270DA new SEI drives

[SearayEd1]

Hi everyone. I just bought a 87 270 Sundancer. I got a great
deal because boat needs some minor work in dry dock. I'm pretty handy so plan on installing new transom kit (seals belows shift cable gimbals bearing ect..... )Myself this summer fall. . I have two 4.3 merc alpha's and want to drop in two new sEI drives .has anybody put in counter rotating drives. Seems like this makes sense ? We're would I go for prop setup on this configuration?
Thanks,
Ed

 

[Quint4]

Hi Ed, sounds like a plan to me. Have heard good thing about SEI, perhaps those with more direct knowledge will chime in.

 

[JVM225]

I put a counter rotating drive on my port side last year. it took me a long time to find a good used Mercruiser unit, but I finally did.
The swap involves getting a new counter rotating prop for that drive and changing the position of the cable at the controls for that motor so that when you push it forward it goes in forward, not in reverse.
If you need drives, now is the time to do it. The swap made backing the boat up a lot better. no more of the stern pulling hard to port when I put both motors in reverse, and the bow swinging wide to stbd. That alone made it worth it to me.
I'm told that the swap will also result in the boat tracking and performing better. It's probably true, but if so the difference is so subtle when I'm cruising on plane that I haven't really noticed it.

During the time I was searching for the CR drive I was tempted on several occasions to go with SEI. The reviews I've heard about them have been mixed. A couple of Marine Mechanics I spoke to, along another guy that does nothing but service and rebuild Mercruiser Drives, cautioned me against them. They claim that although they are assembled in the US, all the parts come from China and are inferior. The drive guy won't sell or service them.
That being said: I have also spoken to guys that have them on their boats and have no complaints at all. That coupled with the pretty good guarantee they give you with them had me convinced to take a chance on them if I didn't find a good used Mercruiser Drive.
Personally, I would give them a shot. Just make sure to use magnetic drain plugs, put good synthetic oil in them, and change the oil frequently and you will probably be happy with them.

 

[GrandMaster]

Hi everyone. I just bought a 87 270 Sundancer. I got a great
deal because boat needs some minor work in dry dock. I'm pretty handy so plan on installing new transom kit (seals belows shift cable gimbals bearing ect..... )Myself this summer fall. . I have two 4.3 merc alpha's and want to drop in two new sEI drives .has anybody put in counter rotating drives. Seems like this makes sense ? We're would I go for prop setup on this configuration?
Thanks,
Ed

My twin 290 came from the factory with a CR drive and it makes quire a difference over other twin boats Ive driven that always seem to pull to one side.

BTW, just to be clear, you only need one counter rotating drive (generally the port drive) and one "normal" rotating drive

 

[PostTime]

I worked for several years for a dealership that specializes in MerCruiser stern drives. I would stay away from the SEI drives and go with a Merc drive. Not convinced that the initial savings is going to work out in the long run because of the use of inferior internals. Best bet would be to find a counter rotating drive and have it checked out. If the gear casing is good, everything else can be replaced.

 

[JVM225]

I worked for several years for a dealership that specializes in MerCruiser stern drives. I would stay away from the SEI drives and go with a Merc drive. Not convinced that the initial savings is going to work out in the long run because of the use of inferior internals. Best bet would be to find a counter rotating drive and have it checked out. If the gear casing is good, everything else can be replaced.

That's basically what I did.
Put feelers out, scoured Craigslist, etc., for a couple of years. The local guy who only services/rebuilds Mercruiser drives as a business came across one for me. He went through it and made sure it was in good shape, and I bought it from him. This is the second season with it, and so far no problems.
It did take me a couple of years to find a good used one though.
You can also buy them new, but they are big money. Way more than I was looking to spend at the time.