Drive lifespan on 32-36' cat?
 

After building a 280 velocity years ago with a ton of help from this forum I sold the boat after 2 seasons and 4 drives. Obviously bravo drives do not like much power and the blown 509 was to much for it even driving very easy. I have owned 12+ outboard boats since then and have become spoiled with the simple maintence of changing the oils every 100 hours. I currently have a 31 contender and a LCB with a new 400 verado. I am wanting to add a 32-36 foot cat to the mix, but the prices of outboard cats are INSANE! I have recently been thinking about going to an inboard cat like a 32 skater, 35 motion or 36 spectre. Problem is we live on the water and put over 400 hours a year on our boats. Am I dreaming to think that the drives and engines will hold up to 150-200 hours a year on a cat with out a tremendous amount of up keep? I am not looking for 120-150 mph speeds. We cover a lot of ground going to New Orleans, Biloxi from our house so stock power with the ability to cruise 80+ would work. Last weekend we ran 420 miles over the course of 3 days on the tickfaw 200. It is not uncommon for us to run 250 miles in a weekend. 500efi/bravo setup?

Look for a cat with # 6 drives and with mild to wild power they are reliable, with Bravo and even Imco Drives you will have issues even with 525s the drives do not hold up. Good luck there are plenty out there with 6 drives

I initially thought about number 6 drives, but after looking them up I read they need to be gone through every 150 hours at a 10k price per drive. Not sure how true that is. I am trying to get in touch with the guy who does my drives to see what he says.

what about Arnesons or equivalent…not sure there are many out there on sub 36’ cats tho

Thats doesn`t seem to be accurate information.. where did you find that??

Even if it is true, I'd rather have them gone through on MY schedule rather than have a Bravo based boat make that schedule for me anytime during the season!!

Imco scx?

I have owned 3 cats with Number Six drives. One was a 32 Skater with 525's and Six drives. One was a 35 Motion with 1200's and Six drives and a 39 MTI with 1300's and Six drives. One word on the drives, Bulletproof, I had way more than 150 hours on those drives with no issues. Can not say the same about transmissions, engines and drive shafts from the trans to the drive. Blew a few, I am back to outboard cats. Not as fast but, far more reliable.

I read that on OSO yesterday while reading through older posts.

I was not aware number 6 drives have transmissions. Did you have many issues with the 525 setup? I would be fine with lower stock power if that meant more reliable.

I agree about the outboard boats being more reliable, but I can not justify $400-600K for a twin outboard cat. How is the ride with the lighter outboard boats vs the inboard or is there much difference?