Bravo2 vs bravo1

[hudman]

My 27 ft cruiser has a bravo 2 outdrive,,, its huge, big enough to move a barge.... would i pick up any speed by going to a smaller outdrive?<br />im running a 350 260 hp mercruiser, and the boat doesnt seem to have the top end that it should.i want to get it into the 45 mph range on top end. any suggestions? so far you guys have been very helpful<br />thanks, and happy new year!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

27 foot cruiser with a 260? You'll be very lucky to see 45. Do you even get 40 now? A bravo 1 is not really much smaller than a 2. Yeah, the props are smaller, but not enough to turn your underpowered 27 cruiser into a rocket. But yeah, if you switched from a Bravo 2 to a Bravo one, at least you'd be able to afford to experiment with props. Since it's hard to find Bravo 2 props for less than $500. But I'd still experiment with props on the Bravo 2 first. However, you really haven't given us all the info we need...<br />What is your WOT rpm now? What is your manufacturer's recommended range? Do you carry a lot of weight all the time? And what kind of performance do you get now?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

Ayuh,.........<br /><br />A Smaller Drive Isn't going to make your boat Faster,..........<br />A Bigger Motor Will though................

 

[hudman]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

boat runs 38 at 4800<br />31 at 4100<br />this model has been tested at 53 with a 454 330hp engine. its a 6000 lb eurocruiser styled boat, and i dont think the mph im asking for is out of the question. considering a 4 blade ss prop for more midrange<br />you guys are great!!! if you ever come to memphis ill buy you some ribs!!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

Huge difference between a 330hp 454 and a 260hp 350. Torque difference is bigger than the hp difference too, I'll bet.<br />4 blade prop will help midrange & planing time, but will almost certainly hurt top end speed.<br />If you are turning that 4800 rpm with your normal load on board, try propping up one pitch. You'll lose 200-300 rpm (still in operating range of the engine) and you might hit 40mph. But 45? It unfortunately isn't gonna happen without engine mods.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

You a'int gonna get no mo'......Frankly, I'm surprised that you get that much speed out of your SBC on that "barge".....You might get a little more out of it by some expensive tweaking, but nothing truly significant without a re-power to a BBC .....JK

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

I agree with everyone here. You are doing pretty good by getting the speed that you are out of a 350 chevy motor. If you want more speed, you'll have to buy a bigger motor. If yours runs good, I'd leave it as is and be happy.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

Even with the big block its only going to run about 44/45mph. Had a Rinker 266 with the 330hp big block B2 drive for three months.

 

[QC]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

Also, I would not get sucked in by the test data at 53 MPH. I don't belive the big block 330 would even get to 50 with any load whatsoever. I'd be surpirsed with high 40's. The tests are almost always very empty boats and propped perfectly; nothing like how you run it . . .

 

[DJ]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

I would NOT switch to a B1. THe B1 will not stand the abuse that a B2 will, especially on a heavy boat like that.

 

[paulrfrancisco]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

I have a 1990 30' Cruisers with twin 7.4L MerCruisers and Bravo1/stainless props.(dont remember the size, but I think 21 pitch).. Weight is supposed to be 9600, dry. It tops out at 43mph, and that is with plenty of gear on board...

 

[hudman]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

What do you think a 383 vortec would do in this boat? I am considering just replacing the engine, its a non vortec 350 and the history is unknown. hours unknown. ill keep the bravo2 and still run a 4 blade ss prop, going down on the pitch to keep the rpm where they need to be<br />glad to find your experts<br />hud

 

[hudman]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

What do you think a 383 vortec would do in this boat? I am considering just replacing the engine, its a non vortec 350 and the history is unknown. hours unknown. ill keep the bravo2 and still run a 4 blade ss prop, going down on the pitch to keep the rpm where they need to be<br />glad to find your experts<br />hud

 

[Don S]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

What kind of 27' cruiser? Probably won't get but about 4 or 5 more mph than you are now...... what ever that is. You never mentioned what you are now getting.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

27' is a lot of boat to push up and out of the water for any amount of HP. Just changing the drive won’t get you much. 27' with 260 hp running at 38mph sounds like a fair effort and would suggest your engine is in pretty good nick. In my opinion your gunna need to go BB to see any real improvement on what you have now. You haven’t said how much money you’re prepared to throw at it. So, please do us all a favor and put a dollar amount on your quest for more speed and than you will get some feedback that may help you get what you’re looking for while keeping the dollars in perspective.

 

[hudman]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

Paulie----$5000---my wishlist,,,, a new vortec 350 and a 4 blade ss prop... there is a place in Lousiana that builds specialty props, their name is Powertech. After all the advice on lower units, ill keep the B2 and use one of their 4 blade props, dropping down on pitch a little. I want the engine right before i go making prop changes, am considering the vortec from PerfProtech--the carbuerated version... What do you think about changing the crank in this motor? a vortec 250 with a 400 crank will make 383 cubic inches, and still be very relialble. with no other changes, the extra cubic inches will yield more hp....I feel this combo with the right prop will greatly enhance the performance. I bought this boat way below wholesale, so I can spend 5k and still be in it right... thanks for your help,,,, let me know what you think,,<br />Hud

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

Seems like I remember reading that a 4 blade prop hurts top end. <br /><br />4 blades have more drag than 3 blades at the higher rpms etc. <br /><br />Have you considered going up 1" pitch in an SS 3 blade? Find someone that might "loan" you a prop that's 1" or 2" higher in a 3 and see what happens. At 4800 it appears that the 4 is pitched just right.<br /><br /><br />Rick

 

[QC]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

hudman,<br /><br />Reread a little of this. You are maybe gonna see 4 - 5 mph for you efforts, and I'd bet only 3 . . .<br /><br />BTW, vortec and carbureted are a contradiction . . . vortecs are multi-point electronic.

 

[hudman]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

not true QC ,,, this engine is available in both versions... depending on which cam comes with it, and which source you find, these motors are rated between 315 and 330 hp. check out www.perfprotech.com they sell this engine complete new with distributor and carbuerator for about 3500<br />I am planing on replacing the engine either way,, for reliability issues... I bought this boat from a repo auction and know nothing of the history, and its broken down on me 2 times this fall..... The Mississippi river at memphis is no place to break,,,, currents here are about 4-8 mph. so its not an issue of if replacing, its when. keeping the SBC in there will make the swap easeir...with the 4 blade prop,,, more midrange for less rpm, even if no more top end<br />thanks, <br />hud

 

[QC]

Re: Bravo2 vs bravo1

hud,<br /><br />I may have been hasty, but the first "Vortec" engines were GM factory MPI. This link doesn't really say that, but I bought a '96 Suburban with the first V8 Vortec which was MPI, the '95s were not Vortec and were TBI, so I assumed . . .<br /><br />Sounds now like they are saying it is the combustion chamber now which would support Carb'd versions as well.<br /> GM Vortec <br /><br />Looks like a decent option considering that you need to replace it anyway. Good luck!!