Swapping Alpha One Gen 1 with Gen 2 Bravo Worry too much

desmopedro

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Aug 6, 2015
Messages
7
Love the forums! Long time reader, first post. I hope this is not a question asked before. I could not find the answers!
I recently purchased a 1988 SeaRay 230 Weekender. CLEAN well maintained adult driven boat. Running a 7.4l CBB bolted to an Alpha One Gen 1

I read prior to buying the boat the Alpha 1 Gen 1 is a good drive. It was when I dug into the fact it?s a Gen 1 mated with a 454 big block that I started to worry! I have read the big blocks eat Alpha 1/Gen 1?s like crazy!

My questions are:

A- Am I worrying too much? The running gear on the boat looks to be all original and was very well maintained. (I have receipts) If it?s lasted this long and I plan on taking care of it, am I worried for nothing? It?s a 23? cruiser! I do not plan on hot rodding it or long WOT runs! Plus the water in MN is COOL, so I hear that helps keep things from failing!

B- I have seen multiple threads about converting Alpha 1?s to Bravo. I know it?s an option, and expensive option, but have NOT found a nice ?step by step? list of what?s needed! Does anyone have a nice reference for this? It would be nice to price it out?

C- Is there an option of switching the Alpha One Gen 1 to an Alpha One Gen 2? And is the Alpha Gen 2 that much better? (I have read they ARE a little better!) I see I would need a new gimbal ring, but if I didn?t need to pull the motor, and or the pieces on the outside of the transom matched up to the pieces on the inside (Drive plate/Shaft), I may look into it! It may be a good compromise between upgrade and $?

I have a guy here in MN who has a complete Bravo drive unit (gimbal ring to prop) AND a Gen 2 Alpha! The Alpha is way less $ than the Bravo, and if all I needed was to bolt a new gimbal ring to the existing transom hardware, and just do a few minor things?.the Alpha Gen 2 may be an option!

THANK YOU for ANY advice anyone can give me and I hope I have the opportunity to contribute in the future!
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,001
Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... With brand new SEI replacement drives at 'bout $1500. a pop, Ya oughta run what ya got,......

The Gen.II Alpha just shifts differently,.... No stronger, 'n ya gotta swap everything from the rear motor mounts, Aft,...

The Bravo is a Good swap,....
Gut the entire driveline, bolt in the Bravo transom assembly, pull the Alpha stuff off the motor, Add the Bravo stuff, drop it in, 'n slap on the drive,.....
The motor needs the raw water pump, 'n different t-stat housin', possibly more,...
 

desmopedro

Cadet
Joined
Aug 6, 2015
Messages
7
Hello Bondo! THANK YOU for the response! (Sorry I didn't reply sooner! I didn't know I had a response)

I have the chance to buy a 1989 Maxum with a 7.4 (500 hours? My current motor has 470 and I KNOW, or at least believe that is correct) and a Bravo single prop, with trailer for $2200!!!! The upper unit is bad, but I figure a rebuild would be a good idea anyway!

Sounds like pulling the motor is REQUIRED? I can do that, but it will cost me extra! I am guessing you need to pull the motor to get the old transom assembly off? If pulling the motor is NOT required, it would be SO much nicer!

I found a post with some info on it on doing the swap:
http://www.allardmarine.com/alpha_to_bravo_conversion.htm

Do I need to change manifolds? Bell Housing?

Does this sound about right?

Part of me think I should just rebuild upper and lower on my Gen 1 and be nice to it, while the other part thinks I should swap out the drives! ARGH!!!! I LIKE the boat I have! CLEAN for it's age.....slip fees are reasonable....I want to keep it for at least 2 more years, but this drive thing keeps haunting me! I feel like the weekend I am ready to take a long trip....the drive will crap out on me!

