Good News Bad News and a new drive is needed

[Iprof]

Well last weekend was going to be our first trip of the summer to Lagoon City on Lake Simcoe. We were about a mile from home when we started to hear a grinding noise and then the rpm's shot up on the starboard engine and we stated to slow down. Either the coupler or the upper gears went is all I could think. The other boat came back for us and asked if we wanted to head back to the marina or continue on with one engine, well it's only 25 more mile and at 3000 rpm I did manage a roaring speed of 9.25 mph so we continued. I should mention that the fellow on the other boat with his wife is our marina owner (my mechanic) so I was not worried about going one but after 2 hours the wind did kick up and we had 4' seas, lots of fun with no power steering and one drive. Had a great weekend but don't go to Lagoon City just yet, hot tubs broken, pool drained, sauna closed and the restaurant closed at the mall, but we drank and had lots to eat and the company was great. The ride home was just as bad as the ride there but the weekend was worth it. The boat was pulled yesterday and the upper gears are seized. There is a chip out of one of the teeth that has caused this, seems when I ran out of water last summer on Go Home Bay in the marked channel and hit the rocks caused more damage than just 1/2 my skeg missing and a rebuilt prop. The good news, it is covered by insurance and we are putting on a rebuilt counter rotating drive, we will have to switch the port and starboard around but that is an easy job. The cost to the insurance is the same, it does not add one cent, but I will be without my boat till next Friday the company that sells the re-manufactured drives needs a week to build the counter rotating drive, if I was going with a straight swap then it would be ready by Tuesday. I am very glad that this happened now and not in 3 weeks when I am up in the North Channel that would have been a big problem. I'm looking forward to the new drive and fixing a problem that Sea Ray caused by putting twins on a boat that turn the same way, I'll keep you posted on how the boat handles when back in the water.

Ken

 

[fc3]

I'm looking forward to the new drive and fixing a problem that Sea Ray caused by putting twins on a boat that turn the same way,
Ken

Hard to "fix a problem" when the part didn't exist. Merc didn't make a counter rotating Alpha until around 2001. That looks like a substantially older model.

 

[Iprof]

Hard to "fix a problem" when the part didn't exist. Merc didn't make a counter rotating Alpha until around 2001. That looks like a substantially older model.

There was a company that re-geared the drives in the 80's that solved this problem, just a matter of cost but Sea Ray could have had it done. The reverse in the wide beam boats is terrible with out the counter rotating, always pulls to one side.

 

[heathery1215]

It's called bow steer. It's common in sea rays built in the 80's. Even single screw. You just have to learn how to trim differently to fix the problem. Over trimming/tabbing makes the problem WAY worse. Good luck with ur new drive.

 

[Sundancer]

Bow steer? I thought we were talking about walking the boat sideways near the docks? I'd love to hear how it handles with the contra rotating props! I might have to have a little "accident" too! LOL!! I've seen the drives reversed and it makes sense, but not enough for me to justify the switch!

 

[Iprof]

Bow steer? I thought we were talking about walking the boat sideways near the docks? I'd love to hear how it handles with the contra rotating props! I might have to have a little "accident" too! LOL!! I've seen the drives reversed and it makes sense, but not enough for me to justify the switch!

Yes it is the sideways walk and close quarter docking the boat handles different when docking on a wall to starboard or to port. I have found that using my starboard drive only when backing into a slip works better than using both. I also discovered that a turn to starboard with only a starboard engine is very difficult the boat seems to slide sideways more than turn.

I'll keep you posted on the handling, the cost is not that bad. I will post the cost of the counter rotating section only.

Ken

Ken

 

[Iprof]

Well the boat went into the water this week and I could not believe how much better it performs. I was able to spin the boat in either direction without the usual drift that I experience with the old drive. I must have made 10 turns in each direction and the track on the plotter just showed a dot. Docking was much easier as the boat now performs the same way while steering in either direction. It appears that the boat gets on plan much easier and can stay up on plan 200 rpm's lower.
The cost of just changing a lower unit is not that bad and can be done in less than an hour. My entire drive was replaced with a new counter rotating from Merc, my cost $3,300.00 with a 1 year warranty. It took me about an hour to switch the cable on the quicksilver shifter, I also bought a new 4 blade prop, $157.00 my cost.
I think anyone that does this change will be very happy that they did.

Ken

 

[Sundancer]

So where did you get the drive? From Merc?

 

[JVM225]

I've been considering getting a counter rotating drive too. I keep my eyes open for a deal on a good used one, but nothing has come along yet.
I'd also be interested to know who you got yours from, if they sell the lower unit, what the cost is, and what else is involved in the swap.
What props are you using? Did you have to make a drastic prop change when you switched to counter rotating, or were you able to just get one new prop for the counter rotating drive?

 

[lime4x4]

sei makes a great aftermarket unit with a great 3 year warranty

http://www.sterndrive.cc/mm5/mercha...&Category_Code=MercruiserAlphaLowerSterndrive

 

[Summer Fun II]

Ken, I didn't get a email about this. :smt089
Tell everyone up at the North Channel I said HI. :smt001

Have a SAFE trip my friend. :thumbsup:

 

[Iprof]

Wayne, I thought I did tell you about this either on the phone or in an e-mail.

Well I have been back 5 days now and sure wish I was still on the boat in the North Channel. But that's another story and I will post the pictures of the trip but in another thread.

The boat ran great had to replace my V700 windlass while I was away as there was a manufacturing flaw in the clutch. Lemar was useless in helping me and the support was terrible. They said 2 weeks to get the part and they would void the warranty if I put the part in myself. I bought a new one and had it shipped over night, $1,300.00 bucks later and I was back on the hook. Now for the drive.

The drives ran great, I saved about 15% on fuel doing almost the exact same mileage as last year. With the boat fully loaded for a seven week trip (over 1000 lbs) my best fuel economy according to my Lowrance fuel flow is 8.8gph on the starboard and 9.3gph on the port at 3500 rpm and my speed was 28 mph. Not bad for a boat that weighs in around 13500. The boat steers much easier, docks easier and handles great while maneuvering in close quarters. I am very happy that my Sundancer is no longer a sidewinder.

There seemed to be a little confusion on a counter rotating drive and I hope this information clears it up.
1- The counter rotating drive basically runs in reverse. You can't take a normal drive and switch the prop and the controls. The counter rotating has a beefier lower end and a heavy duty bearing in the reverse position to take the thrust of the boat.
2- The controls on the port side (the side the counter rotating drive goes on) must have the shifter cable switched from one side of the control to the other. There is no cost to do this just an hour of your time.
3- Once you switch the control so that both drives are going forward when you push the controls forward you will have to put the counter rotating drive in reverse to get if off the transom. If you put it in forward the way you would put a normal Alpha drive you won't be able to remove the drive once unbolted.
4- I scanned the 18 page quicksilver manual and if anyone wants a copy of it send me your e-mail address. It is in a pdf format and is 12 meg.

Ken