Anyone using any on regular bravo drives? Any input? anyone see any gains? Just curious.

I hear unless over 65 they are useless and more prone to screw with the drives characteristics.

I have them on my AT. It was a 100mph boat when it was originally built with them though. Alaways had them so don't know if they help or hurt anything. Most likely don't do anything at the speeds I run.

I had one on my 28 Pantera when I bought it. I swapped to a DWP lower. It carried the bow slightly better with the DWP lower.
No WOT speed change. It was a 65-67 mph boat.

Rule of thumb is if you are not 85+ mph, they won't do anything.

My 272 baja ran around 92 mph with well blended hydrotive nose cone on std bravo lower hsg when it only had 950hp , without it when running spare drive would only go 89 or so. Later on when it had more hp ran 96 ish with my 92 octane tune and 99 ish on kill, a vert shaft sheared off and destroyed the fastest lower hsg i owned with the well blended hydromotive nose cone and boat lost 2 mph even with another one on another drive. Had that on and off boat several times filling, welding, grinding and sanding, profiling so i say yes, they make a big difference if your v hull runs into the 90+mph range. On s 65 mph boat, well, it looks kool but i here it slows you down and if you DONT have twin ram full hyd steering the extra length tends to toss boat around and amplify chine walk.

For reference I should be 90+ when motors are finished. It's got full hydraulic.

I was told that nose cones were the most helpful on the original Bravo design lowers. If I remember correctly, Merc came out with a improved design in the early 90s.

Padraig

^^^^ That's correct the original Bravo design - certain nose cones helped, It was early 90's the Bravo Lowers changed in which helped without using a nose cone.

The old claims thru out the whole 1990's was if you had a boat over 70 mph, a nose would help, then after 2000 year models, it was said if you have boat over 80 mph, nose cones would help, currently If I recall correctly, the claims seem to be if you have boat over 90 mph a nose could help. IMO also a lot depends on how it is installed ( symmetrically perfect straight and blended very well and symmetrically streamlined even on both sides )

Wouldn't it be more effective to just go with a sportmaster bravo lower? Then you would know the shape is consistent. (I realize the cost would be much more than just a nose cone)

Yes. For the ultimate plan is -2s sc lower. Looking at 5k+ for a pair. Nose cones are $1-200. Just curious if the cone would be beneficial until I get the shorties