Linkage problem and damage

beernutz · Sep 28, 2009

I've had my boat about 6 weeks and Saturday would've been the 4th time we took it out. At the launch, after backing it up in reverse a few feet I shifted to forward, except that it kept going in reverse. I quickly put it in neutral and managed to hit a piling with only moderate impact with passengers scrambling to try and cushion the blow.

Not sure exactly what was wrong or if I had not put the boat into gear correctly, I tried one other time to shift to 'Foward' and move forward but the boat would only move in reverse.

Unfortunately when I went into reverse this second time I managed to go backwards up the launch and took a small piece out of the fin below my prop. :smt089

I've called the MarineMax dealer I purchased the boat from and we are going to arrange for them to look at it. I bought it 'as is' and we haven't discussed who will be footing this bill. I'll have to haul it the 100 miles back to their dealership for them to have a look at it.

My questions are first, does anyone have a guess as to how much repairing a linkage problem like mine would cost? Are these problems common? I did a forum search and googled as well but could not find many similar incidents.

And second, can the damage to the fin be repaired? Will it have much impact on boat maneuverability if it isn't or can't be fixed?

Thanks for the help.

Woody · Sep 28, 2009

I don't know about your linkage problem but the damage to you skeg is easily repaired with relatively low cost.

beernutz · Sep 28, 2009

Thanks Woody, at least that is some good news.

Loneranger · Sep 30, 2009

Unfortunately I just yesterday paid for a similar repair. The cost for sterndrive removal and replacement of the shift cable and the linkage at the sterndrive and routine lubrication of U-joint, spline etc was ~$600. I paid more than that because I had the sterndrive repainted and had to pay $170 to pull the boat from the water and relaunch but since yours is likely on a trailer those costs will not apply. I had the service done at the dealership because I needed the boat back ASAP and my mechanic was 3 weeks out.

The boot that covers the shift cable had been compromised and water had corroded the whole apparatus on mine. I lost the ability to go forward at all. I could go in reverse and back into neutral no problem. Lots of fun backing into the pier.

This all assumes you have a linkage failure. If it is, say a cone clutch gone bad, then anticipate a much more expensive. If the area on the skeg is small enough I would just file until relatively smooth and repaint and everything will be close enough to fine. This you could do yourself easily enough.

John

beernutz · Sep 30, 2009

Thanks very much for all that info John, that is very helpful.

Bob

Loneranger · Sep 30, 2009

I did not see the picture of your skeg at work (internet censorship don't ya know). That chunk is a bigger piece than I have ever had gone from one of mine but not so much that I would imagine it affecting performance.

John

beernutz · Oct 12, 2009

Update and thanks to all who gave me advice--it was much appreciated!

The MarineMax in Pensacola replaced my linkage and filed down and repainted the skeg damage. You really can't even tell the skeg was damaged and it seems to perform exactly the same as before. They did all this for free even though I'd bought a used boat 'as is'. Thanks Ken and Todd, the new and outgoing service managers! Those guys are great, they stand behind their products, and are highly recommended by me.

I also bought and took them a Yandina C100 battery combiner and a Blue Sea Systems 5511e battery switch and even though they weren't familiar with this type dual battery system and had typically installed a 1, 2, 1+2 setup, once I convinced them I knew what I was talking about they installed it for me and it works fantastic so far.

BarryCF · Oct 12, 2009

They did all this for free even though I'd bought a used boat 'as is'.

Cheers to MM. I wouldn't have expected it.

Linkage problem and damage

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