Again...THANK YOU!! I can tell you....if I DO this....I WILL video it and post it online! I bet it will get hits!
 

thumpar

Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
6,138
I wouldn't worry about it. Just take it easy on the throttle. It is not WOT that takes them out is is the going from slow to full throttle quickly that kills them with that motor.
 

desmopedro

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Joined
Aug 6, 2015
Messages
7
Hey Thumpar....I can see that.....I still think I almost HAVE to buy that Maxum! To have an extra 7.4 with a Bravo.....at least if I do run into a situation where the drive craps out, I have a replacment! Let alone another 7.4?
I will do a complete rebuild on the Alpha this winter, fill with synthetic, go to church on Sundays, and be nice to the boat and see what happens. I slip off the Mississippi river, so the idea of a drive going out on me scares the crap out of me......but its a 23' cabin cruiser! I am not going to win any races with that thing!
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,001
I slip off the Mississippi river, so the idea of a drive going out on me scares the crap out of me....

Ayuh,..... If ya respect the throttle, yer more apt to run aground, 'n ruin the drive,....... than poppin' a gear tooth, with the torque,....
 

desmopedro

Cadet
Joined
Aug 6, 2015
Messages
7
Well, I know it's been a number of months (Oh...it going to be a HIGH of -2 this weekend!), and I think I have an idea......

We came to the conclusion that I really SHOULD replace the prop shaft as there is a slight bend in it....and the local mechanic thinks it would not be a bad idea to do a complete once over on the drive. I think the idea of upgrading to the Bravo drive is not a real option, and with the idea I want to move to a larger boat in the next 12-18 months, I don't need to spend the time/money on the bravo upgrade....though....if I find a cheap bravo set up, i'll buy it! Who knows what the future holds.

So, that leaves spending $800-$1200 to have my mechanic do a once over on the drive, OR, buying a NEW SEI 106 drive (1:47 ratio vs stock 1:32) and throwing a different prop on it for about $1400 and KEEPING my OEM drive as a back up? I am NOT concerned about squeezing out top speed! I just want a comfortable cruising speed and more importantly, reliability! I found a complete USED drive with the stock 1:32 ratio as well with, as the ad says "Low hours" for $700, but my tax return would allow me to do the SEI with NO problems! Just bolt on and go!

Have any of you had experience with SEI? What I have read online it's positive! I will also need to do some research on the best prop option. I need to look at blade length and pitch, and come up with a good mix. One that won't place too much torque on the unit, but provide good thrust! (Any advice on that would be great as well, but I know there are forums online that discuss it.)

We are about 3-4 months away from hitting the water! The Boat Show is NEXT WEEKEND here in MN.....I need to start making decisions and moving forward!

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL! And THANK YOU for any advice!
 

desmopedro

Cadet
Joined
Aug 6, 2015
Messages
7
I'm with ya Rick....my main concern is having a reliable drive on the river. I plan on taking some "longer" trips this season, and just want to make sure I don't get stranded on the river with 300' or barge heading right for me, or stuck 60 miles from home....I have no problem dropping a little money for this piece of mind.

Changing to the Bravo....yes....100% agreed! I think unless I was going to keep it for a long time or wanted to do a full restoration, not worth it. I just have caught Cabin Cruiser fever and hope to move up from a 23' to say a 28-30! My main idea is experience this season. The LAST thing I want to bee is that A-hole who bought too big of a boat as his 1st boat....

Plus having two drives when I trade/sell I think would be an advantage....with the Alpha 1 and the 7.4.
 

harleyman1975

Ensign
Joined
May 12, 2003
Messages
959
I am a fellow MN boater although I boat inland lakes in the border country. I did the same thing as you are talking when I bought my first I/O. My advise: Don't waste your money on spare parts for what could happen...most likely it will be something else that breaks. LOL! Then after you sell the boat you'll be stuck with the spare parts that you never needed in the first place...unless you just throw them in on the deal just to get them out of your horse trailer (what I should have done). There will always be parts available when you need them.
 
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