Thinking about buying boat w/ Bravo III - easy to change props? Less prop options?

[TorchedGT]

Hey everyone - as some of you saw, I was thinking about buying a Nordic which was far away. Another option has come up and the guys made an offer that's tough to refuse.

It's a 24' Cobalt (though with the hull extending out around the drive, it's gotta be near it's LOA of 26ish) - I think they're 4100lbsish.

It has an "original" 496 (non-HO) and my first issue is just figuring out what engine is what, didn't they make like 5 different 496's? I know the new new ones have a different grey engine cover. This one has the "496 MAG" w/ SmartCraft logo on it, and an expansion tank on the starboard side - boat test listed the engine w/ that picture as raw water cooled though? At least it's SmartCraft so I can buy that MercMonitor!

Anyways it has a standard dual 3-blade setup and obviously I'll have to buy it and experiment before I even think about changing anything, BUT I do want to either clean these up or get a newer set (so I can use these in the shallows when I take it to the beach, etc)

Are there any Bravo III experts in here? It seems this boat is on the lighter side for typical dual prop setups, I know the Rinker 24s use them but their boats are a good 1000lbs heavier. I've heard some guys running an XR setup with the first prop having 4 blades? I'd probably want to mod things towards more top-end though.

I'm guessing the trailing prop comes off like a regular outdrive, but what about the first one?

 

[TorchedGT]

Re: Thinking about buying boat w/ Bravo III - easy to change props? Less prop options

Okay so older initial Bravo IIIs came with 3x3 props, now they come with 4x3 standard, and I just discovered the Hill Marine polished 4 x 4 setups which state:
Exceptional handling and maneuverability
Quicker planing off time
Virtually no cavitation in turning
Increased performance and throttle response in the midrange
Maintains planing at a lower speed
Polished finish


Available Pitch: 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 Choose your pitch at checkout!

The user reviews on that prop setup are pretty impressive, one guy went from 22kts to 29kts over OE setup - another guy couldn't plane with full load at high altitude and the props alone fixed all his issues.

Cool stuff. Plus they're sexah.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Thinking about buying boat w/ Bravo III - easy to change props? Less prop options

Ayuh,... You haven't even bought the boat yet,..?? much less tested it,..??

What, or Why do ya think it even Needs new props, or different props,..??

If by chance, you Do buy it,...
Read the "Read This First" at the top of the forum, THEN ask yer questions....
With the Required Info...

 

[QC]

Re: Thinking about buying boat w/ Bravo III - easy to change props? Less prop options

Prop changes fix altitude issues if they were wrong to begin with. Also, there were only 2 496s Mercs. 425 and 375. The "new" ones are 502s. 496 went bye bye and they are not related . . . All of the Merc 496's were Closed Cooling (freshwater). Volvo, not so much.

 

[TorchedGT]

Re: Thinking about buying boat w/ Bravo III - easy to change props? Less prop options

Prop changes fix altitude issues if they were wrong to begin with. Also, there were only 2 496s Mercs. 425 and 375. The "new" ones are 502s. 496 went bye bye and they are not related . . . All of the Merc 496's were Closed Cooling (freshwater). Volvo, not so much.

Ah thanks for the info! I thought they had gone to a more optimized fuel injection system or something? So they were all "MAG MPI" SmartCraft engines? Will these work with the NMEA devices like the MercMonitor then?

I mentioned changing the props because I wanted to put something polished on there - and also because they switched from a 3x3 to a 4x3 setup for their newer packages.