Outdrive Questions

[britemp]

Just looking through the Monterey price list and I notice the 245 comes with Alpha, Bravo I and Bravo III drives.

What are the differences between them and why does a particular engine get one type of drive and others, errr, well other types?



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[duncan]

Loads of differences but in summary.
Alpha - smallest. lightest, lowest profile (therefore lowest drag) used on most of the engine range but can't handle larger boat/larger engine (torque) combinations well. Real 'sportsboat drive'.
BII - mainstream 'cruiser drive', considered by many to be bulletproof but not designed for out and out speed.
BIII - duoprop installation that has been upgraded in many ways over the years to handle more and more power / torque in the X, Diesel and, I believe, an XR version. The components didn't always keep up with the engine manufactures advances but seem OK now. As a physically v.large drive merc went with as light an alloy as they could and this, coupled with the 'huge' stainless volume/area of the props gave them a headache with galvanic corrosion - they are still adding anodes to the installations to this day (current recomendations are 2 Mercathodes(active) per drive installation and they have added a static to the bearing carier last year.

er I have a 2001 BIII......../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[AJW]

Avoid BIII drives coupled to Yanmar 300's. They tend to go bang every 150 hrs or so! (alledgedly!)

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[BarryH]

Most of the people I have spoken to said theirs have gone "fizz" and not "bang"

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[AJW]

In my experience its more like "rattle rattle, clank, bang!".

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[britemp]

Thanks for that summary - much clearer.

Monterey don't list a Bravo II, just a Bravo I with the Yanmar 240 option - does that sound like a good combo?


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[britemp]

Gulp!

Hopefully a 240 Yanmar with a Bravo I will be OK?


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[terryw]

I had Bravo I drives on the Yanmar 240 on my last boat, and it went like a dream.
Originally it had Bravo III but the handling was a nightmare. I put her into reverse in the marina and SWMBO was nearly thrown over the bow rail.
With the 240 Yanmar make sure you get the Bravo I X drive. The ordinary one will probably go bang.

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[Jinks]

I only have experience of the Bravo 1 on the 245 so can't make the comparison. When I asked advice I was told that the Bravo iii may give an extra knot or two top end but the disadvantage of slow speed manouvering meant that it was not worthwhile.

All I can say is that I am really enjoying the 245 with the same configuration as you have been offered but repeat that I have nothing to compare it to.

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[duncan]

I have the Yanmar 240 with the BIII - I am happy with the handling, but have a nice safe walkround and wouldn't dream of sending SWMBO up front anyway!

Yanmar with a BI sounds fine and I am sure it will be the BI Diesel or X (but you will of course check I am sure!).

One of the reasons the Yanmar 300 / BIII combination has problems is that it is / was common for large ribs, especially dive boats. They run long distances flat out with the drives high out of the water (poor cooling and they run very hot), bouncing in and out of the waves (not good for a drive to do it all the time). Add this to the earlier comment about the gradual (slow) development of the drive to handle the extra loads and you have a recipie for a few problems. BTW Merc have a recomended drive oil change of 50hrs on BIIIs - I don't know anyone who actually follows that as it's 40quid a go just for the oil!

Go BI and stay happy. There are other reasons relating to proping that should make a BI a good bet on that hull too.

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[Solitaire]

I've been sitting watching this thread devleop! Right, Southwater marien are no longe fitting Bravo 111's to either the 240 or the 300/315 Yanmars - it is all the Bravo 1. So that's Monterey dealt with. A friend of mine who has the 240/Bravo 111 combination now has the Bravo 111iin bits under warranty!! After about 18 months. Another pal has had 3 Bravo 111's on his boat all under warranty
To add to the littany of Bravo 111's another friend is now on his second Bravo 111 leg and that has now gone phut!.After 5 hours. I think they may be a moral here somewhere!!!

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[britemp]

Thanks - it seems like a good starter boat for my needs and i can afford one a lot quicker than the other boats I fancy! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif


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