Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

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Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by TwoBurgers »

After much research after I had my drive lube "leak" out of the reservoir during a high speed run, I learned the B3 drives run hot. While there are many drive shower designs out there, turns out the Simrek actually puts water where it is needed. It's an easy no drill install and has to help longevity of these expensive drives. Cheap insurance in my eyes.
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link to youtube vid - https://youtu.be/iPOqoLWLwPg

,
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by Big Block Power »

I agree but I would go to say the alpha drive needs it also. I don't have personal experience with a bravo 1 drive but I'm sure it won't hurt. If the top half of your drive is discolored or chalky that's the minerals from the water boiling on the drive and left over. The other bonus of the drive shower is it will look like new for a long time. This is the first upgrade I did with any of my merc drives.
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by Table Rockin »

How did this help with your drive lube leak? I'm having the same issue. A hot drive uses more oil?
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Smirek drive shower

Post by Big Block Power »

It won't help with a leak. It will keep the drive lube cooler and the drive cleaner. I think one of the best things you can add to your boat. It will keep the oil from boiling though. On the crownline forum they are doing a group buy right now. Just say your with them and you will save a few bucks. You won't regret it.
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by TwoBurgers »

Table Rockin wrote: Sun Jun 25, 2017 3:08 pm How did this help with your drive lube leak? I'm having the same issue. A hot drive uses more oil?
In my case, when the drive got hot, the drive lube apparently expanded and worked its way past the reservoir cap. Post installing the drive shower, I have not had a problem with the lube working its way past the reservoir cap.
Chris
'13 Cobalt 232 - Merc 350 Mag MPI - B3 w/ Simrek drive shower
'17 Yamaha GP 1800 - Riva S/C Intake and Stage 1 plus re-flash
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by AsLan7 »

I have a theory on why manufacturers do not include these drive showers on the outdrive as original equipment if they drastically reduce temperatures. Seems like $200 is cheap insurance and if they bought them at cost, they could certainly make money as an option to be included when the customer purchases new.

Some of the go-fasts I believe offer it.

In any event--image and reputation is my theory.

Any other thoughts?
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by cmattj »

AsLan7 wrote: Sat Sep 09, 2017 4:50 am I have a theory on why manufacturers do not include these drive showers on the outdrive as original equipment if they drastically reduce temperatures. Seems like $200 is cheap insurance and if they bought them at cost, they could certainly make money as an option to be included when the customer purchases new.

Some of the go-fasts I believe offer it.

In any event--image and reputation is my theory.

Any other thoughts?
Another reason Why Thru Hull or CC Exhaust is Beneficial.. It keeps the drive cooler by dumping water on it .. :D

Long hard Runs WOT or fast cruise with any drive exposed not getting natural water spray to cool the top bearing case is why most drive showers are good..

But I think most boat have alot of side spray in general on the transom so heat is not an issue considered by boat builders and Drive MFG.

The Simrek is a good one as no holes in the cav plate and you can bend the lower pick ups as not to spray like a jet ski when going along.
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by AsLan7 »

"The Simrek is a good one as no holes in the cav plate and you can bend the lower pick ups as not to spray like a jet ski when going along."



.
I like that too.
It will be the one I eventually will order.
Thx Matt.
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by AsLan7 »

Btw, do you notice much "wear" on the outside of the outdrive from hours of water
spray hitting it?
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Smirek drive shower

Post by Big Block Power »

AsLan7 wrote: Sat Sep 09, 2017 9:54 pm Btw, do you notice much "wear" on the outside of the outdrive from hours of water
spray hitting it?
I've never seen or heard of that. I don't know how much pressure it has. I think it's more volume of water over the drive.
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by TwoBurgers »

Re wear from spray, I thought you were kidding at first. There is a youtube video of the Simrek out on the inter web... I would say the pressure from the drive shower is light - enough to flow water but not a water jet. :)
As another poster mentioned, dealers should offer the drive shower as an option IMO. But, not too sure how Merc would like that.
Chris
'13 Cobalt 232 - Merc 350 Mag MPI - B3 w/ Simrek drive shower
'17 Yamaha GP 1800 - Riva S/C Intake and Stage 1 plus re-flash
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Smirek drive shower

Post by AsLan7 »

TwoBurgers wrote: Sun Sep 10, 2017 1:29 pm Re wear from spray, I thought you were kidding at first. There is a youtube video of the Simrek out on the inter web... I would say the pressure from the drive shower is light - enough to flow water but not a water jet. :)
As another poster mentioned, dealers should offer the drive shower as an option IMO. But, not too sure how Merc would like that.
Chris

Yes, I did watch the thread. Great vid.

You'd be surprised how water can "wear" things.
I'm too OCD to have outdrive paint and decals "worn" by water spray.

I like how there are quite a few holes on the Smirek drive shower that cool the entire drive without intense water jetting that you can observe on other drive showers.
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by TwoBurgers »

[/quote]
You'd be surprised how water can "wear" things.
I'm too OCD to have outdrive paint and decals "worn" by water spray.

I like how there are quite a few holes on the Smirek drive shower that cool the entire drive without intense water jetting that you can observe on other drive showers.
[/quote]

For what it's worth I have about 200 hours with the Smirek and have not noticed any wear... my drive still looks like new.

Chris
'13 Cobalt 232 - Merc 350 Mag MPI - B3 w/ Simrek drive shower
'17 Yamaha GP 1800 - Riva S/C Intake and Stage 1 plus re-flash
'07 Honda F-12X GPScape - MACSBoost module and IC
'13 Toyota 4Runner Limited - AirLift air bags
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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by AsLan7 »

TwoBurgers wrote: Wed Oct 04, 2017 7:10 pm
You'd be surprised how water can "wear" things.
I'm too OCD to have outdrive paint and decals "worn" by water spray.

I like how there are quite a few holes on the Smirek drive shower that cool the entire drive without intense water jetting that you can observe on other drive showers.
[/quote]

For what it's worth I have about 200 hours with the Smirek and have not noticed any wear... my drive still looks like new.

Chris
[/quote]

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Re: Have a Bravo Three? You need a Simrek drive shower

Post by hoghead54 »

A drive shower looks like something I'd like to add to my boat. I understand that it will help keep the water deposits down on the drive also. Being my outdrive is pretty white from build up being as Utah water seems to have a lot of minerals in it. How do I tell which Merc drive I have being all the stickers on it are so faded you can't read them?
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