Drive recommendations please
 

Have been combing through the internet and threads on here. Wow, how things and opinions change over the years lol. So first, the boat, 2000 Baja 342 HP500 EFI's, with extension boxes and Bravo 1s. With 650hrs it is time to freshen things up. Though I know twin engine boating is not for the fiscally challenged, I am a lowly diesel technician and finances are a concern. Love the boating life! and have given up most of my other hobbies so I can put max focus on the boat. The boat runs 80 with light fuel, 2 people, gear and a cooler, and have got a 82mph gps "glory run". Not bad for the old tired girl. For now a basic engine rebuild with some porting, tuning and really meticulous building practices. Flat tops will be used as a pair of whipples will be in the near future- hence the need for current advice. I am thinking a real 500hp for now and a conservative 675-700 when the blowers are installed. What drives will get me a nice happy boating future? I am easy on the sticks right now, and would be with the new power. I would like drives that can take a bit of abuse from time to time as I am not a super experienced throttle man, and I do enjoy this boat in the rough. Most of the stuff I read is not consistent from year to years. So what is today's recommendation? Drives need to fit my bravo transom assemblies, since they are bolted to my extension boxes. Thanks for any help

SCX or BMax uppers at the minimum….. you might get a third of
the hours you got on your bravos if you go with XR’s.

IMCO SCX uppers w/ SC lowers will give you reliability and performance.

Or leave it alone refresh what you have and go another 650 hours of Trouble Free boating. Speaking from experience but of course WE never listen :evilb:

Best advice ever given right there! I only wish it was in my nature to leave stuff alone lol.

I’d have to agree with Quinlan. Refresh what you have, if need be, and stay in the reliable bravo range. 82 is a very respectable speed and Bajas just weren’t designed to go much faster. Doesn’t matter what make it is, do you really want to dump $40k+/- on just drives on 22yr old boat?

So XR's are still on the bad list? There are a couple of 100mph cats on my lake that are running them, I know cats are a whole different game. One guy says the old XRs are better and the other guy says he used to blow up old ones, and the newest versions are the best. I have noticed most of the guys on here dont have very nice things to say about XR's, so unless something has recently changed, I kinda figured XR's would not be the choice. I would need standard length lowers, as the boat handles, planes and performs awesome right now. I have transom mount water pick ups and the drive pick ups are used for the IMCO showers, would this be a problem with your 2 suggested picks ?

Are those lowers standard length?

do this…more power in a flat bottom Baja will offer limited return on top end speed, yet will significantly impact reliability. it’s not worth the trade off. keep your hp to 500 or less and go boating. 80 mph is a respectable speed. enjoy the boat and water.

good luck

4 lengths available: std, -1, -2, -3