Bravo XR
 

I just rebuilt my Mercury Racing 500 efi. It's now a 540ci, 675HP, 699 ft lb of tourque engine. I'm pretty sure this set up will eat up my existing Bravo 1. It's in a Formula 271 fastech. Do any of you have an opinion about the ability of a new XR to handle this power?

Thanks

Re: Bravo XR
 

Alot will depend on driving style. I ran 725 hp thru a Bravo XZ for three years.

Re: Bravo XR
 

my buddy has a 36 gladiator with twin merc 575sc's and has had issues with XR's...and he's avg to above avg throttleman

Re: Bravo XR
 

With 650 HP Per side I would eat up Bravos left and right all the time,my boat is very light and I still had problems even when I would baby the boat.I installed Imco Extereme SC Drives and have not had another problem since Good luck. :drink:

Re: Bravo XR
 

skip the XR....much better alternatives out there. i kinda have a thing for formulas with arnesons....thats the way i would go....single or twin motor.

Re: Bravo XR
 

:rolleyes: A little expensive considering the XR will last as long as your easy on the throttles and aren't running 3-4 footers at speed. If you can afford it, run the bravo until it grenades, then replace it with an XR. (otherwise just do it now and sell the the braov or keep it as a spare)

Re: Bravo XR
 

Mickey's running 900hp in a 26 American Offshore - baby's it out of the hole - but runs it flat out quiet a bit. Never had an issue with the XR - but it finally tore the stock transom assembly all to hell. $2500 later for a outdated assembly (new) and ALL is Well!!

Re: Bravo XR
 

It's in a 27 foot Formula fastech. Single engine. A few years back I put an XZ gear package and a billit top cap on my 1998 Bravo 1. I babied the drive last season and it held together with the 675 HP. (It was a 35 hour season) short due to a new baby at home. Based on your responses I have a few more questions:

1 - How much is an Imco extereme SC and would it bolt on to the existing set up?

2 - I'm hearing mixed reviews on the XR. Would I need to really baby it or just take it easy out of the hole.

Thanks

Re: Bravo XR
 

Imco's around $11K and a direct bolt up.

There's no good answer to #2. Some people have good luck with them and some don't.

A Konrad and extension box will be about double that.

Re: Bravo XR
 

I would either run what you have until it breaks or upgrade your drive the rest of the way with max worx parts. Unless your launching to the sky on every wave on the rev limiter a upgraded bravo should last you several 100 hours. When I had around the same hp as you and was running a 28 pitch 4 blade I had virtually zero problems with my max worx upgraded drive. I'm currently runnning over 900 hp/ft lbs tq in my single and never sheared a prop shaft until I tried to turn a 5 blade full size maximus. I have had lower gears fail but am working on a treatment that seems to be working,the rest of my parts have over 200 hours including the upper gears after 2 different 540 blower motors and a blown 502 over past 6 years. Your boat isn't super heavy,how much prop are you turning? When you get into 32 potch props or 5 blades these drives start failing on a regular basis. The heavier boats with medium power especially when turning 5 blades spit out the best upgraded xr/bravos like watermelon seeds but the singles in your size with similar power are usually fine,Smitty

Re: Bravo XR
 

I'm shopping a Diesel Dually to tow my Formula 382......some people here think I need to get an F650 or I'm playing Russian Roulette on the roads! :rolleyes:

What are the typical water conditions you boat in? In a relatively flat lake with the occasional cruiser wake your fine with the XR. Cruising 1 mile offshore at 60......now your pushing your luck!

Re: Bravo XR
 

BTW: I just bought a 382 with 830 HP Procharged motors. The owner quickly blew a pair of regular bravos...switched to XR's and the boat now has 119 hrs on her without issue.

Re: Bravo XR
 

Go Konrad :cool:

Re: Bravo XR
 

525's in a Gladiator with Xr's and have blown them.
Whippled 500's in a 38 Hustler with Teague Platinum Xr's and have blown them.
Go Konrad, Arneson, or a Speedmater drive!!!

Re: Bravo XR
 

What year is your original Bravo1? What year/age are the internals? I am a firm believer that the 1999-2000ish Bravo1s are stronger than today's X(n) drives.

Case in point: I beat the snot out of my heavy 1999 Sonic 26' w/ 500EFI and plain-jane Bravo drive. I made my share of mistakes, and never one issue with my engine or drive.

Now I have 2003 Bravo XZs behind a pair of stock 496HOs. I think I know at least a little more about driving a boat (some will beg to differ :D), but each drive has broken internally once. Once by me, and once by the original owner of the boat.

Say hello to my little friend: (Mercury Warranty Card)

Re: Bravo XR
 

Who wants to be easy on a performance boat?

Re: Bravo XR
 

I've had a 540 in my boat for the past 5 years. For 4 of them it was making 650, now it's about 600 and I run a XR geared standard bravo, with a stock lower.
Basically the tower is machined down for the larger XR bearing, and gear. Other than that the gearset was sent to Max machine works to get there bearing upgrade. I've got that , a billet topcap/cooler and a simreck shower and I've never had any problems. Before the max bearing upgrade I would take out bearings on occasion.
Funny thing is 2 years ago I had the XR apart doing the bearing thing and my spare drive is an old style Bravo one with who know's how many hours on it and I used that for most of the summer without any issues. I did kind of baby that one though.