Alpha or Bravo

[epjman]

Whats the difference between "Alpha" and "Bravo" Mercruiser I/Os? Is there something that will jump out at me when looking to tell the difference?

Eric

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

Re: Alpha or Bravo

The name on the back end at the top is a big clue. The size of the alpha vs Bravo outdrive is also a big one... The props on the Bravo are much bigger than the alpha. The internals of the Bravo are also much "beefier"

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha or Bravo

If you can't tell by looking, ask the seller. Would bet they know, or at least they should.

If you are looking at pictures alone and there are no decals, you may not be able to tell.

 

[christoner2002]

Re: Alpha or Bravo

Not all props are bigger on a Bravo. I have a Alpha One Gen2, and my buddy has a Bravo One drive, and we have the same size/pitch prop. The Bravo 3 is a duoprop. As Go Aweigh said, the name should be on the drive. The Bravo is Beefier, used on higher Horsepower Applications. The easiest identifier to me is the shape of the area right above the propshaft bullet.

 

[oops!]

Re: Alpha or Bravo

deleted ....too general of a statment

 

[Bondo]

Re: Alpha or Bravo

the big give away is the amount of hp the motor has.....(but not allways the case in the bigger mini yachts)

over 300 hp.....bravo.

the line is generally the 454 mercrusiers.....most 350's have alphas

Ayuh,... Yer gonna get inta Big trouble makin' blanket statements like that....

Many, Many Big cruisers use the Bravo drives with SBC motors...

 

[Don S]

Re: Alpha or Bravo

Ayuh,... Yer gonna get inta Big trouble makin' blanket statements like that....

Many, Many Big cruisers use the Bravo drives with SBC motors...

And SeaRay used a lot of BBC engines with Alpha outdrives, along with a few other manufacturers, back in 86 thru 88.

Like I said earlier, ASK about each one, no way can we tell you how to ID all the different versions. Some of the info crosses to the Alphas.

 

[oops!]

Re: Alpha or Bravo

fully agreed guys......that was mabe a little too general of a statment

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Alpha or Bravo

Whats the difference between "Alpha" and "Bravo" Mercruiser I/Os? Is there something that will jump out at me when looking to tell the difference?

Eric

You've been given visual clues, so I'll mention the internal differences.

Other than having two 90 degree bends, and turning a propshaft, an Alpha & Bravo are COMPLETELY different mechanically. Nothing is the same, nothing.

An Alpha is a mechanically simplier "shift in the bottom" via a "dog clutch". A Bravo is a "shift in the top" via a cone clutch. And Alpha has a water pump inside the lower unit, a Bravo does not (it's on the engine). Those are the biggest differences.