400 Ss
 

Got a demo ride on a 2004 Formula 400 SS. It had HP 525's and bravo one XR drives. I was wondering if that is a good combo on a 14,000 pound boat? The previous 400 SS years had bravo 3's. This boat rode great. 40 mph at 4000 rpm in big swells.
Mike88

Both are ok, but the boat should have surface drives, the weight and horsepower would perform much better

I did not know they were putting 525's in the 400ss yet. I think it would be a better package than the 500 efi because of the closed cooling.

Where did you get a demo ride? What dealer has this one?

It was at the Newport Boatshow in Rhode Island and the dealer was Total Marine. It had a black hull. Real good looking boat.
Mike

Mike 88, how was planing with the xr's and any top end #'s?

Thanx, Wrink

I'd guess that the extra blade area on the B3's would really help pop that heavy hull up on plane, and give it better mid-range. I don't think I've ever heard of an SS without B3's - wonder if Merc won't put the B3's behind the 525's?

2004 is the first year with 525's and xr's. This was the second boat made with that combo. I have a feeling the B3's couldn't handle the power of the 525's. The boat popped up on plane with full fuel and 3 people on board. As far as top end, the guy said it would do 60mph. On our ride, it was rough in the ocean but we were doing 42 mph on the speedo at 4000 rpm. It took a little while getting used to that because in my 336 with 502's we do 40 mph at 3000 rpm. Not sure what the redline is on the 525's. Do you think 4000 rpm is too high for cruise?
Mike

Merc would not warranty the Bravo-III drive with the 525 engine. We wanted the 525's for the fresh water cooling and because it is later technology than the 500.

We have already delivered an identical boat to the one mike88 ran at Newport and the owner is very happy.

True, you might have a slightly better mid-range with the Bravo-III drive, but top end is slightly better with the Bravo-I (less drag). To even things up at cruise, you might have to run the 525/Bravo-I package 100 or 200 rpm higher than the 500/Bravo-III package to achieve the same mph, but that engine/drive package is near bullet proof, so the extra rpm shouldn't be a big deal.

Bottom line, in our opinion, the positives to this package far outweigh the negatives.

Tom
Total Marine