capnjack
New member
A sportsboat dry stored, average use. Should the bellows be replaced once a year, 2yrs, 3yrs or more?
What do you think?
What do you think?
How long do drive bellows last?
- Thread starter capnjack
- Start date
Whitelighter
Active member
Every 2 years
segaerta
New member
The dealer that serviced my boat previously always told me every 5-6 years, but then we were not moored at sea but inland waters. Maybe that makes a difference ?
ALain
ALain
carlton
Active member
[ QUOTE ]
Every 2 years
[/ QUOTE ]
Wow ! That's bizarre - according to the Mercruiser mechanic who services my boat, they should last up to TEN years. Strange that he should say that, as you'd think he'd have a vested interest in saying something like, "Every 12 months, gov, or you'll surely sink......"
Perhaps he made a genuine mistake, as I thought they should be good for three years. I'd better check with him. Thanks for raising the subject, CapnJack.
Every 2 years
[/ QUOTE ]
Wow ! That's bizarre - according to the Mercruiser mechanic who services my boat, they should last up to TEN years. Strange that he should say that, as you'd think he'd have a vested interest in saying something like, "Every 12 months, gov, or you'll surely sink......"
Perhaps he made a genuine mistake, as I thought they should be good for three years. I'd better check with him. Thanks for raising the subject, CapnJack.
Whitelighter
Active member
OK, let me clarify. VP stern drive belows are up to 3 years. However, I had one a little bit leaky and had to replace the shaft, UJ and Bell Housing - over £1300 in parts alone. All because a £80 below wasn't changed.
Oh, and if they really let go, the boat will sink.
Since you are going to have a the leg off for servicing every two years, another £160 for bellows when the leg goes back on really isn't a lot in the scheme of things. Better than a wet boat anyhow.
Oh, and if they really let go, the boat will sink.
Since you are going to have a the leg off for servicing every two years, another £160 for bellows when the leg goes back on really isn't a lot in the scheme of things. Better than a wet boat anyhow.
carlton
Active member
Fair point, Jez, but I'm still wondering why the Merc. Mech. didn't say the same ? Perhaps he's wealthy enuff.........but I'll be speaking with him next week to clarify.
Whitelighter
Active member
Carlton, was it you who has had some experience of that sinking feeling?
Whitelighter
Active member
Another point is, you seriuosly weaken the bellow by taking it off then retightening it. Mine had been over tightened and that had punched a hole in it.
DAKA
Well-known member
I agree with jez.
10 years is crazy.
should be every two.
can push to three in fresh water as the barnacles dont attack but 3 + years and it is Russian roulette.
Most leaks that I have seen , found between 1-3 years is from the engineers pushing a screw driver through when fitting, you need one who is used to bellows.
10 years is crazy.
should be every two.
can push to three in fresh water as the barnacles dont attack but 3 + years and it is Russian roulette.
Most leaks that I have seen , found between 1-3 years is from the engineers pushing a screw driver through when fitting, you need one who is used to bellows.
carlton
Active member
[ QUOTE ]
Carlton, was it you who has had some experience of that sinking feeling?
[/ QUOTE ]
Not guilty, m'lud. My only white-knuckled moment on one of my own boats involved an engine room fire (about 16 years ago).
That was quite enough of a "brown trouser moment" to satisfy me for a while, I can tell you. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Carlton, was it you who has had some experience of that sinking feeling?
[/ QUOTE ]
Not guilty, m'lud. My only white-knuckled moment on one of my own boats involved an engine room fire (about 16 years ago).
That was quite enough of a "brown trouser moment" to satisfy me for a while, I can tell you. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Whitelighter
Active member
Sorry for the accusation. I am sure someone on here had a 305 go under at Brighton Marina due to a bellows failure.
scej
New member
I would say Volvo every year if left in water and every two years if dry stored as for Mercruiser i say 3 years if kept in and 5 if dry stored remember on merc you do not disturb the bellows when removing the drive so they will las a little longer.
On Volvo if you don't do the bellows at least do the clips as they rot and the water gets in that way
On Volvo if you don't do the bellows at least do the clips as they rot and the water gets in that way
landlockedpirate
Active member
My last set were changed every year when the engine was serviced by VP dealer. I did question this interval at the time but the dealer told me if it wasnt done it could lead to me losing the 3 year Warranty.
I thought I was being ripped off at the time, but since a previous boat nearly sank because of a leaky set I had the work done. As Jez says for the sake of £80 extra on a service its not worth the risk.
I thought I was being ripped off at the time, but since a previous boat nearly sank because of a leaky set I had the work done. As Jez says for the sake of £80 extra on a service its not worth the risk.
DAVIDO
New member
Changed ours today 3.5 years old fresh water just starting to go hard. IMHO there are no hard and fast rules its all down to conditions and use but considering they are relatively cheap i would advise changing at half life expectancy given an indivuduals conditions.
carlton
Active member
You're dead right - I seem to remember that he even posted photographs of it sat half-submerged at its mooring, poor sod.
He was upset because the insurance company offered him about thirty quid and told him to "just get it re-upholstered", or something like that - and I seem to recall it was a 3055 - same as mine.................gulp........
He was upset because the insurance company offered him about thirty quid and told him to "just get it re-upholstered", or something like that - and I seem to recall it was a 3055 - same as mine.................gulp........
tillergirl
Well-known member
I'm sorry to intrude but are these boats kept afloat by a rubber bellow? Surely that's design madness. Surely no one would buy a boat like that. Doesn't it defy all common sense.
zingaro
Member
According to the volvo manual they should be changed every 2 years. I had both mine replaced the engineer said that he did not need to change the exhaust bellows as this would not cause any leakage in to the boat and that they were still in good condition. where as the uj bellows ,if they failed would cause leakage in to the boat, but i insisted that he replaced both on each drive in accordance with volvo service manual.
BrendanS
Well-known member
The same as saildrive really, but when your main propulsion is a drive mechanism, it's sensible to have the bellow replaced when having the drive maintained. Saildrives will cope for years without the gator replaced, the same is true of outdrives, but as we depend on the motor a great deal more, it's easy to have the part replaced when maintenance happens for very little cost
tillergirl
Well-known member
I understand all that and I agree. What terrifies me is the thought that a piece of rubber is all that stands between floating and sinking. I spent yesterday on my neighbours boat which has such an arrangement and I know that he has no idea when they were last serviced. Obviously there are other vulnerabilities - sea cocks, hoses and clips but none of these are being flexed under normal operation and all can be got at - albeit with a bit of jigging around. On my own boat, I have wooden bungs by every seacock. But a bellow on the drive is out of sight and there is no chance of a repair at sea. So are all outdrives liable to leak into the boat if the bellow fails? Neighbour has 270's I think.
[2068]
...
It could cause you to sink at the dock if you totally ignored the problem, eventually, but when underway at planing speed, the upper half of the drive is out of the water.
So, if they start to leak, don't slow down!
dv.
So, if they start to leak, don't slow down!
dv.
