Bravo 3 IO's

M

mariner61

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exMember
Joined
Nov 16, 2006
RO Number
24261
Messages
106
I am looking at a fORMULA 34 pc. Many of the m come with Bravo 3's. I plan on keeping the boat on a mooring on the LI sound. Understandibly the mercathode system and zincs are there to protect the drives. My question is since the mercathode relies on battery power to protect the drives, are these drives still practical in my situation? The pro and cons I think are there for IO's vs inboards. Fuel effeciency,speed,control around docks. And secondly what have you seen in your experience in this area? Thanks-Happy T-Day to all.
Nick
 
quote:
Originally posted by Liquid Diet 2

Question- Can't you buy an entire new Bravo III for around $4200.00? I think so. Why did you owners spend 6K, 13K for repairs when you could just remove an old and pop on a new for less(DIY)?

Click to expand...


been asking myself the same thing.....
 
Stay away from the Bravo III. Also you will need a FWC boat in the salt. Outdrives do not fair well in saltwater. I would strongly recommend an inboard vessel.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Liquid Diet 2

Question- Can't you buy an entire new Bravo III for around $4200.00? I think so. Why did you owners spend 6K, 13K for repairs when you could just remove an old and pop on a new for less(DIY)?

Click to expand...


Mine are the newer BravoIII-X which sell for 8-9K each...I have two...
 
I lived in New Rochellle and kept my boats slipped in saltwater. I never had a corrosion problem with my b-3s.
Al Prisco, haven't the problems with Bravo 3's been solved and are a thing of the past?
 
jeffk, Merc states they have it all under control. I can only base my comments on what i see in the field. The newer boats do seem to do better.
 
Well I just had to chime in on this one.I bought a new boat in 2004 with a bravo III,after 2 years in brackish water had the lower unit replaced under warrantee[corrosion].last year I removed the paint on the lower unit,treated it with alumaprep,painted it with Interlux epoxy barrier coat,and painted it with antifouling paint.This was the first year I had absolutly no corrosion of any kind period!!!!!.I hear the new Seacore outdrives have solved this problem[hearsay].Good luck with whatever you buy
JOE
 
I've had alpha I's and Bravo III's and never had a corrosion issue on the south shore of Long Island. If you buy a boat with B III's and did not have them pressure tested then you rolled the dice and lost. If you got water in the drives = bad seals and pressure test would tell you that. The mercathode draws so little juice from the battery, it would take weeks to drain it. I happen to like the performance and economy of an I/O and realize they require preventative maintenance. Before I splash my BIII, new impeller, new oil, pressure test, paint, new zincs,... every year. I do this and I've never had a problem. Its when you try and cut corners that problems arise.
 
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