New Bravo 3x?

vlad · 13 September 2006, 10:14

Hi everyone,

I recently replaced my bravo 3x leg, after its short 400 hrs life.
Call me crazy but... I went on and bought a new one.(!)
I would propably have prefered to ALSO replace my 315 Yanmar with it but cant really afford that for the moment...

I opted for a new Bravo3, after a lot of thought and research on the possibility of installing a surface drive,or even a bravo1 but got a lot of negative responses from everyone, so I rushed my choice to catch the season.

It also looks like the new B3 has got improvements like a gear showerhead or smthing ,that did not exist on the previous version,(but i cant find more info on this ,even at mercruisers website) -but that, plus the fact that its being long since I last heard or read further complains about the well known unreliability and failures of the Yanmar-B3 combo, allows me some kind of hope that this will not happen again at least not in the near future!

Anybody knows of failures with the "improved" Bravo3???

RIB BOI · 13 September 2006, 19:10

TRANSOM SHOWERS only way to keep that leg in good working order.
As much water over the top half of the leg as pos as when its on the plane it heats the oil so much.

Yanmar unit is a good engine but its reli a throw away unit when it f@!ks up.

Trying to do water hose's or gear cabels is a nightmare with thows in yanmars units in there.

JUST MY INPUT

RIBBOI

MarkWildey · 13 September 2006, 23:01

For the sake of £100-£200 I'd fit one. I've had two boats where I've fitted them, on a yamaha and a Yanmar/Bravo 3x.

Looking at Yamaha drives I've seen more paint damage due to heat than on any 3x leg.

Don't know if I've been lucky but I never broke down due to leg, or engine problems, with the Yanmar/3x and I think I had one of the first 3x legs in 2001.

Cheers

Mark

vlad · 13 September 2006, 23:08

Thanks for the input guys.

Where does one get one of them 'transom showers'?
What are they? is it a "do it yourself" job? The new Bravo 3x seems to have some build-in showerheads? Do you think that 'll do?

BogMonster · 13 September 2006, 23:23

I know nothing about this, but surely something that by its very design overheats enough to burn the paint off, is a crap design and ought to be taken back and thrown through the dealer's window?

MarkWildey · 13 September 2006, 23:25

Vlad

I've seen them advertised in the US but the web site escapes me. I know to find one in the US and import it with VAT and other duty was cheaper than buying it in the UK.

Here is a cropped picture of my old boat with one fitted.

As you can see there is a small pickup that showers the top of the leg.

Regards

Mark

MarkWildey · 13 September 2006, 23:32

Stephen

I think in most cases it takes time for the problem to arise buy which time the dealer laughs at you.

Not wanting to diss my new hard boat mates ( on the dark side ) but the problem comes with running the boat for long periods and typically diesel ribs tend to do longer trips than the average flybridge/speed boat. There are of course exceptions and I'm sure they have the problem although I haven't heard the issue with Volvo Penta legs.

Mark

Jelly · 14 September 2006, 09:23

Re the question on where to get a transom shower.
I know Redbay offer one, but if you find a SS welder he should be able to make one for you.

Andy Gee · 15 September 2006, 11:29

Redbay do them online https://vault2.secured-url.com/store/acatalog/Misc.html and I'm sure that they would post you one over.
cheers
Andy