Does the engine in your application look like this?? Its a DPX with a 600 Volvo..

The only drive failures that were occuring happened when the X dimensions were raised too high in an attempt to squeeze out every last 1/10 mph and the drives became surface piercing, which they are not designed to do. This created a harmonics problem and led to a few drive failures.

Volvos are TOUGH drives. I would take a DPX over a Bravo any day of the week. I would have more peace of mind with 700 hp in front of a Volvo than I would with 500 in front of a Bravo!

Built in external steering is sweet too. IMO Volvo was ahead of their time with the 500 and 600 DPX packages but just couldn't bust into the hi-po market thet Merc owns.

According to the German Hustler dealer, his 388 Slingshot was 5 - 7 mph slower with the DPX drives then same powered 388 Slingshots with Bravo XR's....

I too am a fan of most of the VP stuff.. Bravos & Alphas dont have oil circulation pumps either.

The duo prop design can add a little drag compared to a single prop drive..

J / lakeside

My old boat had a single prop SX drive and my friend had the same boat with a DPS duoprop(not DPX) and our top speeds were identical. Not saying that's normal but that was my experience in a small single V-bottom. If you're losing 5-7 mph it's setup IMO.

In the < 70 mph zone maybe.. Even with a Merc Bravo 3 it will be hard to go faster then 65 - 70 MPH ....

Merc also recommands B3 drives for boats only up to 65 MPH...

Twin prop drives (Merc or VP) are not suited for speeds + 90 MPh like a 388 Slingshot does...

The Bravo 3 and the DPX are two totally different animals.

Thanks for the info guys. I know that the boat runs in the 93 mph range. This is confirmed by Powerboat when they tested the boat in 1999. They were very favorable of it with the 600 DPX package. does anyone have a tel # for Innovation Marine? Thanks.

Regards, Mark

Innovation Marine's phone number is 941-355-7852

I have no opinion on the drive. I am just passing along info that was told to me by Rick at Innovation