1992 240 bowrider 454 bravo 1

junny

New Member
May 26, 2010
7
jersey
Boat Info
1992 240br
Engines
454 bravo1
hello all,this is my first post and i just picked up a searay 24ft,

looking for someone to tell me the top speed of a 1992 24ft bowrider with a 454 bravo setup,what should the boat max out at?

any problems with this year and model anyone know of?
 
I had a 95 250 DA with the same engine and outdrive, and If I remember correctly, It would go about 47 MPH with a clean bottom... the riser blocks rusted out early (in two years) on that boat... No other probablems...
 
I have a very similar boat. Mine is a 96 cuddy, with the bravo III. You are looking at 47-50 mph like Rod said. Great boat. Congrats. Now post some pics
 
i was hoping for mid to high 50's but seems like that is to much to hope for from the responses so far :(
 
Well u have a very well constructed, heavy boat that handles pretty choppy water very well. But along with that comes a little slower craft. Dont b discouraged tho. Still a pretty decent speed. The picture in my signature is my boat doing 55 up lake havasu. But I have a bravo III and I just rebuilt the motor the week b4. I was getting 49 mph last year. Rebuilding my motor gave me about 8 mph more
 
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Stainless Steel Headers from Hi Tek... I have two sets I am installing on my 340. I was told I should see 25 HP an engine increase... Plus It will save me 300 lbs...
 
Let us know how they work....I aminterested
 
anyway to do thru hull exhaust on these 240br boats? maybe changing the carb and intake manifold to a high rise double pumper setup? roller cam conversion? any thought on these mods?
 
anyway to do thru hull exhaust on these 240br boats? maybe changing the carb and intake manifold to a high rise double pumper setup? roller cam conversion? any thought on these mods?

Wasted money.....
 
ok heres the dilema,my bother in law has a 95 bayliner 2250 23ft ss bowrider with 454 and bravo 3 on gps he cranks out 58mph, as i am sure is the same with all of you i just cant let him hammer me everytime we go out,is there anything i can do to stick near him.my engine has 230 hours on it so a rebuild wont help much in terms of power,i am willing to drop upto 2000.00 in go fast goodies and i can do the work myself,i just need someone who knows what parts will help me.we will be going from south jersey to ny harbor about 45 miles up the shore line and i dont have to tell you that much of it will be playing around in the upper speeds,a 10-12mph difference is going to be murder on my ego.
 
Yopu will need a lot more cash then that. Figure about 1000.00 per mph. And then you start losing reliability. His boat is a lot lighter then yours. 1st off because the quality in the workmanship and hull make up is garbage. His is fuel injected, I think yours is still carb. Bravo 3 vs bravo 1..... No comparison. He will get you out of the hole and will continue to pull away all day long. If you want a go fast boat..... You do not have one
 
1000.00 per mph? after building and racing cars and cycles for 25 years thats hard to believe that boats can be so much different,i may be new to boats but i am not new to building hp.

he is carbed 300hp 454 bravo three
i am carbed 300hp 454 bravo one

i have been told the bravo three will come off the line faster but the bravo one will catch up and pass the three in top speed,everyone i talk to says the bravo one is faster top end then the three,is this wrong info?

his boat is said to weight in at 4000
searay states my boat weighs in at 4200
i cant see 200lbs making that much difference

when he got his ss it was pulling 53mph he did a couple of goodies(wont tell) and now he gets 58mph,i can tell you this,he did not drop 5000 in his boat to gain that 5mph that is a promise.

not looking for a go fast boat,if i wanted that i would have bought a scarab and been on the scarab forum asking about building a blown 502 instead of on the searay forum,what i want is a big bowrider that i can go tubing fishing and new york harbor runs with the family on and still be able to hang with my brother in laws bow rider when we are alone running up the coast.

don't take this the wrong way but i am not looking for someone telling me i bought the wrong boat and it won't happen.i want advise from other boaters who know what combo works in these big 240 bowriders.opinions from other boaters who have built there engines with there own hands and know what works,anyone who says it wont go any faster and it will cost 1000 per mph to me is not helping me at all. i would like to hear what others say and not just the opinion of one person who would rather say it wont or cant happen.
also having a budget of 2000 to drop into parts is huge, with a good block i can buy enough used ebay parts with 2000.00 to build a 450hp monster of an engine for a car easy and still have enough left over for a trans(have done it many times over the years,so how much different can a boat engines parts be,this is what i am looking for from other boaters,not looking for someone who does not know how to build engines who says its all a waste of money.
come on people there has got to be some engines and boat builders here who know what i am talking about and know what parts make enough power to drive bigger props or pull more rpm,these are who i want to hear from please.
 
