Comments on: Mercruiser Alpha I (1) vs. the Bravo III (3) - Choosing the Right Outdrive http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105 Too Much Fun in the NW Florida Sun! Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:20:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: jorge aguilar http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-56975 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:03:15 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-56975 Want to convert my inboard( staight shaft) to ajack shaft with a Bravo III. POWER-545 COMANDER 25FT '81 SEAVEE CENTER CONSOL. TOP SPEED 40MPH ,CRUISE AT 28-30MPH AT 3500RPM, AVERAGE 1.8 MILES PER GAL. WILL I GAIN SPEED ? AND WILL I LOSE FUEL ECONOMY? IF I CAN CRUISE AT 40 MPH AND NOT LOSE ECONOMY I WILL DO THE PROJECT. WE FISH THE FLORIDA KEYS AND RANGE IS VERY IMPORTANT. Want to convert my inboard( staight shaft) to ajack shaft with a Bravo III.
POWER-545 COMANDER 25FT ‘81 SEAVEE CENTER CONSOL. TOP SPEED 40MPH ,CRUISE AT 28-30MPH AT 3500RPM, AVERAGE 1.8 MILES PER GAL.
WILL I GAIN SPEED ? AND WILL I LOSE FUEL ECONOMY? IF I CAN CRUISE AT 40 MPH AND NOT LOSE ECONOMY I WILL DO THE PROJECT.
WE FISH THE FLORIDA KEYS AND RANGE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

]]> by: Brad S. Ferguson http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-44860 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:28:34 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-44860 Many thanks on the Bravo III comments. I am considering a Sea Ray Sun Sport. This is a 29.5 ft boat with twin Merc's and it appears that the Bravo III is the right choice. Many thanks on the Bravo III comments. I am considering a Sea Ray Sun Sport. This is a 29.5 ft boat with twin Merc’s and it appears that the Bravo III is the right choice.

]]> by: Brian from Texas http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-34728 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:11:59 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-34728 Thanks for this review and especially the comments by DJ Cordes. I'm struggling with this very decision right now, but after reading, think I will go with the Monterey with B3. Thanks! Thanks for this review and especially the comments by DJ Cordes. I’m struggling with this very decision right now, but after reading, think I will go with the Monterey with B3. Thanks!

]]> by: Steve Hayward http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-22862 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:39:41 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-22862 I just read the Bravo1 vs. Bravo 111 comparison by DJ Cordes. Thanks, and I concur that the leverage advantage of the Bravo 111 is a huge advantage. Basically you get the same type of advantage that outboard performance buffs are after when they invest in set back plates, and less wetted area will easily give a performance boost. I'm still confused at what was offered by the random descriptions by the original article comparing boats of different lengths and styles and trying to draw a meaningful conclusion. Anyhow to everyone who puts this together, keep up the good work and keep the dialog going. I just read the Bravo1 vs. Bravo 111 comparison by DJ Cordes. Thanks, and I concur that the leverage advantage of the Bravo 111 is a huge advantage. Basically you get the same type of advantage that outboard performance buffs are after when they invest in set back plates, and less wetted area will easily give a performance boost.
I’m still confused at what was offered by the random descriptions by the original article comparing boats of different lengths and styles and trying to draw a meaningful conclusion.
Anyhow to everyone who puts this together, keep up the good work and keep the dialog going.

]]> by: Jim Wideen http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-17430 Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:34:51 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-17430 Hi, I just bought a 89 rinker 186 captiva with a merc v6 i/o. It looses power after about 30 mph. Have any ideas what is wrong? Jim Wideen Jim@reflextionsphotovideo.com Hi,

I just bought a 89 rinker 186 captiva with a merc v6 i/o. It looses power after about 30 mph. Have any ideas what is wrong?

Jim Wideen
Jim@reflextionsphotovideo.com

]]> by: DJ Cordes http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-439 Fri, 10 Nov 2006 05:20:48 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/reviews/105#comment-439 I own a 2006 200 Select Sea Ray with the 260hp Mercruiser 5.0L MPI & Bravo III. My friend owns the "exact" same boat with a Alpha 1. Both have wakeboard towers and literally the only difference is he has the wakeboard graphics and I have the boot stripe. I've driven both both extensively. What are my conclusions? 1) When wakeboarding at 20mph I am running 2475 RPM and he is running 2950. This is a large savings in fuel. Also his boat also takes considerably more time to plane where as mine doesn't really care if I have 2 people or 6 people. His boat is extremly sluggish with 6 people 2) Top Speed: My boat is faster no matter what the load is. I think the biggest reason is that the Bravo 3 allows me to get almost all of he hull out of the water whereas his boat plows even at maximun trim. 3) I have perfect pass and when I have 6 people in the boat at 3500 rmp my speed is about .2 mph different than having 2 people. 4) Would I pay the $1800 again? Most definitely. To me my 3551# Sea Ray is in a different performance league with the Bravo III from top speed, accelaration and ability to keep similiar speed at each RPM with a light or full load aboard. I personally wouldn't own another boat with a single IO unless it was a Bravo III going forward. I wish I could have found something on the internet with this comparison when I purchase my boat. Lucky for me I wanted a Pewter color 200 Select and the only one I could find was in another state and my only choice was a Bravo III as I purchased it in late July 2006. Prior to my purchase I thought I was wasting money because my boat was only 20ft (but heavy) and was I wrong! Please feel free to email me & post my email djcordes@comcast.net because few people have two identcal boat to compare the Alpha I to the Bravo III and I'd be happy to answer anyone else's questions on whether they should buy it. I own a 2006 200 Select Sea Ray with the 260hp Mercruiser 5.0L MPI & Bravo III. My friend owns the “exact” same boat with a Alpha 1. Both have wakeboard towers and literally the only difference is he has the wakeboard graphics and I have the boot stripe. I’ve driven both both extensively. What are my conclusions?
1) When wakeboarding at 20mph I am running 2475 RPM and he is running 2950. This is a large savings in fuel. Also his boat also takes considerably more time to plane where as mine doesn’t really care if I have 2 people or 6 people. His boat is extremly sluggish with 6 people
2) Top Speed: My boat is faster no matter what the load is. I think the biggest reason is that the Bravo 3 allows me to get almost all of he hull out of the water whereas his boat plows even at maximun trim. 3) I have perfect pass and when I have 6 people in the boat at 3500 rmp my speed is about .2 mph different than having 2 people.
4) Would I pay the $1800 again? Most definitely. To me my 3551# Sea Ray is in a different performance league with the Bravo III from top speed, accelaration and ability to keep similiar speed at each RPM with a light or full load aboard. I personally wouldn’t own another boat with a single IO unless it was a Bravo III going forward.

I wish I could have found something on the internet with this comparison when I purchase my boat. Lucky for me I wanted a Pewter color 200 Select and the only one I could find was in another state and my only choice was a Bravo III as I purchased it in late July 2006. Prior to my purchase I thought I was wasting money because my boat was only 20ft (but heavy) and was I wrong! Please feel free to email me & post my email djcordes@comcast.net because few people have two identcal boat to compare the Alpha I to the Bravo III and I’d be happy to answer anyone else’s questions on whether they should buy it.

]]>