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Alpha vs. Bravo
The bravo 3 is a very nice drive but the props are very pricey. They track
very straight forward and back and the shifting is very smooth. I would not consider the single prop bravo for a small block v8, the alpha is up to pretty much any small block unless the boat is really big or heavy. For a while the alpha was mated to 330hp big blocks and a number of people had problems with those. The alpha got a reputation for trouble with high power engines during that time. I think that was not just the hp but also the increased torque of the big block and that many were on boats in the 25ft and up range. The engineering of the alpha is old but simple. It's age has the plus side of there being a lot of people that can work on them and a profusion of parts. Aftermarket part company competition has forced merc to keep part prices reasonable for the alphas. I have had a 300+ hp small block on an alpha for 4 years now without any problems. "Jay" wrote in message ... Folks, Looking for some feelings on the comparative difference. I'm looking at a 21 ft. sundeck model, with a 5.0, 260 horse. The local dealer sells them with a Bravo.. Since I've learned a bravo is about 3000.00 more, is there no reason an Alpha can't do a comparable job? The few MPH I might pick up, being able to back up or track straighter doesn't really matter much to me.... are there other advantages I don't know about, or don't understand? -j |
#12
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Alpha vs. Bravo
On Tue, 02 Mar 2004 23:28:22 GMT, "Lawrence James"
wrote: The bravo 3 is a very nice drive but the props are very pricey. That much is true. You have 2 times the stainless, so it's 2 times the cost. they track very straight forward and back and the shifting is very smooth. Much of what causes wander on a planing hull boat at displacement speeds has more to do with hull design, than the drive. While a counter rotating drive such as a Bravo 3 or Volvo Duo-prop can mitigate much of this, it cannot eliminate it. Usually it takes twin drives spaced far enough apart, to have sufficient leverage. I would not consider the single prop bravo for a small block v8, the alpha is up to pretty much any small block unless the boat is really big or heavy. Here, I would respectfully disagree. If someone has the chance to make the choice between an Alpha drive or a Bravo (Which usually means an engine package that's near the borderline in HP), I'd opt for the Bravo. The Bravo drive is built heavier, so it should be practically bulletproof for engines on the low side of the horsepower curve. The Bravo also utilizes a cone clutch which shifts smoother, and lasts longer than the Alpha's dog clutch. Another side benefit here is the elimination of the often troublesome ignition interrupter which is needed to momentarily remove torque from the Alpha's dog clutch to enable a smooth shift. It's a band-aid, which is not needed with a cone clutch. Finally, the Bravo drive uses an engine mounted sea water pump, rather than an internal to the drive unit. That means that you can replace the impeller while the boat is in the water. Yes, the initial cost of the Bravo drive will be higher, but you get what you pay for. Peace of mind and convenience sometimes cannot be given a price tag. For a while the alpha was mated to 330hp big blocks and a number of people had problems with those. The alpha got a reputation for trouble with high power engines during that time. I think that was not just the hp but also the increased torque of the big block and that many were on boats in the 25ft and up range. You could "get by" with larger HP on an Alpha, if you took care to "baby" the drive, and not do anything that would strain it. But I would hate to have to worry about it. The engineering of the alpha is old but simple. It's age has the plus side of there being a lot of people that can work on them and a profusion of parts. The Bravo is not that much harder to work on. And because the Bravo is a popular drive for the "go fast" set, there are all sorts of aftermarket modifications, parts are plentiful, and there are a plethora of shops that specialize in the Bravo. Aftermarket part company competition has forced merc to keep part prices reasonable for the alphas. I have had a 300+ hp small block on an alpha for 4 years now without any problems. Hopefully this year will not be the year for your first problem. If you take care of your drive, it should be ok, but you have to be more conscious of the limitations of an Alpha drive with that much HP. Converting to a Bravo, may not be cost effective for someone with a used boat (You can probably rebuild an Alpha twice for the cost to convert to a Bravo). But I'd opt for the Bravo on a new boat if I had the choice. Dave |
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