Drive Showers - advice/recommendations?
#1
Thread Starter
Registered

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 691
Likes: 18
From: Canyon Lake, TX
Considering installing drive showers. Bravo 1 XR Sportmaster drives, Latham Ext steering with plate on top of plate for tie bar. The plate has threaded center hole that I think I have seen some showers that screw into this plate, pickup located on outside corner of cavitation plate.
Any recommendations, land mines to avoid? Have you had a good experience with drive showers? Never have used in all my boats......
Thanks in advance.
Any recommendations, land mines to avoid? Have you had a good experience with drive showers? Never have used in all my boats......
Thanks in advance.
#2
Registered

Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 11
From: Granger, Indiana
Hi imartin
I can't comment on the type of set-up you may have- a picture would be of benefit for those "in the know" for sure not me!!.
I do know that I put a drive shower on my Bravo III. I can't tell you how great that little option is. First most people don't realize the amount of heat that is generated in your drive- and most of the time it is out of the water when on plane. Then when you come off of plane there is the thermal shock to the system when it hits the cooler water. Something has got to give. For sure the shower does help cool of the entire drive- that is a huge plus - and most likely add a little longevity to it. The other benefit is that there isn't any of the chauking from hard water drying on the drive-- much less to clean.
regarding the brand - I purchased mine from -- http://www.allamericandriveservice.com/index.html- I have NO relationship with these guys - but I will say they bent backwards to help this novice.
All the best
3pointstar
I can't comment on the type of set-up you may have- a picture would be of benefit for those "in the know" for sure not me!!.
I do know that I put a drive shower on my Bravo III. I can't tell you how great that little option is. First most people don't realize the amount of heat that is generated in your drive- and most of the time it is out of the water when on plane. Then when you come off of plane there is the thermal shock to the system when it hits the cooler water. Something has got to give. For sure the shower does help cool of the entire drive- that is a huge plus - and most likely add a little longevity to it. The other benefit is that there isn't any of the chauking from hard water drying on the drive-- much less to clean.
regarding the brand - I purchased mine from -- http://www.allamericandriveservice.com/index.html- I have NO relationship with these guys - but I will say they bent backwards to help this novice.
All the best
3pointstar
#3
Registered
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,754
Likes: 6
From: Long Island, NY
I have the same plate on my center drive. It's a 1/2" NPT female thread. So you all you need is a 1/2" MPT x -08 AN 90 degree elbow to screw into the plate. Then connect the stainless hose to the -08 fitting end and the other end of the hose to your water pickup on the cavitation plate.
#4
Thread Starter
Registered

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 691
Likes: 18
From: Canyon Lake, TX
I have the same plate on my center drive. It's a 1/2" NPT female thread. So you all you need is a 1/2" MPT x -08 AN 90 degree elbow to screw into the plate. Then connect the stainless hose to the -08 fitting end and the other end of the hose to your water pickup on the cavitation plate.
#5
Registered
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,754
Likes: 6
From: Long Island, NY
No, not home made setup. Bought from Teague. Don't have direct shot of top of center drive, but here's what I do have.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]540950[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]540951[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]540952[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]540950[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]540951[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]540952[/ATTACH]
#6
Registered
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
From: GLOVERSVILLE, NY
I actually have been thinking of drive showers too. I only have a 30 Outlaw with 496 Mags. I will say I've looked at Lathem's, and they are almost $200.00. Livorsi has their own, as well as Hardin Marine. It's interesting to see the differences in mounts on the cav. plate between the two. Some have the bolt/nut in front of the pickup, some have it in the rear of the pickup. Anyways, I had an 04 30 same power, I put 250 hours on the boat. This boat I have 200 hours. I am just bored and am sick of seeing the top empty hole in the Lathem plate..lol....I did call Mercury Racing today for the hell of it. A tech guy was very nice to actually take the call and he did not recommend the use of a shower for my application or for any of the Mercury racing engines/drive combo's for that matter.
Interesting point, I had a 25 Outlaw with a HP500 Carb with a Bravo 1 drive. It came with a shower, I blew the upper gear case around 170 hrs.
All and all I probably won't run one as I don't want to drill the cav. plates since I do swap the drive positions every 100 hours or so.
Interesting point, I had a 25 Outlaw with a HP500 Carb with a Bravo 1 drive. It came with a shower, I blew the upper gear case around 170 hrs.
All and all I probably won't run one as I don't want to drill the cav. plates since I do swap the drive positions every 100 hours or so.
#8
Registered

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 688
Likes: 0
From: wisconsin
Did your boat come with the ITS setup from the factory, or did you add that later? I like it
#10
Registered
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,754
Likes: 6
From: Long Island, NY



