Speedwake has them on his boat i think may be he will chime in.

 

I wouldnt bolt them to bravo uppers, We did that on a raceboat, and it didn last long, I believe the weak link in the bravo is the upper gears.

 

I have Bmax uppers and Imco lowers on my boat - no problems and I (knock on wood) have not blown one up yet and ran them all summer.

 

We have them on our 382 Formula. Full setup. We are running 540's supercharged and they work well.

No issues at all! Really great setup.
RChevelle is right about the Bravo uppers being the weak link and Speedwake has got the ultimate setup.

The guys at BMax are really helpful too. Any questions about the install or fit and they got ya covered.

 

If I'm not wrong, the B Max used the same lower as an XR bravo. At least the lower gears are the same size.

Keep in mind a few things about the B max drive, you can't run your exhaust through the drive, just in case you are now. You will have to re prop, unless you are running 1:36 now. And you should have Hydraulic steering to turn this heavier drive. If you do have Hydraulic steering, you will loose some turning angle as these drive stick out a bit further than a stock bravo.

But all that aside, I do believe they are a good alternative to a Bravo, without spending huge money.

 

jeff - you don't love any turning radius. your gimbal ring still turns the same regardless of which drive you bolt on the back.

Bmax does not use a merc lower - they manufacture their own lower. or you can bolt an Imco lower on - like on mine.

 

I used the B-shop -2 lowers with stock bravo uppers for a full season on my Fountain & had zero problems, worked great & the boat responded well to the raised X

 

jeff - you don't love any turning radius. your gimbal ring still turns the same regardless of which drive you bolt on the back.

Bmax does not use a merc lower - they manufacture their own lower. or you can bolt an Imco lower on - like on mine.

Because the hydraulic steering attaches futher out from the transom you do infact lose some turning angle. This is confirmed by Bravo shop. Not much, but some.

And what I ment about the lowers, as I stated, the gears are the same size. am I wrong?

 

jeff - I did not lose any turning radius.

it's simple geometry. You will only lose turning radius if your hydraulic steering rams are "maxed out" at the same moment the gimbal ring hit it's limit.

most hydraulic steering systems have plenty of unused ram even when the sterring it at full lock.

In terms of "confirmed by bravo shop" - They're an advertiser here and I speak to Dean often and I have their drives on my boat and he has never mentioned this to me.

A blanket assertion that you lose steering radius without an explanation as to "why this MIGHT happen to you" is unfair to B-Max. It has not happened to me.

of course the same system that is pulling one side is "pushing" the other side is it would stand to reason that you actually gain steering since the mounting points are wider than on a bravo drive. - go figgur, eh? :laugher: :laugher:

 

I used the B-shop -2 lowers with stock bravo uppers for a full season on my Fountain & had zero problems, worked great & the boat responded well to the raised X

How are the Bmax shorty lowers compared to the Imco shorties? Priced similar?


Matt

 

With my Imco steering, my rams are maxed in when turned one way full. That is the limiting facter for me. The standard Merc system (internal) turns alot more (sharper) than an Imco system. Now, when I was shopping, trying to decide what drive to use, I was told I would loose some steering. By who now...I can't be sure. Purhaps it was from an owner of one that was selling it. But I was pretty sure it was from someone at the Bravo shop I asked. Next time you speak with him, ask him and see if there is any truth to it.

But just to clarify, the limit it set by the hydraulic rams, not the gimbal ring. unless Sunsation made an error on my install, I doubt it.

 

I used the B-shop -2 lowers with stock bravo uppers for a full season on my Fountain & had zero problems, worked great & the boat responded well to the raised X

I was looking for the "real world"(someone actually using them) and you answered that. Thanks.

The step in the cavitation plate? All the -2 shorties from B-Shop do that?

B-Shop stated that they are seeing better #'s on their lowers than on IMCO lowers in some applications.


Anyone else have experience?

Jeff-Speedwake- you give "Speedwake Discounts" on their drives, but just lowers?

Plus when I go to the "STORE" I do not see them advertised.

 

I was looking for the "real world"(someone actually using them) and you answered that. Thanks.

The step in the cavitation plate? All the -2 shorties from B-Shop do that?

B-Shop stated that they are seeing better #'s on their lowers than on IMCO lowers in some applications.


Anyone else have experience?

Jeff-Speedwake- you give "Speedwake Discounts" on their drives, but just lowers?

Plus when I go to the "STORE" I do not see them advertised.

we don't sell drives or lowers...

 

I did a back to back comparison with the mercury sportmaster -2 lower & the Bmax -2 lower, I did not see any significant difference in top speed or handling, (this was 84-85 MPH) you may see a difference above 100 who knows... I do know I gained a solid 4mph from my stock set up, I am looking for another pair of shorties for my current project

 

You will have to re prop, unless you are running 1:36 now.

Why the 1.36?
I am running a 27 Hydro now and feel I have some room to go up without the 1.36 yet.

Maybe I will have to buy back those 32 Bravos I sold last year :confused1

 

I did a back to back comparison with the mercury sportmaster -2 lower & the Bmax -2 lower, I did not see any significant difference in top speed or handling, (this was 84-85 MPH)... I do know I gained a solid 4mph from my stock set up.

Bmax said IMCO runs faster than Speedmaster, and theirs runs faster than the IMCO.

Anyway running over 100 is not in the cards ...for now... :laugher:

I'm running 82-83 with the stock Bravo 1 late model DWP.
I am 6 inches BELOW the bottom of the hull and was looking for some help.
I added 300HP per side and only gained 13MPH

There was another Formula on this site for a while with a similar set-up.. as mine... that was running over 93 with shorties.
He said it really woke up his boat. That and removing the ST platform.
But if I could run 90 I would be ecstatic

 

Why the 1.36?
I am running a 27 Hydro now and feel I have some room to go up without the 1.36 yet.

Maybe I will have to buy back those 32 Bravos I sold last year :confused1

Cause the B maxes come with a 1:30 ratio. I'm betting your bravo is 1:50 . Thats why I stated "unless you have 1:36 now" .

 

Cause the B maxes come with a 1:30 ratio. I'm betting your bravo is 1:50 . Thats why I stated "unless you have 1:36 now" .

I was unaware that the Bmax was 1.30
Thanks for that info.
But if I go to the 1.30 I could probably run the 25 Mirages I used to run with my 330HP :laugher:

 

Ok Mark , you gonna do it , or is Momma buying you some nice Christmas presents? :laugher: :laugher: