Outdrive work on my '87 270 Sundancer

[Pakmule]

Sorry for the repost here:

I bought this boat late last summer so I am just now starting to use it. I have had a problem with with the starboard engine stalling as well as finding neutral on either drive. (Twin 165s with Alpha 1's). Also the rear bilge pump is running every 15 minutes for about 30 seconds. This is leading me to believe that one of the boots is shot.

I just got off the phone with the local Sea Ray place and he said that he suggests that when people do this sort of job they do it all in one shot and just be done with it. So that is new shift cables, new boots and new gimbal bearings. It is a relatively big price tag but it should be set for years after this. He said that it is generally $900 per side.

Is this price about right? Should I go the whole shooting match or just do the cable and boots. I have no idea when the gimbal bearings were changed last or if that is the most expensive part of the job. Any other advice

 

[Quint4]

I would suggest inspecting the engine /bilge compartment with a flashlight while the engine is running. Just be very careful of things that can "bite" you ( moving parts ! ) Have someone stay at the helm ready to shut down if needed. See if you can identify the source of your leak. You are probably right about it being a boot. I'm not sure about the quote for repair....although $900 would not surprise me.
It is good advice to replace / service gimble & u-joints while youre at it. You have quite a leak it appears and this needs repair ASAP....good luck.

 

[C RAY CRAZY]

The price is about right, parts are around $150 per side, give or take, and figure 8 hours labor each side at what ever the hourly rate they are getting in your area.

Take care of that leak, where ever it's coming from!

Good luck!

Bill

 

[Pakmule]

I am dropping it off this Sunday so that they can have it for the week. I just want it working at this point. I don't even like taking it out the way it is because of the shifters.

 

[Cap10Pat]

Not sure if you'll see this before you drop the boat off but...

Does the boat leak when the engines are not running? A damaged boot would leak all the time - especially at that rate.

I would think it premature to say those shifting problems are due to cables. There could be problems in the drive. They may have news for you when they take it apart. I think the shifter cable only goes to the engine and a shorter cable goes outside to the outdrive. There is also an electrical disconnect on the engine that more commonly restricts easy shifting - and can cause engine stalling. I would want all this checked before hauling and pulling the outdrive.

As for the gimbal bearings, until they are determined to be bad, I wouldn't just haul the boat and pull the outdrive.

The leaking rubber parts are changed with the outdrive on, and it is important to get them fixed because they can sink your boat. But make sure they are the problem.

Sounds like you didn't get a survey when you bought this boat last summer or you would know all about this stuff. Of course, that doesn't mean you or the seller would have done anything differently, but at least you would know - for a price.