Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

what are the pros and cons on a boat with TRS drives
i dont know much about them and current looking at a boat with them any help needed.
thanks
Ty

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

IMO, good drives for light weight - medium heavy boats with less than 625hp. My 30' 6800lb with TRS around 500hp, the last thing I am worrying about are my drives. Friends 38' 10,000lb? Top gun w/ 750hp is another issue. It is indirectly proportional lighter boat more hp, heavier boat less hp. 625hp on a 34' would be my top comfort zone for TRS. But it still boils down to the sticks if you use them properly.

Cons- deep drive, transmissions, not much room in bilge, supply of parts are diminishing, peoples perception, resale (but that might be why you might get it cheap), uses more hp than bravo's, not to hydrodynamic I am looking into nose cones for mine.

Overall I would buy another boat with them. cause usually they are on older boats that I can afford.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

essentially there junk on any kind of performance boat, with all due. the lower the value, and increse expense due to service. they don not handle surfacing almost at all. most importantly they are really old and the parts will soon be scarce.

the positive to it is that you can replace them with a much better unit with out having to close your transom and go to bravo's. not a cheap investment either way. i say this from my experience in the industry over quite a few years.

good luck.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

Pro? they're easily replaced with Konrads :cool:

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

Like Rookie said it all depends whats in front of them. Have them checked out.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

thanks for the info the boat is a 35 mistress with 500 hp's
thanks Ty

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

DAMN, I thought you were talking about bravos, Oh, I am sorry, I forgot how reliable the are.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

dont follow

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

I'm thinking that he is referring to allot of people blowing up their bravo drives with moderate hp, unless they have all the expensive upgrades. For a while it seemed there was a thread every week on how much hp can a STANDARD bravo handle.

would an '89 bravo might be just as weak or weaker than a TRS? I have no idea. I am happy with my TRS and thank god it has never surfaced.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

The 89 bravo is far inferior to the TRS A new XR sportmaster is better than the TRS, BUT if the 89 bravo is behind the 330 hp 454 that it was designed for it is ok and will probably last.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

Excactly.......................................... .., Thanks

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

My TRS drives and B/W Trannies have been pushing my 1982 40ft Excalibur Hawk with 420HP motors its entire life, without being rebuilt. Just regular maintanance. TRS drives shift so much smoother than a bravo. I grenenaded a bravo on a 23ft boat with a 454 and 250 hours. IMHO, the TRS drives can be very reliable with proper care, drivng habits, and maintanence. They do weigh more due to the trannies, and parts are harder to find.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

I've got TRS on my Cig 28SS and I have no intention of replacing them, and with normal maintenance I don't expect any failures. The guys that slam them are either doing something with them beyond which they were designed and so they broke, they expect them to work forever with no maintenace, or they're just outdrive snobs with more money than... ...mmm, better stop while I'm ahead.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

They last longer with Mirage props rather than Bravo 1's.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

From someone who knows.

outdrive man
Dubbert`s Outdrive
VIP Member




Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Port Clinton, Ohio
Posts: 179 Re: Put In Bay, a great boating destination

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by glassdave
Dubbert what is the news with the Catawba Hilton? by the way, i am trying to but a 38 Scarab that was owned by Greg Reno here in toledo and i believe it has a pair of your drives on it (TRS's) would like to give you a call about them. we actually met a while ago i was doing a bunch of gel coat repair on Bob Schuelie's 38 Donzi at his storage building.


WE DID GREG'S PORT DRIVE IN APRIL OF 2001 AND HIS STAR IN JUNE 2001. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THIS BOAT HAS BLOWER ENGINES, THEY TEND TO BE HARDER ON TRS UNITS. IT MIGHT BE TIME TO REPLACE THE LOWER GEAR SETS DUE TO PINION FATIGUE. THEN AGAIN I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH RUN TIME IS ON THE BOAT AT THIS POINT. I WOULD DEFINITELY DROP THE GEAR LUBE AND GET AN OIL SAMPLE TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY WEAR. I WOULD STILL TAKE A TRS OVER A BRAVO ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
__________________

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

i have a 35 mistress 650 per side and trs. No problems just have them serviced at haul out.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

i maintain, there junk. there was no mention of an 89 bravo. i cant speak for the rest of you giving opinions, but as stated my experience makes the choice. i 've run many boats like these with bravos and no failures.
if you are going to be in a lake and dont plan on going hard then SETTLE for the trs's.
i guess thats why there are so many aftermarket company's making stuff and upgrades for trs's, or why i see them on so many boats.
the only positive is that you'll be able to convert to konrads easily.
again this is not to offend anyone, and i say it with all due.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

How can you compare those light lay up brand new boats / with bravos to the resin buckets with trs. I would laugh to if i saw Trs's on a gladiator! I think a beter comparison would be 1994 model that was equiped with gernades or trs drives.
Jr.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

Monstaaa, im sorry, i threw out the '89 Bravo. it was the only comparison i could make. if he was looking at a boat with TRS I was assuming it was an older boat. so if I was looking to buy my Panther all over again, and mine is an '86 w/ TRS's or an '87 w/ Bravo's (first year it was offered w/ Bravo's) I would opt for the '86 w/ TRS unless I was READY to sink the money in for newer Bravo's or the heavier duty upgrades. In that case I would just buy the TRS boat and opt for the superior Konrads. and if I was replacing drives and Konrad has their bravo replacement I'd replace the bravo w/ the Konrad, but I don't have $20,000 to replace drives. Thats why I still have my TRS's. All of this is My opinion and I know close to nothing.

