Years back i use to run mine harder, then after some failures i started slowing down,getting older, but im not afraid to throttle it hard, I also have a spare lower and wished I had a spare upper. The way i look at it is if your going to boat more than 1 day I take the spare.like if your on vacation and using the boat multiable day, you may ruin that day but can be running back the next. the only other thing is if you have guest it puts a damper on there vacation too. so far ive haven't had much lower failures, the upper over the years has failed.Im running the bmaxs which is a bravo lower,it has the upper gears that are larger.but there alot more expensive to replace,

from what ive seen on the reg bravos. is the lower gear set brineals(sp) and the upper usually breaks a pinion tooth off.Thats what was happening to my old Scarab single 828hp at 5000lbs with imco parts



My buddy Jason has a hustler with 900+ and running bravos, he checks the magnets all the time, changes oil every few hours and is having good luck with them, not sure whos doing his though, but its aftermarket gears etc.

The truth is they will fail eventually if you use all your motor. I have a Velocity 280 with about 700hp and the drive lasted a couple of seasons before letting go. I have successfully removed all the teeth off my gears on the third season. A Sea Tow or Boat US membership should be mandatory because you will need it. My tow cost $625 to go 4 miles.

We've had similar power in the 253 for several years now and knock on wood its held up fine.

Like said, get on plane easy...keep the prop in the water...dont hammer the throttle when going wide open...run good oil and change it regularly.

Have a pair and spare ! You can send the drive out to strengthen the main shaft I was told. It cost around a grand. There is a member selling a xr drive right now for 5000. Sell your bravo and put money towards a xr.

The 420 blower is not Bravo friendly.. Too much torque down low. Better off with a Procharger to help the drive live. No matter what you build, it must be driven with respect to live. Bravos will break, it just depends on your maintenance schedule tolerance. Baja H20, 24', 1170hp Procharger, every 60-70hrs, all new gears and bearings. He was happy with that life cycle.

Dick

I take it very easy coming out of the hole. Only time I'm really on it is trying to get the top speed. I put about 30hrs a year on my boat usually, so I'm fine with going through the drive every other year.

I had the same boat year and all. I ran 720HP Procharged and 727 TQ after 7 broken Bravo's in 2 years I bought a B-Max and never broke again. I had 6 years on it when I got rid of the boat. Bullet Proof

If OSO is the boaters bible, baby baby baby baby and your good. If thats your plan then why not stick with a 525 or something smaller? if you want to use the power then best find something other than a bravo as nearly everyone says the same thing. Spend more money and get a spare as your are on borrowed time, baby it to death and basically pray. Dont know your boat but look for a surface drive if you want to use your 750 hp

That's right, you can baby on every launch and mind the throttles in the rough but it's inevitable it WILL break. Other factors determine lifespan as well including boat weight and slip percentage. 2013 season I lost an XR upper on port side. 2014 I lost a vertical shaft where it meets the lower destroying basically everything other than case on starboard. Yes I baby the hell out of it but even throttling slower than a slug I still eventually get to WOT on occasion which keeps the destruction countdown clicking. A part of going fast. Pay to play.

But also for what it's worth I had 4 seasons on last boat standard bravo 1 with Teague internals on 750hp motor and just talked to the guy I sold it too and everything is still good. I'd say that is a lucky drive and definitely NOT the standard. -E572

Mine lasted 3 hours behind a 525 in a 22' boat. The XR is a big improvement but still the weak link. I give it about an hour unless you are gonna drop in 750 hp and drive the boat like an old lady but how much sense would that make?