800hp through an xr drive
03-26-2015 | 04:49 PM
#51
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From: On A Dirt Floor
03-26-2015 | 08:46 PM
#52
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From: Traverse City MI
I will just throw my most likely useless two cents in here but I have a 1991 42 Fountain with the original '91 Bravos with 1:36 ratio on it with -2 Imco shorties. The boat most recently had triple 565-575hp HP500 triples in it. I have owned it for two years in this configuration, and I have known the three previous owners before me going way back to 1997. The boat has NEVER been a drive breaker, and the boat doesn't have drive showers on it. I don't beat on it but I don't baby it either. What I don't do is get in it and jam the sticks to the dashboard out of the hole and hope for the best. Granted, I run the boat in the 1000 Islands and it very rarely leaves the water. I am finishing up three brand new Bob Madera designed 548's that we hope churn out around 675hp @ 5800 rpms. As a precaution I am having the drives freshened with heavy duty shafts in the uppers and bigger shafts in the lowers. Just as a precaution. Myself and the previous two owners only run Redline HD gear oil in the drives and the magnets are spotless. My fingers are crossed.
Plus 3 drives Sharing the load.
03-26-2015 | 10:00 PM
#54
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From: LOTO
All I know is that during the 4 years I've owned my Cig Gladiator with 800+ and Bravo XRs I've never had a sniff of drive trouble. Nor have I heard of any negative history from the stable of Lip-Ship Gladiators set up with XRs and 600-800 HP. As far as I know they all still run the XRs. On the other hand I know of several Cig 525 38 Top Guns that have had drive issues. Perhaps the boat weight and setup does in fact influence the outcome...
Last edited by omerta one; 03-26-2015 at 10:02 PM.
03-26-2015 | 10:13 PM
#55
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From: St. Pete Beach, FL
All I know is that during the 4 years I've owned my Cig Gladiator with 800+ and Bravo XRs I've never had a sniff of drive trouble. Nor have I heard of any negative history from the stable of Lip-Ship Gladiators set up with XRs and 600-800 HP. As far as I know they all still run the XRs. On the other hand I know of several Cig 525 38 Top Guns that have had drive issues. Perhaps the boat weight and setup does in fact influence the outcome...
03-26-2015 | 10:14 PM
#56
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From: Grand Rapids, MI
This thread scares me. Will have 600hp 540s this summer, but sticking with my stock bravos. Never had any problems so far, but am fearing the added power (from 470hp HP500s) will give me issues....
03-26-2015 | 10:57 PM
#57
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From: Cleveland Ohio
03-27-2015 | 07:32 AM
#58
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From: Traverse City MI
I need to track down the members who have PMd me for advice over the years with STOCK 496 boats suffering the bravo blues.......
I tried to tell u before you rebuilt to keep them a stock refresh.....
03-27-2015 | 08:58 AM
#59
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From: Palm City, Fl
I think if you are putting stock power through a drive and you lose a drive you have a legitimate argument with Mercury.
However, for guys like me with Bravo problems (780 hp) I can't really blme the manufacturer as I'm making it do something it was never designed for.
Either we keep replacing/rebuilding every 2 seasons or so or spend the money to upgrade the drive.
As said previously, if you have medium/big power or a heavy boat, it's when, not if...
However, for guys like me with Bravo problems (780 hp) I can't really blme the manufacturer as I'm making it do something it was never designed for.
Either we keep replacing/rebuilding every 2 seasons or so or spend the money to upgrade the drive.
As said previously, if you have medium/big power or a heavy boat, it's when, not if...
03-27-2015 | 09:28 AM
#60
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From: Lago Vista TX
Okay.. so what IS the answer ?
I'm about to start rigging my 26 Corsa.. It WILL have over 800 hp...
The hull doesn't have much rocker so I wouldn't think a surface drive would work out too well.
Is the Imco SCX the only option ?
Really hate to have to tell the wife we need a $15,000 drive on our $7000 boat....
Doug
I'm about to start rigging my 26 Corsa.. It WILL have over 800 hp...
The hull doesn't have much rocker so I wouldn't think a surface drive would work out too well.
Is the Imco SCX the only option ?
Really hate to have to tell the wife we need a $15,000 drive on our $7000 boat....
Doug
Last edited by Boatally Insane; 03-27-2015 at 09:31 AM.
