Water in bilge - repair cost

L

Loose Cannon

Member
Apr 2, 2010
164
Havre de Grace, MD
Boat Info
Between boats
Engines
None
I have been experiencing intermittent water in the bilge since I purchased my 280DA last year. It was diagnosed as leaking around the steering pin, the common issue with Bravo 3 setups from what I understand. The estimate to remove drive, replace gimbal ring, bellows, and related parts is $1900.00. Does this seem in line for this type of repair?
 
I've already been through this.

The Jr. Repair is cheaper because they can reman your gimbal ring. But you have to send them yours, they machine it and send it back. They don't offer an exchange ring. This can take up to a week. If you are DIYing this isn't an issue. But if the work is being done by a shop, the wait may be unacceptable, or at the least result in higher costs moving the boat out of the way while they wait, and then moving back when the parts come in.

There is an upside to replacing the ring with new. The newer rings come with a larger diameter u-bolt. Since u-bolt stretch is the root of the problem is seems to correct the problem.

The actual repair does not really take a lot of time off of the job. In my case I found my merc trained tech preferred to go with the factory repair process. I also think there are liability and warranty concerns as well.

In the end I went with the merc process. The shop doing the work was not keen on the Jr process, and the week of tying up shop floor space, or double handling the boat basically killed it for me.

Henry


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Sounds pretty fair to me. I am looking at the same repair eventually (mine is not bad yet but does have some play) and I got quoted $2500.
 
Just be careful if the housing where the pin goes up through is corroded out you will have to replace the entire transom assembly as the seal would be useless. Especially if you boat in salt water. I have a 280 as well also leaking and I got a quote of $4500 to replace the entire assembly (pulled engine). That includes parts of about 2k for the new assembly. Quote i feel is a bit high and will probably seek other places.
 
Just curious, how could you tell your water intrusion is from that? I get about a cup of water in my bilge from a weekend in the water and I thought it was from the same thing but I have sat in my bilge with a flashlight and see no water coming in through the steering assembly. Again mine is not to bad, I only have about an inch of play in the drive.
 
Get a couple of large friends to stand on the back of you swim platform and check where the arm goes though on the inside. You should see water coming in from it. If your in salt it should be pretty salted up as well.
 
Last edited:
Btyman- I did that and see no evidence of water, mine must be from somewhere else
 
Honestly a cup of water could just be a loose hose clamp etc especially if you see the water appear when the engine is running.
 
Didn't think of that. I will check those when I winterize. OK. Sorry to hijack the original.thread
 
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