Ok....well look at the boat in my sig....it is the same hull, as yours. Mine is a cuddy cabin rather then a BR. I have a 454 fuel injected/ bravo 3. Yup u r right bravo 1 will have a higher top speed. Due to weight and drag. But you r never gonna catch it with the same motor, HP, torque, similar boat design etc. He will be so far gone by the time you get up on plane. Oh yeah, as u have professed to know so much. Gaining top end....you will lose hole shot and and planing power. Let alone tubing, skiing ease ability. Yes I have put a lot of money into my boat. Yes boats are a totally different animal. I have been building racing motors my whole life too. But boats are totally different. Yes you are looking at 1000.00 per mph if you do it right. Go buy a set of good props one size either way from what you have now.....now tell me how much of that 2000.00 you have left.....exactly. Now go and get someone with the computer and software to tune your boat on the water for you. Now how much money you got? Wanna get into the motor? Go get a set of beehive springs with roller rockers, tune your carb, do a complete valve job, bigger cam, go get stainless steel risers/headers (marine application) btw u r gonna want captains choice exhaust for that hull, if u plan on putting a family on that boat for family time. Let me know where you get that cheap. Gonna need a few more computer runs on the water now for timing, tuning etc. Oh and gonna need different props again..... Marine plugs and wires, cap and rotor. Good ones.... eBay or not.....you are way down on cash. Not trying to be a downer but....if you wanna play u r gonna pay. I never said you had the wrong boat. Hell I love mine and wouldn't trade it for the world. But you cannot build a muscle car out of a caddy. You can have a great performing boat that will do most anything. But you cannot change it completely and have the best of everything. If you can prove me wrong.....please by all means do. And post what you did. I would love to learn something new. But honestly u cannot train an animal that you really don't know
 
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i can find a used mirage prop all day long for 200 range,i dont need a set of them i only need one if someone tells me what size pushes these boats to the max.

computer and software to tune my boat on the water???? what planet are you on. my engine is carbed like i said before,i can tune a carbed engine in my sleep by ear with only a wrench a screw driver and my hands.what are you talking about computer tune and software?????

behive springs and roller rockers????? i can do springs and a set of used crane gold full rollers for under 200 used on the forums or ebay. complete valve job?? i can port polish and do all headwork at my shop myself.

as far as saying i have the wrong boat you said ""if i wanted a go fast boat that i do not have one"" if that aint saying i have the wrong boat to make fast i dont know what is.

anyone who thinks you can't build a caddy that flies is just an idiot that has no clue on what it takes to make things fast.

you said you rebuilt your engine last year and it gave you 8 more mph,so your telling me that it cost you 8000.00 in only parts to rebuild your engine? i mean by your own voice you stated it cost 1000.00 per mph in parts cost,so that mean your engine has 8000 in parts only.

do me a favor,dont ruin my post with anymore of your talk unless you know what your talking about.you have no clue what your talking about period,this thread is for real builders that know what they are doing and know where i am coming from. please goto some other thread where boaters might listen to what you say and might beleive you are some guru of speed and engines because it wont happen here with me,i know to much to have a wannabe try to act like he knows about engines and hp building and the cost to make power.
 
Dont ask for help and then tell someone how to do it. If you know it all then dont ask......I will not shake a baby, I will not shake a baby, I will not shake a baby. Have fun. We r done
 
why do i always get the know it all dummys on my posts,this is the main reason i hate forums,to many idiots that act like they know everything just so they can get some attention and seem like a bigwig with all the answers.what are you just a grunt in real life that no one listens to so you come on here and play the role of big guy with all the answers,the old been there and done that already guy huh.

fire your poser,you dont know anything about engines and thats a fact,you prooved it with your own words,you got put in your place and made to look a fool by using your own words and now your upset,next time do your research and understand what you are talking about this way the next guy does not make you look a fool again.


i asked for people to chime in on making this boat faster and which parts make the power needed,what i didnt ask for was you telling me all the hp options i asked about are wasted money,or you telling me the only way to gain mpg is by spending 1000.00 for each mph i want,or by you telling me i bought the wrong boat,your an idiot with way to many opinions.bottom line your a fool.

mods you might as well close this thread because i am sure i wont get any answers i need now as i can tell it will only get worse because this idiot will continue to try and redeem himself and i am not one to let stupid people get the last word.


to all the others out there sorry about this but if you read all the posts you will see what i am talking about and you will see how he fell over his own words and how he has no clue what he is talking about. just like how he stated it takes 1000.00 in parts for each 1mph gain but yet he did a basic rebuild on his engine that gained him 8mph,basic rebuild parts would come in right around 1000 -1200 for pistons,rings,bearings,gaskets,rods. so he picked up 8mph for 1200 in parts but he states it will cost me 1000.00 per 1mph rightttttttt .
 
1st off. Let me apologize for offending you or even insulting you if that was how my responses were received. As I am only trying to offer answers to the questions you have asked. So I am truly sorry for upsetting you.

