Bravo one..Really 600 HP rated?
 

I’ve looked everywhere and can’t seem to get my hands on the actual details. When and how did Mercury increase the rating for Bravo 1’s to 600 horsepower from the historical 400? Never had a need to focus on the rating before.

Currently working on a repower project and found a great deal on XZ’s to handle the two new 650hp/700TQ builds being done for this project. If true, I’ll just stick with B1.

Truth or marketing on the 600hp bravo one ratings? Thanks in advance!

Regular Bravo's were mated to 600SC's years ago, but currently, I think they are only mated to engines less than 425hp. IMO, older regular Bravo's were better than current ones.
Bravo XR's were mated to the 525EFI and 600sci's. Bravo XZ's were mated to 500EFI's.
Its a guess as to how long XZ's will last behind 650hp/700tq. It will depend on boat weight and how its driven.

Thanks Griff. I was beyond surprised why Mercury is currently advertising B1’s for gas engines up to 600 HP. Other than the incremental improvements, like the swept back housing, no idea how the actual claim is being made.

Check this out, go to stern drives, it list the compatible drives
https://www.mercuryracing.com/

Back in the day before the X series dives came out
( pre 2000) they were used on HP500’s and 525SC’s,
saw 1 set behind 600CS’s and many a person upgraded
power even past that and ran them.

The weak link was the thin floor gears,
they would also break the tower on the case
on occasion.

The new stuff isn’t bulletproof either.

I’d base on if you use the existing B1’s
on the hours they have on them and the weight of the boat.

That rating is for the Bravo XR not the standard Bravo though if you're confusing the two.

I'd say it depends a lot on weight of the boat and how it's used. If it's heavy, yet capable of pulling a large pitch& diameter prop it's probably not gonna handle 600hp. Same for offshore where it gets air a lot which is had on outdrives. Yet, if you've got a potato chip hull with little drag it'll most likely be just fine if not hammered out of the hole. A lot of variables to be considered.