Might be a silly question but i'm taking a chance here. What is the difference between the 1 and the X drive . If it's only the gears, can I put the gears of the X in the 1 or do I have to change the complete drive, is there any upgrades available and if so how much can I expect to pay.
I'm looking to buy a Powerquest 280 Silencer with a 496HO and wondering if the Bravo 1 is enough for this boat

XR drives have bigger shafts than Bravo 1. They also have stronger straight-cut gears instead of spiral-cut which are stronger. The housing needs to be machined out to fit the gears.

Max Machine Worx in Lake Havasu City can upgrade a standard drive, but it ain't cheap.

If the boat is a twin application, I think you would be fine with Bravo 1's if you learn good throttling technique. Easy on the sticks on take-off, pull back when coming off a wave getting air, and hit the throttles again just as you re-enter the water.

mars,

Dick aka "Mr. Gadgets" (Dick's Performance Marine) would be a good one to ask as he rebuilds, repairs, modifies standard Bravo One drives to XR's, blue prints, and assembles them all the time. He rebuilt, blue-printed and assembled my XR's and he is on OSO frequently. He is located just north of Saugatuck, Michigan (about 5 miles away from the Skater factory). His cell number is: 616-403-1006.

Hi
I think that I haven't been clear in my question, on the Merc Webb site in their specifications on 496HO there is the Bravo one X and the XR. The ones that i'm talking about is the Bravo 1 and the X

Take this for what its worth as i virtually know nothing, but i thought the BX had same type of gears, albeit beefier than the B1.

I was told a B1 can handle 500-550 HP if you are smooth & dont mash the throttle when coming out of the hole. The Merc site states 400HP for B1 & 450HP for BX. I would think a B1 could handle the HO. If your buying new i would just get the BX for peace of mind. But its not my money.

http://www.go-fast.com/mercruiser_bravo_sterndrives.htm

there is a difference.