Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

[enn858]

What would be needed to change my outdrive from a Bravo 1 to Bravo 3 - and is it possible at all?

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

A Bravo III lower unit and new props. The uppers are the same on Bravo I,2, and 3's. Just different lower units.

 

[enn858]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

Thank you wery much for the quick answer

 

[enn858]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

Short additional question - is it enough to change all internal parts in the lower unit - or is the case different on 1 and 3?

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

Case and everything is different.

 

[enn858]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

Thank you for another quick answer Don

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

DonS is the man...
quick question though, do you lose much, or mabye gain, by going to a Bravo 3? I ask because I'm wondering if the engine will be able to supply the required amount of torque for the Bravo 3? May seem trivial, but could you actually lose performance in this case? Don't know what engine you are working with...just a thought

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

According to the Merc reps I have talked to, the B3 really dosn't help much till you get to 50 MPH. then the come to life.
Unlike the Volvo DP's, they have 2 identical props, only one left one right. Volvo uses 2 completely different pitches.
Having been able to run 2 identical boats except for one with a B2 and the other with a B3, the only difference I could see was the low speed steering was better with the B3.
Other than that, nothing different.
That was in a 28' boat with a single 7.4MPI

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

dvan, in most cases the ratio of the B3 will be 2.0 to 1 where the B1 you are replacing will be 1.5 to 1. So the "extra torque" needed is covered by the ratio change.
A Bravo 3 "should" improve time to plane, minimum planing speed, idle speed "wander" and manueverability in reverse. It will not increase top end speed.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

There's currently 3 (gas) ratios commonly offered in the Bravo III. 1.81, 2.00, 2.20.

The 1.81 seems to be common on a "big block" engine while the 2.00 and 2.20 seem to be offered with the "small block" engines.

According to my Brother (who bought the boat I have new) My 1987 21' Four Winns 211 Liberator accelerates up to a plane "twice as fast as it EVER did even when new"

He bought it new with a 460 V-8 and a 1.43:1 King Cobra, rated at 340hp (crankshaft hp) He bought the 460 instead of the 454 because he wanted the highest hp (slightly higher than the 454 at 330 crankshaft hp)


With a 19p stainless steel prop (re-pitched/cupped to 20) the boat would go 60 mph at 5000 rpm.....but It was a little slow out of the hole.



My 97 454/Bravo III is rated at 300 propshaft hp.

With the 1.81:1 Bravo III and 26p props it will go 57 mph at 4600 rpm. (rev limiter is set at 4700) IT ROCKETS OUT OF THE HOLE by comparison to before with the King(sic) Cobra.

Acceleration at any speed is far better than the single prop drive.
The difference is VERY dramatic.

Cheers,


Rick

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: Bravo 1 to Bravo 3

according to a Sea Ray guy
I was told the BIII Will have a better whole shot but will not be as fast as a B I over the long haul. A BI will eventually catch up to that othe rboat with B II and then pull away from it as it will have a higher top speed due to the fact that it has 1 prop not 2. The second prop creates a little drag that inhibites its top speed.

Still a BIII is a great out drive !