I posted this question in the Powerquest forum, and it was suggested that this might be a better place to discuss...

I'm looking at a 1995 Avenger (non-stepped) with 600sc motors and speedmaster 5 drives.

I know the speedmasters are great drives, but I think the 5s are shorties and usually used in cats? The dealer says they operate way different and it's more of a process to plain off. I don't have any experience with these drives, but I'm looking for a fast 38' pleasure boat for Lake MI, and it doesn't seem like these would be the right setup for me? Maybe have them swap them out for 3a drives instead?

Thanks!

Would you rather take longer to get up or blow bravos all the time???????????????????? Theyre are plenty of v bottom pleasure boats with 4/5's running around. Drives all the way in, tabs all the way down, bring the RPM's way up, most likely about 4000-4500 and let it start to catch. Once you feel its actually going to get up, pull the tabs all the way up and then adjust from there. Once you get used to it, its nothing.....

Will these drives take longer to plain off? It also seems like shorties like this will come out of the water quicker when I'm battling Lake MI? Unless PQ mounts the motors lower in the hull somehow to compensate?

Sorry for the basic questions, I have no experience with anything besides Alpha and Bravo drives.

yes they take longer to get going but who cares???????? Yes they are higher but because of the big skeg and overall size of the drive a speedmaster boat feels a lot more hooked than a bravo boat.

For simple pleasure boating, I wouldn't want to be fighting to get up all of the time, but I also don't know how big of a difference it is. If I swapped the 5s with something longer like 3As, I'm assuming it would be more comprable to the Bravos (with better power rating and efficiency)?

its a difference of about 4-5 seconds prolly and its not bad at all. also, your not FIGHTING to get up cause it always gets up but it just takes a couple seconds longer....going to 3A's would be like taking your boat back 15 years and also lower your resale

Is there another SSM drive that I should be looking for if I don't want the shorter 5s (6s)? Will the 5s catch air quicker or would they be mounted lower on the hull? The boat is a great deal with the power and the drives, I just want it to be right for me and my family.

Thanks a ton for the help!

they dont catch air any quicker than a bravo boat and if they do your talking half seconds, nothing you or me would really notice. i cant really understand why your so against the surfacing drives. they are a much superior set-up and everyone on here would take that set-up in a second over an old school set up with the drives buried and scrubbing speed. you do realize by putting the drives deeper you will prolly srub about 10 mph of your speed?????

Sounds like you have made up your mind that you dont want a boat with SSM's. I have spent some time looking at that machine years ago. I would just leave it the way it is and know you have a strong drive setup.

600sc with ssm V's =bulletproof. I boat on lake michigan, and have ssm IV's on my 38 fountain. The IV is the same as a V, but a smaller propshaft. Planing can be tricky, but like anything, its all in the props. With 3 blades, its sloooow to plane. With 5 blades, it planes like a bravo boat.

Running in big water, with a 38' boat, and some decent power in it, you will want the ssm drives. Its way more durable, and fun to drive. Airing out a 38' PQ with bravo's and 600sc's will break bravo's at least once a season. The SSM V was rated to 750HP for warranty, but have handled much more power than that. They take the same props as a #6 drive.

If you were looking at boating on a inland lake, where the water is calm, than maybe a bravo boat. But lake michigan, you want more drive than motor.