Performance

[Julian]

Jon

we had our drive beefed up by Dave Crawford marine in Lymington. He has been our mechanic for the last 6 years or so and as done a grand job so far. Our leg is now one of only a few that has not blown up. Its just about to be stripped and look at inFebruary to make sure the parts are all ok for this years cruising.

I'll let you know the findings once this is done.

Cant the Yanmar 420's be put through the bravo 1 legs then. Or will they blow up to.

Julian

[Jonny Fuller]

Allan,
the phantom you are referring to is different to mine, or at least the deck is, only one of that type was produced, they built it for mike bellamy( lancing marine) to his requirements, it has a very small cabin due to the large cockpit he wanted so it's not as practical as the race deck version (seems silly I know but its true)

the 345hp motor is a ford driving through one of his LM surface drives, it was the first 28 out of the hull mould back in 84

mine was built in 2000.

PS. I agree on the weight thing, I don't think many people appreciate the importance of ballance, especially at the lower speeds when it's a bit sloppy!

PS. wots FWIW mean?

[Jonny Fuller]

Julian,
the Yanmar 420 is 420hp @ something like 3k so the torque is massive, I think a bravo would snap like a twig with one of those!

the Bravo shop out in the US make a complete replacement upper for the bravo, it's a monster, they call it the Bmax, they reckon it'll take a 1000 horse of petrol power, I would think that'd be ok, but I don't know how much it cost's, a geuss would be £10K with the gimble + stuff but it could well be more

[Dirk Diggler]

The Bravo shop does a version of the B Max for diesels, also available as a Bravo 3 type drive. The single prop version will take a 21" diameter prop. Approx $10,000.00 for drive only, and it is a direct replacement for a Bravo.

The over drive system is a Konrad, but this has a Borg Warner type gearbox.

[Jonny Fuller]

Dirk,
your profile also says your interests include racing, have you done any yourself?

[Dirk Diggler]

Yeh, used to belong to a rowing club on the Thames at Mortlake.

[Jonny Fuller]

I've been told I shouldn't be on here as I don't have a rib, you didn't have a tube or an engine how can you possibly be welcome! ho-ho

[Julian]

10 K for a gearbox. Blimey. We were thinking about upgrading our engine next year to the 420 but maybe we wont bother now then. Shame i fancied more power.

Julian

[crazyhorse]

Hay Dirk/Jon you rely do need to go and see a doctor your condition is getting worse. lol

[John Kennett]

Now, now you three! I want to see Jon, Dirk and Crazyhorse all playing nicely please

Thank you!

John

[Jonny Fuller]

Julian,
yeah, it's a shame about all these prices, spoils all the fun doesn't it!


Crazyhorse,
see you still havn't bought a dictionary

[Jonny Fuller]

sorry JK, I was provoked!

[crazyhorse]

Dirk/jon I look forward to watching you running home in a foce 8 mate

Seems unless you use the boat with the existing outbords then your doomed unless you got big money.An alternative is to use here for business use and get the duty back on the juice.

Acording to Jon then its out of the question dropping a diesl in here,shame as she is 9.5 mtrs long.

I will find out about the vat my understanding is no vat ,no where to go cruising,ie channel islands only.No where else?or you have to pay big time,may be wrong but will check it out.

What is the real figures for savings on fuel consumption for new engines?.Not interested in what the engine makers say?

[Jonny Fuller]

As a sensible chap who doesn't like wasting the time and resources of the coast gaurd, I personally woudn't choose to go out in a force 8, or even a fose 8 as you call it, however on the odd ocasion, if I get caught out, that is, not just massaging my own ego, I'm sure, as normal I will be just fine thank you!

Now could we please proceed without me constantly having to be on the defensive from your attacks crazyhorse...please

[Dirk Diggler]

You will need to ask Manos that one, he seems to know everything.

[Alan]

Johnson 150 GT VRO 2 stroke carb (ex gulf model) on 21ft RIB swapped for 150 Optimax digital gave us savings of 35%+ either measure by gph/mpg or much more simply by the amount of fuel we used each time out! Suspect it may be actually a bit more but had no accurate fuel consumption guage on the old engine cos that would have been way to frightening!

Oh yes and Jon, FWIW means "for what its worth".

Julian. Interesting about the story of beefing up you B3x. The shame is that Yanmar continue to market something that has a significant chance of failure without extensive modification or very careful use!

Alan

[crazyhorse]

I agree it isnt my cup of tea either,But it sure does happen,anyway if it does we will follow you in just to make sure you get home safe,Providing mi electronics hold together that is.

[Jonny Fuller]

A pal of mine has an identical boat to mine abeit a little lighter, similar power, identical top speed etc, but petrol. when we went down to plymouth I used 110 galls of fuel (around £150 depending where you get it) return, cruising quite quickly in calm conditions, based on what he uses at a similar speed, he chose to drive his car to plymouth as he would have used approaching £1000 ( at marina prices ).... no contest for me, I'm too mean/poor!

Funny thing was, when he got there, he couldn't find a room(class 1 racing was on) and drove back again that night ho-ho

I slept like a log im my boat!

[Julian]

The interesting thing was when i questioned Mercruiser about the leg some year ago they told me that the leg was not made to jump out of the water and this would cause serious damage to it. Strange i thought as most boats will come out of the water at some point especially in the rough.

We had to have a shower cap fitted to keep the leg from melting itself. Dodgy stuff. They were no help to us what so ever. Dave crawford is the man to beef up legs

Julian

[crazyhorse]

I think you should also talk with bill brown he also knows his stuff BIG TIME.