anyone with any experience with a bravo three dual prop outdrive. I dont know anything about them and my brother is looking at a mirrage with one. just looking for any info, thanks, Justin

Pros: Less drag, less torque steer, generally a big higher top end, great "bite" when shifting around the docks.

Cons: No longer made, a bear around the docks with higher pitch prop sets, two props to whack & recondition - or try to get right, only worked well on a limited number of hulls, not marketed very well.

I have one on a 25' Powerquest, with a 300 hp 7.4.

It does have great low speed ability, especially in reverse. I don't find it hard to handle around the docks even with the 28" props, but mine idles at 650 rpm. Any higher and I can see where it would require a lot of shifting - when you put it in gear, it hooks up.

Gives lots of lift, so the baot planes fast, and can maintain plane at low speeds (for mine, 13 mph is no problem). Very low slip, so is efficient. However, I've been told they limit the top end, so 80 mph is probably out - but I'm not in danger of that.

There were corrosion issues with early models - lots of stainless down there. Keeping good anodes and the Mercathode system they put on them solved the problem, but you need to keep them up. He should research it before buying to make sure he isn't buying a problem. FWIW, this is also a problem for Volvo DuoProps.

To the prop con, I'd add that they are expensive (two props, plus limited numbers around used). Not bad compared to labbed Bravo I props, but expensive compared to thier competators - plain old SS props.

Overall, I love mine for what I need right now- a boat with a good mix of abilites - tubing, wakeboarding, skiing, yet can still run 58 mph with ease. I have an aquaintance who has a 425 hp engine, and his will go 64 with no loss in low speed watersports. Not liekly with a BI.

Edit: They also appear to be tough as nails, even with heavy cruisers with 496 HOs in front of them. Check this post for guys giving thier experinces as ammo for a guy having an issue with the shop:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/d...2-seasons.html

I believe you are describing a Blackhawk as opposed to a Bravo III. Blackhawk was a dual prop surfacing drive. Bravo III is a normal deep water drive.

The gears are the same as in the B1 drive. As said before, they bite hard and load the gears quite a bit. Also I've seen them run really hot, because the dual prop design loads the internals so much. They are no tougher than a regular B1 and they run hotter, so I would say probably less than. Run a shower on them and a Mercathode system.

Yes, run a good drive shower. I have had 3 different Bravo III's and none have given me any problems. My current one has over 300 hours on it. The one before that had over 400. All with big blocks in front of them.

Darn, I hate it when I reply before coffee. You're exactly right. Thanks for correcting me!

As for the Bravo 3, they're an awesome recreational drive. High performance - not so much. And a Bravo 3 around the docks is a dream!

I'd kill for a set of B3 behind my cruiser. Those that have them can control their boats around the docks like they are on pavement. Mine goes where the wind blows me.

I've got about 400 hours on our sea ray that has one.

Pros: stops fast, takes off fast, pulls skiiers out of the hole like nothing else (I once pulled a slolom skiier up with 12 people in the boat mind you thats with a 6.2), great around the docks especially in reverse, less torque steer. Much better outdrive for pleasure/ski boats.

Cons: I think the earlier versions had many dissimilar metals that caused excessive corrosion, but may have been resolved. Its slower in the turns, or atleast on my sea ray it is. I read that the heat up more than others. Props are expensive and hard to modify.