45' Wellcraft Excalibur - Need input on Drive and Engine upgrade ideas
10-22-2020 | 01:20 PM
#21
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 596
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why endure the pain? seems that as long as it looks like a bravo everybody is good but someone do something that is proven reliable then it has to be bad might as well tell him to make it a center console and stuff outboards onto it.
10-22-2020 | 04:21 PM
#24
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10-22-2020 | 05:56 PM
#27
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: SWFL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60k2ImZ9Xi0
I had the 47. It had 496 Ho/Mag and Bravo III X diesels (yes). The mercury rep told me (after going through a couple of sets) that the drive would bolt up fine and that the only difference was the gear (I think mine was a 1:50 and the best part was the main shaft was something like 25% wider than the non-diesel). Never had a problem after that. Also, Art Lilly would make me change the drive fluid on a regular basis!
I had the 47. It had 496 Ho/Mag and Bravo III X diesels (yes). The mercury rep told me (after going through a couple of sets) that the drive would bolt up fine and that the only difference was the gear (I think mine was a 1:50 and the best part was the main shaft was something like 25% wider than the non-diesel). Never had a problem after that. Also, Art Lilly would make me change the drive fluid on a regular basis!
But 425hp/495ftlbs is 215hp/195ftlbs less than what I’m making. I truly thought I would be fine by taking it easy and using good oils..but started pushing vertical shafts out of the top of the drives, I mean top caps gone 4 bolts and bearings poking out of the old style x’s
So I bought brand new X’s with the ribbed top cap...guess what....snapped the shafts but didn’t blow the caps off!
Not blaming Merc the drives just weren’t built for this.
10-24-2020 | 08:03 PM
#28
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 121
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From: SW Florida
I say work out the weak link first, then go for the HP next winter. Im running my stock Bravos like they are made of glass until I decide to go back to work and have money flowing in and not out. Just finished the restoration on my Exal this week. Ah who am I kidding, when is a project ever done?
10-25-2020 | 08:04 AM
#30
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 165
From: SWFL
the whole point of my conversion is to get away from Bravo style drives, spent far too much money and time swapping drives, prop tuning and trying to get it right. Blew 5 drives.
I got a great deal on the low hour fresh water Arnesons from a boat partout. I couldn’t buy SCX’s and props for less.
Im a big fan of surface drives, been wanting to try them for 20 years and this is the perfect opportunity to do so.
The reliability and speed increase is what I’m after.
I got a great deal on the low hour fresh water Arnesons from a boat partout. I couldn’t buy SCX’s and props for less.
Im a big fan of surface drives, been wanting to try them for 20 years and this is the perfect opportunity to do so.
The reliability and speed increase is what I’m after.
