Speedmaster vs Bravo vs TRS 35'-38' boat.

[inbetween]

What are everyone's thoughts? Reliability, longevity, long term costs, speed differences, ride and handling differences?

[phragle]

how much hp?

[inbetween]

The boats we're looking at are any where from 500-800hp.

[Ratickle]

You cannot beat a #6 drive, period. Nothing better to build a bullet proof boat.

[Ratickle]

TRS strong but slow. And really getting hard, and expensive, to find parts for.

[Ratickle]

Bravo's good if you start with at least an XR upper and do all the aftermarket updates from someone like IMCO.

[inbetween]

You cannot beat a #6 drive, period. Nothing better to build a bullet proof boat.

Agreed, but#6s are not in the budget. 3, 3a, 4 or 5 might be.

[Ratickle]

No 3's if possible. They are the small shaft .

3a's, 4's, and 5's are large shaft.

Here, read this........ http://seriousoffshore.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9532

[Ratickle]

I guess, if possible, I'd choose the 5 first, and the Bravo second.

The 5 is shorter, so it can be set up with spacers like a 6. Really helps dialing in a boat.

Same with the Bravo's. There are aftermarket kits made to space them out. So, you can start with a high X and work down to the perfect setup.

TRS's were always good to about 750 HP, but as I said. Parts are getting scarce and expensive. And, they are slow.

[inbetween]

No 3's if possible. They are the small shaft .

3a's, 4's, and 5's are large shaft.

Here, read this........ http://seriousoffshore.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9532


I guess, if possible, I'd choose the 5 first, and the Bravo second.

The 5 is shorter, so it can be set up with spacers like a 6. Really helps dialing in a boat.

Same with the Bravo's. There are aftermarket kits made to space them out. So, you can start with a high X and work down to the perfect setup.

TRS's were always good to about 750 HP, but as I said. Parts are getting scarce and expensive. And, they are slow.

Thanks Paul. This seems to go with everything else I've been reading.

[phragle]

there was the guy putting bravo lowers on trs uppers, but aside from the set he made for himself, I dont know is he has done any others85205

[inbetween]

there was the guy putting bravo lowers on trs uppers, but aside from the set he made for himself, I dont know is he has done any others85205

Can't tell from the picture, is that a custom lower case or is there some sort of adapter plate?

[phragle]

he cuit the top off a lower and modified it to fit a trs upper

[fund razor]

he cuit the top off a lower and modified it to fit a trs upper

I'm guessing there is some blocking plate action going on with that flange, as much or more than adapting? I never saw the thread.

[Ratickle]

I haven't found anything on it either.

Phrag??

[phragle]

https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/drives-lower-units/333032-trs-upper-bravo-lower.html

[Ratickle]

Thanks Bud.

Single engine applications only, no way to reverse the drive. Cool project though for a single engine boat.

[fund razor]

I had a chris craft with two right hand drives before. Sucked to dock to one side, but not impossible. One side you eased up, and the other side you planned a crash. :D

[phragle]

Thanks Bud.

Single engine applications only, no way to reverse the drive. Cool project though for a single engine boat.

Reverse rotation engine.....

[Ratickle]

I still don't believe you can do it. The way the gears are cut in the TRS they would be running backwards and want to separate from each other.

[Ratickle]

So did you find your new boat yet?

[phragle]

So did you find your new boat yet?

Nope...couple possibilities have drifted past, but Im no really looking.... If something around 24-27' single pops up I would look, but not actively searching.

[Ratickle]

I was actually asking Adam.

I didn't know you were even considering a new boat.......

Thinking a bit bigger?

[fund razor]

I thought you meant Phragle too... because he said something about 4footitis.

I actually thought about selling mine. She will never be able to go on an offshore boat again with her back and neck. And it's running perfectly. :(

[fund razor]

Now that I think about it, I should keep it. :)

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Adam if your 500hp range Go Bravo, If your 800 hp go #6.

[Ratickle]

What about 3's, 3a's, 4's, and 5's?

[inbetween]

So did you find your new boat yet?

Still looking. Found a couple cigarettes we want to look at, but nothing for sure yet. Most everything in our price range has TRSs. Not sure I want TRSs.

[inbetween]

Adam if your 500hp range Go Bravo, If your 800 hp go #6.

Thanks Jim. I'd feel good about #6 reliability, but those boats are generally or of our budget. Still looking though. What's the reliability of the Merc 1000 SC?

[jrdonnellyjr]

Still looking. Found a couple cigarettes we want to look at, but nothing for sure yet. Most everything in our price range has TRSs. Not sure I want TRSs.

B-max drives

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

What about 3's, 3a's, 4's, and 5's?
Just like TRS many components are nla

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

I have a TRS boat, I also collect spare drives. I have all the tools to work on them. Problem is fewer and fewer parts are available. Konrad offers a replacement drive.

An old TRS freshwater boat can be a good find. Saltwater that old is trouble.

You can spend once for a #6 boat. Or you can keep spending on an obsolete drive. In the end most obsolete drive boats get converted.

