Can you switch from Alpha one Gen 2 to Bravo 3?

viper1216

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 31, 2013
Messages
420
Just something I'm pondering in my brain. Picked up an 01 Maxum 2400SCR this year. Has a 5.0 with an Alpha one Gen 2 on it. There's a couple of guys near me with the same boat, different years and 5.7's (I think), and they have the Bravo 3. Love my boat, but just doesn't seem to have the ummph I was hoping for. Wasn't expecting a rocket by any means, but just feels under powered to me. Maybe I just need to get used to her. Coming from an 18' Maxum...so considerably heavier boat. I was thinking maybe the Bravo 3 with it's twin props would give me a bit better performance. My Alpha could very well be under propped or even over propped...I put it in the water with whatever the old owner had on it, so would definitely check all that out first. So a few questions...is it even possible to put the Bravo 3 on the 5.0 engine? Is it a relatively easy swap? I used to pull my old Alpha off my other boat for water pump changes and such, would that be basically similar process, but instead of putting the gen2 back on, pop on a Bravo 3? Or do I need all new gimbles and internals and all that fun stuff. Just something I'm toying around in my head as I ponder and weigh options for the winter. I looked up the Bravo 3's and they are expensive little buggers new...but maybe I can find a nice used one. I'm averaging about 27mph at 4500 and she takes a lot of time to come up on plane. I did have some sea growth on the outdrive. I scrubbed it off, helped a little, but still feels sluggish. Hull appeared growth free from what I could see.

Thanks for any info!!!
 

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,769
Just something I'm pondering in my brain. Picked up an 01 Maxum 2400SCR this year. Has a 5.0 with an Alpha one Gen 2 on it. There's a couple of guys near me with the same boat, different years and 5.7's (I think), and they have the Bravo 3. Love my boat, but just doesn't seem to have the ummph I was hoping for. Wasn't expecting a rocket by any means, but just feels under powered to me. Maybe I just need to get used to her. Coming from an 18' Maxum...so considerably heavier boat. I was thinking maybe the Bravo 3 with it's twin props would give me a bit better performance. My Alpha could very well be under propped or even over propped...I put it in the water with whatever the old owner had on it, so would definitely check all that out first. So a few questions...is it even possible to put the Bravo 3 on the 5.0 engine? Is it a relatively easy swap? I used to pull my old Alpha off my other boat for water pump changes and such, would that be basically similar process, but instead of putting the gen2 back on, pop on a Bravo 3? Or do I need all new gimbles and internals and all that fun stuff. Just something I'm toying around in my head as I ponder and weigh options for the winter. I looked up the Bravo 3's and they are expensive little buggers new...but maybe I can find a nice used one. I'm averaging about 27mph at 4500 and she takes a lot of time to come up on plane. I did have some sea growth on the outdrive. I scrubbed it off, helped a little, but still feels sluggish. Hull appeared growth free from what I could see.

Thanks for any info!!!
The gimbal and transom housing are different for a bravo, much much more than just swapping drives. A 5.0is too small for a 24 ft boat. I have one in my 20 ft and there-are times i wish i had a 5.7.
to improve performance

low buck - i would go down in pitch and maybe switch to a 4 blade Prop to improve holeshot and stern lift.
if you want to repower
probably easiest ($$j upgrade would be to drop a 5.7 or 383 in there as a alpha will tolerate the bigger engines.is your engine carbed or mpi? The dual props will definitely help but cost and potential corrosion issues know with b3 s would have me keep the alpha and just get more a$$ in front of it.
what was the biggest engine offered in it new? If you get similar hp in it you will be happy.
 

viper1216

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 31, 2013
Messages
420
The gimbal and transom housing are different for a bravo, much much more than just swapping drives. A 5.0is too small for a 24 ft boat. I have one in my 20 ft and there-are times i wish i had a 5.7.
to improve performance

low buck - i would go down in pitch and maybe switch to a 4 blade Prop to improve holeshot and stern lift.
if you want to repower
probably easiest ($$j upgrade would be to drop a 5.7 or 383 in there as a alpha will tolerate the bigger engines.is your engine carbed or mpi? The dual props will definitely help but cost and potential corrosion issues know with b3 s would have me keep the alpha and just get more a$$ in front of it.
what was the biggest engine offered in it new? If you get similar hp in it you will be happy.
Thanks!! Kinda what I was thinking. Popping a 5.7 in there was my next thought. I can get a new one for few grand I think, be nice to find a used one, but not sure if that's just asking for trouble. How hard is a powerplant swap? I have access to a cherry picker and stuff and am pretty mechanically inclined. I'm thinking fly wheel and engine mounts and out. (and accessories and wiring of course)
 
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