Which Bravo 3 drive on 2004 Sundeck 5.0?

Lakebum431

Member
Jan 9, 2012
150
Norris, TN
Boat Info
2018 SLX 280
Engines
8.2L
Bravo III x
Had a bad boating weekend last weekend. Hit a submerged floating log doing about 30 and had catastrophic outdrive failure. No one hurt and zero fiberglass damage visible. Completely broke the top section of the drive away from the part that connects to the actual boat, cracked the cylinder where the prop is connected and prop gone. Luckily some kind fishermen towed us in and I had a buddy go pick up my trailer to get it out of the water.

Obviously an insurance claim. I have it in the shop now and the adjuster has been out to see it. Hopeful that they don't total it, but I according to him it is close. The question right now is which B3 outdrive is supposed to be on this boat. He says that the one that is on it is a "high performance drive" with two water intakes. My shop guy says that is what is supposed to be on it. The adjuster said he has "talked to someone at Sea Ray" and that they never used that outdrive on Sea Rays. Anyone have any idea what they are talking about.

I have pictures, but not sure how to add.
 
I have never heard of a "high performance" B3 with 2 water intakes...

To upload pics, use the button "Upload a File" just to the right of "Post Reply" here in the lower right hand corner.
 
I hadn't either, but that was how he distinguished it...
Pics added so you can feel my pain.
1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg 4.jpg 5.jpg 6.jpg 7.jpg 8.jpg
 
Ouch.

Isnt there a serial number or model number somewhere on the outdrive?
 
You need a new drive, no such thing as a duel pickup drive. Some engines can be duel pickup, through the drive and through a thru hull pickup
 
You need a new drive, no such thing as a duel pickup drive. Some engines can be duel pickup, through the drive and through a thru hull pickup
Oh I know I need a new drive along with other things. But there seems to be a discrepancy on which one will work. I believe there are potentially different ratios in the B3? Maybe different models? I don’t know? Anyone know? The boat is at the shop so I don’t have access to it right now. Trying to do some research if my own. I’m just hopeful they don’t total the boat.
 
I just put a brand new bravo 3 drive on my boat this summer and it has dual pick ups. There is an additional one on the nose cone along with the standard 2 on either side of the housing above the prop bullet. I did not pay for a high performance drive so if that is what it is I got it by mistake.
 
I just put a brand new bravo 3 drive on my boat this summer and it has dual pick ups. There is an additional one on the nose cone along with the standard 2 on either side of the housing above the prop bullet. I did not pay for a high performance drive so if that is what it is I got it by mistake.
That is helpful. Which model was this put on?
 
If your drive ser. # is illegible , you can call merc customer service with your engine # and they will tell you everything you need to know about the original drive. 920-929-5040
 
He could have meant dual water pickups in the lower unit . from the standard inlet holes and from 4 holes in the nose of the bullet
 
He could have meant dual water pickups in the lower unit . from the standard inlet holes and from 4 holes in the nose of the bullet
I bet you are right. Is that standard on all Bravo 3’s or just a subset of them? In other words could some not have the second pickup in the nose of the bullet?
 
Regardless of whether or not your existing drive has (had) dual water pickups, there's no reason you HAVE to get that again. For what it's worth, it's pretty rare to have a dual pickup in a boat like yours. If it DID have it, it may have just been that's what Merc had left laying on the shelf when they shipped the package to SR. There's really no need for it in your boat, though.

The shop doing the work will make sure to get you the right gear ratio - either through the engine serial number or the transom serial number... or through the boat's HIN number. It's plenty easy to figure out for anyone that is in the business. This is not something you should have to worry about.
 
I wanted to update this. I got word back from the adjuster, they have worked through the quote and are issuing a check for $13,971.70 (total cost of $14,471.79 less my $500 deductible). Work to start immediately. Thank goodness they didn't total the boat (I have an agreed upon value policy of $22k). Sadly ended the season a bit early this year...
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,873
Messages
1,420,842
Members
60,871
Latest member
cbrcassio
Back
Top