Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > Technical > General Q & A
Bravo 1 or Speedmaster A >

Bravo 1 or Speedmaster A

Notices

Bravo 1 or Speedmaster A

Thread Tools
 
Old 02-03-2012 | 07:22 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Default Bravo 1 or Speedmaster A

I have a delema. I have a bravo and an opprotunity to get a Speedmaster 3A for my project. I decided to keep my 1989 Warlock 24' Euro. It had a bravo 1 drive with a nose cone. I need help pros and cons. Need some advice on which one to go with. I will be runnig a BBC. Not sure which one. Any help and advice and opinions are welcome.
682gold is offline  
Reply
Old 02-03-2012 | 07:49 PM
  #2  
Registered
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Merritt Island, FL
Default

I'd stick with the Bravo. LOTS of work to change to the 3A including new transom cutout and moving the engine forward to fit a ~15" long transmission. Bravo is upgradeable using the same transom opening.
bustedbrick is offline  
Reply
Old 02-03-2012 | 08:46 PM
  #3  
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Default upgrades

Originally Posted by bustedbrick
I'd stick with the Bravo. LOTS of work to change to the 3A including new transom cutout and moving the engine forward to fit a ~15" long transmission. Bravo is upgradeable using the same transom opening.
What kind of upgrades? I am told the 3a is bulletproof. Canyou upgrade a bravo to make it tougher or what?
682gold is offline  
Reply
Old 02-03-2012 | 09:19 PM
  #4  
Registered
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,852
Likes: 1
From: Denmark and hopefully some place nice
Default

Originally Posted by 682gold
What kind of upgrades? I am told the 3a is bulletproof. Canyou upgrade a bravo to make it tougher or what?
Nothing is bulletproof. The Bravo is in any shape or form not bullet proof for sure though. Personally I'd run anything but, Bravos suck. The IIIa is in just about all aspects stonger and better than the B1, no comparison there. Which kind of space do you have for installing your motor and which kind of x-dimension can you get? If running a SSMIIIA you deffinetly want to surface your porp.
A.O. Razor is offline  
Reply
Old 02-03-2012 | 09:33 PM
  #5  
Registered
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by 682gold
I have a delema. I have a bravo and an opprotunity to get a Speedmaster 3A for my project. I decided to keep my 1989 Warlock 24' Euro. It had a bravo 1 drive with a nose cone. I need help pros and cons. Need some advice on which one to go with. I will be runnig a BBC. Not sure which one. Any help and advice and opinions are welcome.
I looked into doing this a few years back and shelved because of all the work it would take. You will spend more on doing than you Piaf for the boat. The euro is pretty light. A bravo will work and can be made to handle power. Find a good 1x. If
You wanna go all out but a shorty on it. Don't drive it like a wakeboard boat and keep revs under 6k.
With the bravo you can parts and props easy. Ssm3 not so easy and props are very expensive.
GTOFFSHORE is offline  
Reply
Old 02-04-2012 | 07:12 AM
  #6  
Thread Starter
Registered
 
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Default 1x

Originally Posted by Poker~N~Run
I looked into doing this a few years back and shelved because of all the work it would take. You will spend more on doing than you Piaf for the boat. The euro is pretty light. A bravo will work and can be made to handle power. Find a good 1x. If
You wanna go all out but a shorty on it. Don't drive it like a wakeboard boat and keep revs under 6k.
With the bravo you can parts and props easy. Ssm3 not so easy and props are very expensive.
What is a 1X?
682gold is offline  
Reply
Old 02-04-2012 | 09:00 AM
  #7  
Registered
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by 682gold
What is a 1X?
It's a beefed up bravo 1. They use a lot of the xr parts. It has the thicker floors, better shafts,xr yoke seal and a lot of other good stuff. It does not use the xr rock crusher gears which have actually become the weak point of an xr.
GTOFFSHORE is offline  
Reply
Old 02-04-2012 | 09:44 AM
  #8  
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Cool

If you can do the work yourself you will be money ahead in the end. a couple broken drives or props lost and you will understand why there is NO comparison to having a speedy. Good luck with your project and check that 3a out well before purchasing.
greencard is offline  
Reply
Old 02-04-2012 | 10:11 AM
  #9  
Fenderjack's Avatar
Pirate of the Chesapeake
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,330
Likes: 0
From: North Point Creek, Md.
Default

You said a big bock of some sort HOW BIG is the question! The bravo will work fine,not bullet proof but!You can go just as fast with a little less horspower than the 3a.The speedy takes a little more power to turn.And parts are hard to find when you need them.Props are not cheap and not as plentiful like bravo 1's.And do to the fact of a short light boat will the hull preform well with the shift foward in weight.Study long before spending hard earned money,you know! it works with a bravo,and you can always beef it up if you have problems.Just my 2 cents JOHN SR
Fenderjack is offline  
Reply
Old 02-04-2012 | 03:09 PM
  #10  
Registered
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 11,332
Likes: 73
From: chicago
Default

3A parts are around. Gears are still being manufactured. Seals and bearings are nothing exotic. Props a bit more money, but still can sometimes be found reasonable.Bravo and 3A not even in the same league. MUCH stronger drive, and much stronger gimbal ring and what not. If you plan on running some big power, go for the 3A. As long as the engine is reliable, you'll be boating and not breaking.
MILD THUNDER is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.