I have a 28 pantera I'm ready to get an scx for but now a boat popped up for sale I might go take a look at with a number 5 drive on it. I don't know much about the #5s are parts available? Is that a better drive than the scx? Just trying to weigh out my options. I'll have more power faster hull better drive and better trailer and be into it for less money. Thanks for any input

This should get a good debate,Tranny vs no tranny, Id say the #5 will handle more power than the SCX, I see parts in the classifieds under a few posts and complete drives

I asked Craig Colabella about parts for the 5 and he said no problem at this time. I think I would take a 5 boat over a SCX if there was room for the transmission.

The number #5’s are real good drives ,they can handle some power .. gears can be found , most of the bearings available, except the vertical shaft needle bearing which was made exclusively for Mercury. There is no cross reference for it. The forward vertical drive shaft is NLA and good luck finding one if u break one .

suppose I blow a 5 and can't get parts can you replace it with a 6? Or it's not that simple

no , it’s a totally different gimbel . It would require a lot of work .

So you're going to buy the complete boat, run it? Not drive swap your existing boat?
Out of curiosity, the #5 boat a single?
I've never seen a single #5 boat, so should be interesting.

correct if I keep my 28 I'll throw a scx on it if I get the other boat it's a 27 activator single 1000 hp with #5

A SSM is shortened version of a SSM3A

The Activator has a extension box ..?