Ok I'm new to this boating thing, BUT had a boat (30 foot Chris Craft, 283 i/b for 10 years) before I was married. Well the Chris is gone, and now so is she, SO getting back into this. Looking at some older stuff that seem to come with TRS drives. 28-34 feet in length. I hear some good and bad on these drives. I do seem to think that these drives ARE STRONGER then bravo's and alpha's.
Now looking at just keeping things mild for 2013 BUT want to end up pushing the limits off the boats once I get a handle on things. 700+Hp WILL not be an issue as I can build the motors myself. Would even like to get the RPM’s up to 6000 for when I’m really on it.
Would like to find some assembly drawing for the drives to see how they work and possibly build a spare set. BUT want to see about getting into maybe upgrading/modifying these for more power as there are a TON of TRS boats out there. I know Konrad is doing some good stuff too.
Does anyone make a surface drive conversion that’s not as much as the boat costs? Blackhawk, Kaama. Arneson? Would seem from a manufacturing point of view that straight out of the gimble to a housing to a prop “could” work??? Umm something else to manufacture?
And before anyone asks, due to divorce, family death, and major career change, the $$$ are not there to just get a newer boat/drive set up. I’m a pretty creative guy with some skills for fabrications so looking at this as something to do that people say can’t be done. As with my car stuff, do what they say can’t be done and feel proud of ones accomplishments.
Thanks,

If your looking at older boats & then want surface drives on top of that, i would think the time to hunt down complete drives or piece together all the parts required, you would lose all your time to actually use the boat. For the price of trs's these days, probably easier to just have a spare or 2 ready if you blow one out. cant imagine the time & r&d costs to fabricate your own surface drive would be worth it as you would constantly be working out kinks instead of just enjoying the boat. new arnesons, konrads, bmax would be nice, but again u would have serious costs wrapped up in just drives. good luck

Best bet in my opinion, is find a older boat with SSM III, IIIA, IV, or V drives. Sometimes you can find a older Cigarette, Fountain, scarab, Cougar, with ssm drives, for relatively short money, and comparable money to the TRS.

The TRS is a great drive, and personally would take one over a bravo. They shift very smooth (so do the SSM drives) due to the transmission. In a 28-34FT hull, the TRS are good for about 600HP.

The SSM drives, properly maintained, will take a bunch of power. Its very common to see 600, 700, 800, 900, and even 1000hp coupled to these drives, with good results. Most parts still available for them. Nice to have these drives when 400-500hp just isnt enough.

merc obsoleted the TRS because they could move motors back 14 inches with trans in the drive, making more interior space. not because it was a bad design. it would be nice if new cases were still available though...

Thanks guys, please keep th info comming. Still keeping mind and options open.

I'm just doing my research as I own nothing yet.

Mild Thunder, funny you replied! I'm using YOUR blower engine as a guideline LOL. talking with engine guys "might" switch to 8-71's with intercoolers, but rest of the deal will be close or the same. DO YOU RUN TRS's on the boat now with this power??? what does it run ouyt at?

I run Ssm iv drives now. Feel free to drop me a email if you have any questions. Joegarf at hotmail