Alpha/Bravo Question

[boxy]

Who is running a Bravo in an 18, and who is running 300 hp+ in an Alpha, and how long have you been running it ?
Thanks

[KRAVEN]

I am running a Bravo 1 xz with a 377 scorpion 350 hp. :D

[CDMA]

I ran an Alpha with a stock 260. Blew two drives...one cause it was old and I took a chance on it and another one blew but it was my fault...don't ask. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

One season with a Bravo now. Very happy with 400+hp and a heavy foot.

Here are a few things on a conversion...
http://www.allardmarine.com/alpha_to_bravo_conversion.htm

Chris

[Scott Pearson]

18 with 325hp and an Alpha. Zero problems at 64 hours on the boat. I dont baby it and I dont beat the balls off either.

(NJ)Scott

[Rodger]

I ran a SB 406 at about 375-400 HP in a 16' with an Alpha for 5 years (400 hours). I blew the lower gears once and that was being very carefull. No full throttle accelerations and no wave launching above 3500 or so RPM. I would though, run full speed fairly often, just didn't climb up to it very quickly. In my opinion the Alpha is pretty marginal for anything above 300 HP especially if you have 1.50 gears. The 1.33 gears are a little more reliable.

[tmdog]

You guys that ran heavy h.p on an alpha. What was the max. rpm? I was told not to exceed 5 grand only for a short duration.

[HyperDonzi]

Not in a Donzi, but the factory 1 team "Mutual Fun" is not far from here, I asked about swapping engines (V6-V8) and asked about drives. He said he did a swap from the 4.3 to a ZZ3 having 355 horsepower (Back in 1991) and a 125shot of nitrous so that is 480hp all through an alpha drive and has not blown it out once. He said there is a driveshower and better oiling system than stock.

[Rodger]

tmdog,
I turned slightly over 5000 RPM and only did it in short durations; probably a minute at the longest and usually less than that.

[Scott Pearson]

Scott,
....Your funny...When the Blonde rev limiter is out of the boat....It turns about 4800RPM with a 23 pitch prop. Never tried the 21.

Hoping the rev limiter is set a little higher when the Hornet is finished.

(NJ)Scott

[riverrat]

I'm running a 350mag mpi 300 hp on a alpha since '99 with 100 hrs & no problems. we run the boat pretty hard too.

[Rootsy]

started the year before last at the paltry stock 210 pshp w/ Gen II alpha... then stepped up to around 240 pshp last year... started out this summer with around 300 pshp and the alpha spinning a 21 cleaver to 5K... the second half of the summer i am around 330 - 340 or so pshp (add 30 hp for crankshaft hp with the alpha) spinning the 23 cleaver to around 5400 rpm thus far (ran outta water)... yes i am lookin for more prop... and a drive shower... and a bravo... i've put a lot of hard acceleration passes on the Gen II and changed the gearlube twice this year... no metal in it... and i popped the top and took a look at the gears and when i did the waterpump impeller i took a peak at the shaft... everything looks peachy keen.. still makes me a tad nervous... only real thing we have going for us is the lighter weight hulls we are pushing... other than that they are probably grenades waiting to happen especially if the prop has wanked a few things or it's been airborne and stuffed hard...

Jamie - the one without the WARM fuzzy feeling...

[HyperDonzi]

Heres an alpha with lots of power on a Donzi. 1983 Donzi Classic 18. 350" with some aftermarket, runs 73, with 450 hp at the crank, 425 at the prop shaft. it does have a nosecone, so maybe it is an Alpha SS. 212 hours and running fine.

[Tidbart]

I've got a 96 18C w/350mag 300Hp Bravo. It has about 500 hours on it. I don't beat on it, too much. I do take care of it and it takes care of me. No problems so far, with the drive nor the motor. (knock wood)

Bob

[Ranman]

1997 MAG350 300PSHP Bravo 1. Bulletproof.

[Sam]

16 ft running an Alpha with a drive shower,300 or so hp (for now) at the shaft and no problems. Depending on what prop I run I avg 4800 to 4900 rpm.

Sam

[riverrat]

According to my "Mercury Master Tech" and long time race boat guy,and good friend. the Alpha is a very good drive & with no more than 300hp there is no good reason to go to the Bravo. they weigh more & in small boat applications thats a big consideration. the bravo is also a very good drive but they cost more & add 200lbs. I believe that if it was an issue Mercury would not sell the 350 mag mpi with the Alpha.

my 2 cents

[Barry Phillips]

I have 98 Classic 18 with a 5.7 L rated at 250 hp. At the tme I purchased the boat Donzi was shipping the 300hp Mags with Bravo 1s and the 250s with Alphas. My dealer managed to get Donzi to ship my boat with a Bravo 1 as a $200 dollar option, the best 200 bucks I ever spent. This gives me the option to repower the boat with a 6.2 liter, instead of warming up the 350, the choice is mine. I rode in a 03 350 mag this summer with an Alfa, so I don't know why Mercruiser ships them with Alphas now and not then. What I do know is the Bravo is a stronger drive, and can accommodate performance modifications above 300hp. I also think a Bravo will enhance the resale value of the boat, Plus I think it looks really cool hanging off the transom of my 18.

SO-SLO