Vovlo SX drive. How strong?
#1
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I was down at the lake last weekend and I noticed how big and beefy the Volvo SX drive on my buddys ski boat looked. It looked a lot stronger than an Alpha I drive. How much HP can these drives handle? Anyone have these SX drive on their boat? Thanks
#2
21 and 42 footers
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When I was considering buying a runabout with Volvo Penta equipment, I had a dealer buddy of mine say he thought the Volvo products were better built. That the SX was an equivalent to the Bravo 1 and that they didn't make anything as cheap as the alpha. My next question was why everything he had on the lot (aprox 75 boats) had mercruiser drives/ motors. He stated that his customers "knew" merc was better and that he didn't have to "sell" the equipment to a novice if the thing was painted black. I ended up buying the Volvo and had it 4 trouble free years until LOA got the best of me.
#3
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Short answer - slightly stronger than a Bravo. The upper is the same as the Volvo DP-S (DuoProp). Volvo puts them behind engines as big as 420 hp on 18,000 pound cruisers, and offers warranties as long as six years.
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#4
21 and 42 footers
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Originally Posted by C_Spray
Short answer - slightly stronger than a Bravo. The upper is the same as the Volvo DP-S (DuoProp). Volvo puts them behind engines as big as 420 hp on 18,000 pound cruisers, and offers warranties as long as six years.
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I know a guy that had either one or two of the Sx drives for sale. I think they were new take off's if anyone is interested, I'll contact him.
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I have a SX drive ona 20 ft bowrider that I used for a ton of wakeboarding. about 300 hrs per year). My old boat had the mercruiser 3.0liter alpha setup and I had some drive trouble. (one was my fault). Anyhow about 300hrs on the SX drive last year and it works perfect. I have not seen the internals of the bravo so can't comment but the guts of the SX are far better than the alpha from a mechanical engineering power transmission perspective. Cuda what ratios and $$ are your buddies? I knew someone looking for a sx drive for aproject boat he was messing with.