bravo 3 reliability

[margarita jane]

Would appreciate owners opinions on bravo 3 reliability good or bad, assuming of course regular maintenance has been performed and unit has always lived in freshwater... a friend is interested in buying a 2000 340DA with Blll's and 400 hrs. Of course if the time comes surveys will be done...

 

[mwph]

Would appreciate owners opinions on bravo 3 reliability good or bad, assuming of course regular maintenance has been performed and unit has always lived in freshwater... a friend is interested in buying a 2000 340DA with Blll's and 400 hrs. Of course if the time comes surveys will be done...

"Regular maintenance" of course includes paint & zincs. My pre purchase inspection of my B3 revealed an ugly site. I can tell you what the bottom half of one cost!

As far as performance, I dont have enough experience to compare but lots of post on this site have greart things to say. My wife says I must love mine!

 

[Stray Cat]

If the Mercathode units were in good working order, and magnesium annodes WITH the prop annode were used and kept up annually with paint touchup, the corrosion issues should be minimal.

The Y2K Bravo 3 was prior to the new clutches that are now used that have all but removed the loud clunks and kachunks from shifts. My experience has been in fresh water and on a 270DA and my 300DA. Mechanically, I have had very good service from mine with annual preventative maintenance that include gear lube changes. The 340DA is a good sized load to push. There has been a lot of recent discussion about temps the drive reaches while on an extended (1 hr +) cruise on plane. (a portion of the drive is out of the water and is said to not get sufficient cooling without a drive shower) I have yet to see steam raise from under my swim platform after coming off plane.....Perhaps the new Mercruiser synthetic gear lube reduces some of the gear friction when compared to the "older" blend.

Those are my thoughts....other than he may want to also consider V Drives....