ok guys,im sure you've been asked this a thousand times,and I know its all about the guy behind the controls,but im curious about some of your crazy power levels you have used with one.drive shower a must im sure.what type of gear lube would you use?heres what im proposing.i have a 2004 sea ray bowrider.ive built a 450 hp 383 with all the goodies to replace the mpi 305..bob madara roller cam,stainless marine manifolds etc.its a pretty stout stove.anyhow,i know im about to get a bunch of you saying "stop".but its happening..anyhow,let me know..thx in advance.grant

whats a gen 3 alpha????

Maybe the alpha 1 plus gen 2 = 3?

Never heard of one

How big is the boat that's a huge factor. You will hear everything from exactly 300 horse to 600 plus. Easy out of the whole dont over prop it and dont air it out it will be okay. Run good lube and change it often. Opinions vary but I think they are tougher than most give credit for if treated like above. Knock on wood I am 375 plus and run pretty hard

Do you plan on pulling fat uncle Larry in a tube?? how many R's willyou be turning?

you will be fine,,just no 4 blade prop and easy out of the hole..i have a friend that has a 30 scarab with 2 425 hp big blocks with the older alpha drives..he poped one set in the last 12 yrs..

it isn't a bad drive for starting out as the lower unit from a 40 hp merc outboard. with over 350 hp, the smaller the boat, the happier the drive. firewall it from idle and you will snap a shaft...

LOL..sorry..my bad. gen 2.was thinking of something else..oops.

Keep the lube fresh, don't push it with the boat loaded heavy and as FIXX says don't jump out of the hole and it will live. If you are in a lake, have a cell phone and someone knows where you are that can come get you you have no real worries.

However...if you run out of sight of land in the Great Lakes or open Ocean...start saving up for the Bravo.

I've got a Gen 1 with close to 600hp and almost 1000hrs on it and its still going...
Be easy on it and it will last a while with decent power. I don't run a drive shower but I also don't run for extended periods over 60-65mph either and take it easy starting off.