Back to size of boat and power you seek. 500 is in a 35 you can possibly be happy with TRS . A 38 with 800. Everything but a 6 is a compromise.

I dispute Ratickles claim that TRS is good to 750. I say 500 is its limit. I personally know a 35 Cafe with TRS and 675hp can twist propshafts at will.

I find no pleasure in a power and drive combo you have to nurse around. Any boat you cannot run WOT with out exploding drives is not worth having.

Budget should limit the size of your boat choice. The bigger the boat the more power you need to have fun.

My guess is 70mph costs X to care for
a 80mph costs 2X to care for
a 90 mph boat 4X to care for and so on.

In round numbers of course and IMO

[inbetween]

B-max drives

How's the parts and service availability for a B-Max?

[inbetween]

I have a TRS boat, I also collect spare drives. I have all the tools to work on them. Problem is fewer and fewer parts are available. Konrad offers a replacement drive.

An old TRS freshwater boat can be a good find. Saltwater that old is trouble.

You can spend once for a #6 boat. Or you can keep spending on an obsolete drive. In the end most obsolete drive boats get converted.

Back to size of boat and power you seek. 500 is in a 35 you can possibly be happy with TRS . A 38 with 800. Everything but a 6 is a compromise.

I dispute Ratickles claim that TRS is good to 750. I say 500 is its limit. I personally know a 35 Cafe with TRS and 675hp can twist propshafts at will.

I find no pleasure in a power and drive combo you have to nurse around. Any boat you cannot run WOT with out exploding drives is not worth having.

Budget should limit the size of your boat choice. The bigger the boat the more power you need to have fun.

My guess is 70mph costs X to care for
a 80mph costs 2X to care for
a 90 mph boat 4X to care for and so on.

In round numbers of course and IMO

We are currently considering a #6 boat that needs some work. Can 900hp be reliable as an every day boat? Also, has a blown drive. Dry sump 6 that broke the pump driveshaft and toasted all the gears and bearings. Parts are EXPENSIVE for the #6! Is this a regular occurence?

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Buy a boat that is operational. A non running boat is asking for trouble. Its hard enough to have good luck from a running boat.

[Ratickle]

When it comes to the mechanical capabilities of boats, go with what Jim says, not what I say....:cheers2:

[Ratickle]

As for the 6, I've never heard of that before. And Skater's run the heck out of 6's. Jim??

[Ratickle]

I guess my last opinion on the non-running boat would be a bit different than Jim's. If:

1. The non-running boat is priced to where a good mechanic can be paid to repair it and you are still at, or below, actual resale value.
2. All of the things not in working order check out okay by a reputable surveyor.

And detune the 900HP. Depending on how the HP is achieved, (boost, compression, rpm, etc.), you are looking at fuel issues almost everywhere on the water and rebuilds way too often for most family runners.

[fund razor]

Buy a boat that is operational. A non running boat is asking for trouble. Its hard enough to have good luck from a running boat.

I spent around $50,000 extra learning this. He's right.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Buying a non running boat is like playing rolette. Are you feeling lucky?

Why didn't owner fix it? Cause his wrench said shake it loose? Its worth more running why not fix it to sell it running?

Maybe it's not running cause Its been patched back together so many times owner gave up? Find you bought a can of worms.

When did it last run properly? Last week , Last year, last owner, never since last rebuild, anybody really know?

The only exception in my mind to buy a non running boat is if you plan to buy new engine/ drive packages.

[inbetween]

Maybe it's not running cause Its been patched back together so many times owner gave up?

Hit this nail right on the head.

[inbetween]

I spent around $50,000 extra learning this. He's right.

We did something similar with the Formula we had.

[fund razor]

I think I remember some of that. I like Formulas.
That would have been sort of a grail boat for me at the time.

[Ratickle]

Buying a non running boat is like playing rolette. Are you feeling lucky?

The only exception in my mind to buy a non running boat is if you plan to buy new engine/ drive packages.

I like that thought.....

[jrdonnellyjr]

excellant at kleast with the dealer at the lake of the ozarks

[inbetween]

Finally a descision! Ended up purchasing a Cigarette Cafe with 500 EFIs and Bravo XRs

85386

85387

85388

85389

[Bobcat]

Beautiful....Classic Lines and Paint !:drool5:

[Ratickle]

It looks really good!!!:cheers2:

And that should be a very reliable package.

I should get to see it in just a few weeks......

[Ratickle]

Hopefully he hasn't broken it by then......:leaving:

[inbetween]

It looks really good!!!:cheers2:

And that should be a very reliable package.

I should get to see it in just a few weeks......


Hopefully he hasn't broken it by then......:leaving:

We'd love to show it to you! I might be able to get you a ride on it as well! :) Unless she's broken... When are you coming in, Saturday or Sunday?

Still trying to find out which boats are turn and start/finish to see if we can get Pete on the water.

[Ratickle]

We have the run and photo shoot with the West Michigan Offshore run on Saturday. So, we'll leave after and drive over like last year. Other than that, not sure yet.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

looks like a nice find.

Congratulations