Any one try switching from the bravo 3's to Bravo 1 drives? I am looking at ordering a 370 with 525's and wonder if the B 3 drives are holding it back. I imagine crusing speed may suffer but what about the over all performance?

I seem to recall that the dual props don't limit top end until 60mph or better. I had a 21 ft runabout that I considered having the outer prop worked for some more speed, but decided to just get more LOA instead. I'm curious for the answer to this too....

I once ordered a 23' Larson Cuddy with 300HP 454 and B3 (talk about a sleeper). The B3 definately won't sacrifice cruising speed. That boat had no problem holding 18 MPH for wake boarders, and it's cruising speed was a little over 40, about 42 - 43 MPH at about 4 MPG. You're gonna love the B3's. Although I always wondered if it lost top end, but according to the manufacturer it was fastest with B3's. I got about 57 - 58 MPH out of it. I really liked that boat, I could surprise a lot of Formula's and Baja's with it.

The down side is replacing the props $$$$$

I would stay with the 3.It is now a 3XR. Main reason for a few experiments with Bravo 1's on the 370/400 was the earlier 3's had some reliability issues with big horsepower. The new 3XR should eliminate those issues. Performance in every aspect should be better. Tom Caruso from Total Marine probrably has the most experience with both setups.maybe he will chime in. Robert

I was just thinking that I have heard the B3' max out around 63 MPH. I dont know how true that is but I would think A B1XR with 5 blade prop would be more effecient if the HP was there to push it.

We built some of the first 400-SS's with 525's. The factory wouldn't allow them to go out with Bravo-III's because Mercruiser wouldn't warranty them with the 525's. Now that the Bravo-III XR is here, Formula packages the 400-SS's with 525's with the Bravo-III XR.

Like Robert, I would recommend that set up over the Bravo-I. Our experience was that the overall top end might have been a tad (and ONLY a tad) higher, but the cruising speed definietely suffered. The Bravo-I just doesn't generate enough transom lift at cruising speeds to get the hull out of the water and moving efficiently. Overall performance on a big heavy boat like the 400-SS is just a lot better with the Bravo-III XR.

Having said all of this, the results will probably be better on a 370 than they were on the 400 (due to the boat being lighter and less wetted surface), but probably not enough to justify the trade off.
Hipe this helps.

Tom
Total Marine