Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

The first question is the thread title, If the first question is possible than how do I determine the gear ratio for the lower to match the Bravo 1 I have now?
Thank you in advance.

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

1. Yes

2. depends on teeth count in upper and lowers.

Example: if you have a 1.5 bravo upper ( non XR)
27/32 tooth count, and you mate it with a bravo 3
lower that has 16/27 tooth count, you get a 2:1
reduction.

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

What do you mean match? A better quesition is what ratio do I need for my engine/boat combo.

What engine do you have?

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Yes, your correct. That is a better way of saying it. My engine is a SBC 383 about 375hp. The boat is not meant to be a rocket ship, so I guess keep that in mind. I want the Bravo 3 lower to improve fuel consumption and lower cruising RPM. It's a 24' IMP "Very heavy!", but what a great ride. The Bravo upper is 1:50.

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

A 2.2 overall ratio would be best for that combo, but a 1.5 upper will only give you a 2.0 with a 16/27 lower (which is the most common)

I have a good lower I will sell cheap, it's not pretty but $750 will take it.

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Thanks for the info. That Sounds like a pretty good deal, How is the corrosion on it? Does it have the single or dual zinc? How many hours? Do you have any pictures? My e-mail is [email protected] , Thanks again. Rob

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

What you really need is a gear chart to understand the differences between the drives and thier gearing. Mark is right (as always) . BBB

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

I think a Bravo II would also be excellent for that application.

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Thanks Billy,

Chart like this :

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/Show_...O+I%2FII%2FIII

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Yes, I didn't want to post it because it's copyrighted. BBB

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Thank you for all the input. As per the chart, the Bravo one has a 15/19 lower across the board. The Bravo Three also has a 15//19 lower, with the same 1:50 upper. Would that not give me the same ratio I would need? Or would another ratio serve my purpose better?

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Hi BBB, My research shows the Bravo 2's are best for House Boats and non-planing hull's. It also has a huge prop shaft that requires a special prop. If any of this is wrong please let me know. I'm far from a marine expert.
Thanks
Rob

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

the bravo 2 uses the same prop as a trs

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Bravo 2 uses same prop as a TR, different animal than the TRS, and yes, houseboats and 25 MPH cruisers are the primary application.

Bravo 3 applications / ratios are different than B1 due to the dual props.

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Hey Mark , What do you make of the gear chart? There seems to be a few choices. There is one that matches the Bravo one lower gear ratio. Would that be the best choice?

How do you determine prop pitch for this boat? How does the twin props effect pitch?

What about the one you want to sell?

Thanks
Rob

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Best for you would be a 2.2, but the closest you can get with your upper is 2.0.

What is your existing prop? Actual top speed? Max RPM?

See:
http://www.go-fast.com/prop_slip.htm

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

did everyone forget about non-recuirculating bravos here, might be an issue might not. i would be concerned with the uppers oil passages before i would worry about the gear ratio.

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

hey O/D man hows it going,

yes I forgot all about the old style, havent seen one in years.... :drink: :drink:

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Many people around my area are going from bravo 1's to bravo two's on 24'-27' foot cabin cruisers with a single screw.
My sisters '97 27 searay had one. The boat did about 40mph with a 454.
A bravo two will make the boat handle better than a bravo one, and the boat will plane off better than a bravo one and will hold plane at a lower speed. and is way tougher than a bravo three.
Hit something with a bravo three, or even worse, get a piece of debris caught between the counter rotating props, and it's an expensive bomb that just exploded. Leaving you and those that you went out to enjoy a nice day of boating with now stranded, and then you saddled with a tremendous bill.
Bravo three's make boatyards tremendous profits.
A few years ago, My friend got stranded for almost a week upstate new york on the Hudson, as both of the 3's on his 29' Chapparal, let go after hitting something. He was forced to stay in a motel, and wait for his boat to be fixed.
He would not tell me how much it cost, he didn't want to talk about it.
That was the second pair of drives, Which Mercruiser actually provided new drives under warranty, which I installed. That wasn't the first time I had one of them apart earlier for a linkage replacement . Now on it's 3rd set when he decided to sell it. Not to bad for a 2 year old boat huh !
Even if Merc. has solved the corrosion issue, the Bravo Three is not that great, and costs too much to fix.
Here's a Bravo 2 lower I found on e-bay....BBB http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LOWER...QQcmdZViewItem

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Since I don't have a bravo three lower to compare it too, is there a year cut off for this incompatibility, My upper is serial # 0L797241. what do I look for?
Thanks for the heads up.

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

What do you think about the Volvo DP?

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Ok... You guys left me hanging here with that last bit of info about oil passages. How do I tell?

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

here it is
BBB

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Led, you have a 2000 vintage drive, oil passages not an issue. The lower I have is 16/27 gears, will give you a 2.0 overall ratio with your upper. It's 2001 or newer as it has the later style vertical shaft, but not the dual anodes. Pics attached. No corrosion at all !!

Actually, now that I have the pictures I think I will put it on Ebay if you don't want it. I'll wait till Sunday.

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Hi, Glade to hear from you. Would it be to possible to send pictures to [email protected] ? And yes I'm seriously interested in it, I will not waste your time.

Thank you
Rob

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Done

Re: Bravo 1 upper compatible with Bravo 3 Lower?
 

Yes I want it.
Thanks