Formula 31, Dubberts outdrive, He knows his stuff he built the lower I replaced last year. and I talked to him directly about this bravo/TRS issue and still boiled down to the year of bravo-model/weight of boat/ HP in front of them.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

Hmmm, my boat mechanic says he loves Bravos. They keep him in business all summer long :drink: .
Actually, if it wasn't for the weak upper, square upper pin design, and weak couplers, Bravos wouldn't be bad.
On the other hand, you can buy a new bravo for about the cost of a TRS rebuild. They're kind of throw away items.
Gary

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

[QUOTE=J-Bonz]How can you compare those light lay up brand new boats / with bravos to the resin buckets with trs. I would laugh to if i saw Trs's on a gladiator! I think a beter comparison would be 1994 model that was equiped with gernades or trs drives.
Jr.[/QUOTE

the comparison is in the power to weight ratio. the glad has 750 zuls a weighs 8000 +. the 42 full stagger has 800's and is over 10k , and the 38 has 750's and is about 9000 +/- . all with bravos . all over 700 hp. all over 100. my point is if you try this with a trs, it will blow up. and in all 3 of these cases the bravos didnot. the trs is an inferior drive period if you do this kind of boating. they will not handle the g-load, rpm, or surfacing.
you can get in to all the mumbo jumbo bout this and that, but its wasted air.
an xr or konrad are far superior and can be pushed to limits far beyond the trs ever could.
in the wrong hand (throtle) any of them are junk. but we must asssume that we are speaking of people fairly knowledgeable about POWER BOATING.

again i do not mean to offend anyone, this in my mind is pure motor heading and i thank you for the conversation.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

If you love the boat, and if it's worth investing the money , Konrad is the answer.
I am so impressed with them.
It cost my friend alot of money replacing Trs transom assemblies, Blowing up two Left hand units, and also a tranny. Especially the haulouts, and labor.
All of that trs stuff was eventually replaced anyway with Konrad 540's.
If you are going to keep the boat, and want to have the assurance that you will not blow up drives or crack transom assemblies, Go Konrad.
You guys with access to drives, trailer your boat, have spare stuff and like to tinker alot, stay with the Trs if it works for you.
Monsta is Right ! Many parts are discontinued, and when there gone that's it.
The last Trs Drive was 1990.
We tried a pair of Trs($6200) that were shimmed instead of having the crush collar in the lower. They lasted a while, but the left hand one still blew up.
Around here with the salt water, if they don't blow up, they rot out.
These Konrads are a bargain at $20,000
The conversion is easy. Everything is so much better.
The trim rams alone are absolutely amazing.
Everything is made so well, and made to resist corrosion, so much better that a stock drive system.
They really knock themselves out and skimp nowhere.
Even the transom assembly studs are stainless.
Everything including the transom assembly is made to be easily serviced and maintained.
It's very believable why the military uses them.
They are made to higher standards.
See some posts that I have subscribed to concerning these drives. BBB

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

on that note i happened to have the konrad rep at my shop to sign on for the dealer program. they are a great piece.
but back to the discusion of trs, the value is lost when you purchase, as when you go to sell it. i just might wait and see if you can hold out for the right deal on the rite piece. dont settle because of a price limit you set for yourself, rather be dollar wise and penny foolish.

best of luck.

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

I agree

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

i had a 1983 excalibur 27 speedster 4800LBS with a TRS 72c borg-warner trans, single 540/650hp JIM ODDY engine, never a problem with the drive or trans, AT 72MPH now i have a Pantera 28 WEIGHS 7400LB WITH 12O GALLONS OF FUEL with twin 502/675hp, [650hp at the props] TRS DRIVES, 72C B+W TRANS 27pitch four blade hydromotive intimidators , RUNS 92-94MPH, I WAS TOLD NEVER SHIFT THEM OVER 1000 RPM , THEY WORK JUST FINE AND THEY STAY ON THE BOAT, EVEN AT THE RACK, NOT AT THE LOCAL DRIVE SHOP, I SEEN THE ACHY BREAKY BRAVOS OFF A LOT OF BOATS AT MY RACK AND LAUCH,EVERY WEEK HERE IN THE SUMMER MAYBE MERCURY STOPPED MAKING THEM IN 1993, BECAUSE, THEY DO NOT FAIL, MORE PART SALES FOR MERCURY AND WORK FOR MECHANICS, HAVING TRANSMISSIONS IN THE BOAT WITH ENGINES FORWARD HELP GET THEM ON PLANE QUICKER, I GIVE THE MIGHTY TRS A BIG PROS, I WAS TOLD THEY CAN TAKE 700HP, IS THAT RIGHT TRS FANS, MERC MECHANICS? ALL OF YOUR BIG POWER OFFSHORES USE SPEEDMASTER DRIVES AND TRANSMISSIONS, THE TRS UPPER IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED, SPEEDMASTER #1 AND #2, ONE OF THEM FIT UNDER A TRS UPPER UNIT, BRAVO 1 AND 2 ARE TRASH, EXCEPT MAYBE THE XR, FROM WHAT I HERE

Re: Pros And Cons On Trs Drives
 

Hi guys newbie here. i was given a 1970 27 foot thunderbird cherokee with twin ford 302 and and 215H drives. This setup has a tranny..huber i believe...Obviously these thing are @%#$ old... but seeing as this boat is just going to shuttle divers around lake ontario. I don't need killer drives. I see that from the parts schematic, the 215H is similar to the TRS drive. I has teh same upper gear assembly to gimble gasket. So I am assuming they are very close in design. My question is what should/recommend i replace the the 215's with? TRS's? Konrads? Is there such a thing as used konrads? .....didn't think so

I beleive the 302 engines push about 188hp so I won't be busting anything anytime soon but I also don't want to spend a cars worth of cash on two drives.

Any of your expert advice would be most helpful.

Cheers,
Denis