I purchased a new 2004 ($60,000) Bayliner 265 with a BRAVO III outdrive in November.
I keep the boat in the water (fresh). After One Year the outdrive is totally corroded and looks about 10 years old. I have had to spend $1000 on repairs which the company will not cover under warranty even though corrosion is supposed to be covered. Any more corrosion will probably result in needed a whole new outdrive (about $7000)
The boat has all required equipment that Mercruiser say is supposed to keep the out drive from corrosion, however it has not. After spending on these last repairs, I even put additional equipment on to hopefully prevent further corrosion, but I am not optimistic.
Mercury Marine blames Electrolisis on the problem and refuses to cover repairs or stand by their product casting blame on everyone and everything except their product even though a consumer can go onto the internet and find hundreds, maybe thousands of complaints about the BRAVO THREE outdrive. However, I find it strange that no one else at my Marina (who does not have a Mercruiser Bravo III) is having their outdrive corrode away.
The problem is caused by the amount of stainless steel in the dual propeller vs the aluminum in the outdrive and is definitely a design defect, one which is not encountered by Volvo Dual Prop outdrives as an example.
Anyone who has experienced this problem and is interested or knows anything about any class action lawsuits please feel free to contact me.
In the meantime—Buyer Beware. If you are in the market for a boat and outdrive, steer clear of the Mercruiser Bravo Three. What good it a boat you can't keep in the water?
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