Bravo 3 - Am I asking for trouble

[alt]

As some of you may know i'm looking to buy a large'ish diesel RIB.

I may have found the ideal one, she has a CMD 4.2 with a Bravo 3 drive.

Question is, am I asking for trouble with the Bravo3 drive? I know they do not couple well with the Yanmar's, is it the same situation with their own CMD engines? Very little hours on this RIB, less than 50

[TIM]

is the engine 315????

Basically with any bravo 3 drive is, its a matter of WHEN , and not IF it will blow up !!!!!

Bravo 2 ,1 seem to be a better bet , the Bravo drives were developed to be use with V8 and V6 Petrols engines , that deliver there power smoothly over the rev range ......... Not turbo charged High Torque diesel monsters!!!!!

Volvo and Yamaha are the only companies who have got the outdrive leg right for a big diesel engine , especially in a fast offshore rib.

I think its 5k for a new leg, and it seems some go in 50hrs , some go in 250hrs , but no one seems to get past 250 hrs.

[alt]

Tim - WOW

Thank's for the comments, so I guess the Bravo 3's werent well engineered, fullstop as opposed to them just not liking the Yanmar's?

[matt h]

Blimey!! a weeks ribbing and your new outdrive disintegrates!! surely the manufacturer have something to say about that??

[rocket s]

i have a bravo 3x and it has over 700hrs on it and no probs if you can drive the boat right no probs

[Dirk Diggler]

Originally Posted by rocket s

i have a bravo 3x and it has over 700hrs on it and no probs if you can drive the boat right no probs

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rocket - Good to hear that. What do you mean by 'driving right' though? Do you mean when the boat gets 'air time'?

Were the bravo 3's badly designed drives, or were they just not capable of handling the torque of diesel engines?

[gavin]

The 3x is more of a commercial drive, do you get ,much wave hopping with your Delta, does it have a transom shower fitted

[rocket s]

try not to take off really bad for any leg and don't nail it from a standing start
and you should have no probs i have still got oringinal leg just the bravo 3 and had no probs with it either fit the shower as well

[Paul Wiemers]

Originally Posted by rocket s

try not to take off really bad for any leg and don't nail it from a standing start
and you should have no probs i have still got oringinal leg just the bravo 3 and had no probs with it either fit the shower as well

You are really looking for trouble with this drive connected to the yanmar, i have had the same configuration years ago and have five b 3 drives on the scrapyard the quickest blew up at 60 hours and the toughest at 275 hours dont buy this configuration.