW have you priced a set of sixes lately?

might be worth a look 2 A/Drives on boat for sale whole boat is for sale 454motors one needs re build its in the general boating discussion its on E!!!! 2 days left to run worth a look guys .if i lived over there i would want a pair o those drives instead of the b1 i have on the boat looked into it too rich for me looked like a fantastic bit of kit , i thought it did bolt up to part of the b1??? regards paul from england

Wonder if it is possible to install the arneson on my 38 ocean yacht. Replace the straight inboards. Might go faster and throw the rootertail out to the canyons fishing. It would be hard to fight a marlin , tuna close to the back , cut the line easier.

That would be neat.

I'm pushing 650Hp now and worried every time I go out that I will break the drive. I need to upgrade the steering and drive so it seems to make sense to consider an ASD6 kit. My biggest concern is handling, I do a lot of river travel and docking is tough enough with a cross current. I don't use much trim now with the Bravo so I'm not too worried about bow lift. What is the experience with a single drive in a stepped V hull?

Compare all you want, but is there anything more intimidating than this? [IMG][/IMG]

ok 4bus you have my attention, you have a side by side what size fountain, what year, it has the early 90's rub rail so im assuming it is a straight bottom boat what model are the drives, what power in frt of them. and what speeds. Did you convert the boat and what was your experience, it looks like the notch has been filled has it?

later

Not my boat, belongs to some friends. This is a 38 fountain straight bottom..1992? but not sure, boat was fully restored 3 years ago and it has Miami boat show class. Glass conversion was done by KolorKraft in Syracuse. Not sure on notch but I can check. The drives and motors were used, they are from a 1988 33 fountain that was rigged by Dennis Ferrara in the late 80's, my friend owned the old boat. The old was was mint as well, they bought it as a doaner for the larger 38

Central NY has the Arneson bug. On any given sunday you will find many Arneson boats on our lake.

The speed gains are real....without question!

I have to get some more pics of my friends Manatee killer with triple ASD8's which are turned in, I have a new computer and don't have them all. Bottom line these drives don't break, the triple is a 47 custom built Sandler, that comes in a 24000 lbs. It has steps, but also has a full head with shower. Boat does 103 MPH with 3 900HP Ferrara engines, and the owner is the craziest dude you will ever meet...always on it! Name a drive that would last 500 hrs on a boat like this with no failures?

3 late 80's fountains, 1 hustler, an early 90's sig and early 90's sandler.....all have huge power, and the original...untouched Arneson drives.

And.....the roosters 47 ft sandler on left, 40 fountain on right.

[IMG][/IMG]

Several of those Fountains were setup at the factory with Arnesons.