Now that being said..... Yes I have put some money into my boat. My motor had well over 800hours on it when I did the rebuild.... Valves were pretty worn, and pressure testing proved it was well over due for a freshen up. The stock springs were easily compressed with just bare hands etc. So rebuilding my motor was a pretty good choice. Did I put 8000.000 into parts??????? No and I never said I did that. So let me clear that up.... On a stock fresh motor/drive etc. To do it right, and gain speed. With tuning, testing various props, parts, upgrades etc. Figure on about 1000.00 per mph. A good rule of thumb when determining speed increase vs. HP is 3.8 HP/mph. Now this can very from boat to boat, salt vs fresh water size and weight. But if you figure on that number for the cost figures and actual output you will be in the ballpark. And yes you are gonna have to play with different props to get the right ratios in order to get desired effects. Now that being said. When I did my rebuild on my motor..... I did do some upgrades over stock with better springs, valves etc. Etc. I also changed injectors to newer better flowing injectors. Now 800 hours on a marine engine is a lot. I know there are boats out there with more and less etc. And people who put more hours per year on their boats then I do. But I am a recreational boater with, a full time job, kids, wife, and various other hobbies etc. But on average we put about 120 hrs a year on our "recreational boat". Top speed on my boat about 700 hours prior to the rebuild was roughly 57 mph on a good day. Slowly over time my boat had been getting slower with age. So yup a freshen up gave me my top speed back. With a few upgrades while I was in there about 1.5 mph over that. Yeah I upgraded on the stock parts as previously stated. I tested mNy different prop combinations up and down in sizes. And have found going to a 4 and 3 blade set up has also helped me. There is no 1 prop size that will fit every boat like yours or mine. Based on everything you want done to your boat, and the manner in which you do these changes will call for various prop testing. As for the computer testing and tuning.... Yes I know you have a carb aspirated motor and probably can do a great job testing, tuning, and such ( I never questioned or insulted your abilities) but have a computer, with a gps, that syncs with a timing gun, and can monitor and record data, like prop size, rpms, trim settings, wind and temp, time of day, fuel used, etc. Etc. And now adding that to flow charts to analyze all the different data. ( that yes u may have to manually enter) doing comparisons to find out what combinations work best for your particular set up is if not a must....a pretty good idea at the least. As for making your own headers/risers and going thru the hull. Hey if you can do it. Right on! Me nope I cannot do that one. Making water cooled headers so as not to burn your boat into the waterline is wayyyyy beyond my capabilities. ( btw thru the hull exhaust on "our" hulls is very very loud due to the transom make up) so a captain choice exhaust set up is only my recommendation. Not a must. But your wife and kids will thank you for it.

Now I am not gonna stick out my chest and say I know more then you. Not the time or place to do that on a public forum. However, I have been building muscle cars and diesel drag trucks for a loooong time. With lots of success. Boats are a totally different beast. And yup I am learning a lot. But I listen to those with exp, I ask questions, do research. And believe it or not I ask for help. Even if it's just ( as of recent) someone to hold my nervous little hand as I drill holes in the hull. I don't know everything. Don't even come close to professing that I do. You asked a few questions. I offered some knowledge based on my exp with marine applications. Now as I stated before, I am sorry if I offended you. And I mean that. I am passionate about boating and having fun with it. I am still willing to offer help, advice and even learn from your exp as well. If you would like to contact me off of the public forums and learn from each other.... Then feel free to pm me and we can hopefully correspond with one another and get your/our boats even better. If not, then so be it.

As for the other members on the forum I also apologize to you for the drama that has seemed to become of this thread, and my participation in the said drama. I wish you all a great weekend and happy safe boating.
 
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I have a 1996 Sea Ray 240 Overnighter with stock 7.4 merc with thru hull that come out the sides. It looks nice and sounds great.


anyway to do thru hull exhaust on these 240br boats? maybe changing the carb and intake manifold to a high rise double pumper setup? roller cam conversion? any thought on these mods?
 

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I am going to put my toe in the water with a suggestion. I have been a hot rodder since the 50's. I currently have an old 'vette I am tinkering with. 454 stock block with Edelbrok kit consisting of aluminum heads, cam, lifters,rocker arms, alum. intake are a few of the mods. Should make 550 hp and about the same torque. These parts cost me about $3,000. I am not suggesting this build for a boat, but there must be some engine builders or parts makers that make conversions for big block chevy's for marine use. I would look hard over the internet for some one like that to solve this problem. If I ever repower my boat, I will be heading of on this trail....I would think you could make 400 to 450 hp with high low end torque and a high degree of reliability with out a lot of trouble.....I got to wondering so I looked around the web a little. Dart makes a marine kit for big blocks close to the one edelbrok makes for cars. Makes 500 hp., bolts on....A little more than you want to spend but if you shop a little, might find a deal...I'm thinkin that deal right there will give your brother-in-law major heart burn.....
 
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