Sail Drive Gasket / Insurance ?

[mica]

Does anyone know what the situation is regarding replacing a sail drive gasket on a Volvo engine with regard to insurance companies.

We have been told so many different stories, it is hard to know which one to believe.

Various people spoken to at Volvo come up with different information.
Some say it should be replaced every 7 years, others, 10 years, 12 years, 15 years otherwise your insurance will be invalidated.

The one thing they all agree on is, that they have never known one to fail yet.

When you question the need to replace it in the light of this, they just mumble that it is an insurance clause that has got written in and somehow become set in stone. Apparently it doesn't apply to Yanmar engines, only Volvo.

I tried asking the PBO Experts last year, seeing as they had published a DIY article on how to do it. Questioning whether doing it yourself would also invalidate the insurance, but I did not get a reply.

It is hard to know where to go to next for a definitive answer, perhaps some of the Forum Readers have gone down the same road or come across the problem themselves.

Would be very interested to hear anyone's opinion on the subject.

Regards,
Mica

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[tom52]

The saildrive seal on a Volvo is specified to be changed after seven years.
If it fails and the boat sinks do not expect the insurance company to pay out.
How long it might last is anyones guess but it is definately specified to be changed after seven years.

The chances of such a catastrophic failure seem very remote.

So you pays your money (or not) and takes your chance.

I do not understand the relevence of Yanmar .... different engine different spec.

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[poggy]

Hi,

I would ask your insurance company, but unless they specify a exact timescale themselves and as long as there is no specific interval recommended by the manufacture, then I don't see how they could not pay out in the event of a claim.

Insurance companies can't just add terms without giving you written notice.

If they have never heard of a critical failure, it would also be hard for the insurance company to be able to justify this clause.

Although I can't help you with specifics, hopefully your insurance company will confirm one way or the other. Make sure you get it in writing just in case.

Regards,

Poggy


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[snowleopard]

what about yanmar?

read somewhere that they advise changing every 2 years. sounds crazy to me.

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[tony_brighton]

There isn't a specific insurance clause against it - but should your boat sink it would give the insurance company an 'out' by saying you haven't followed the recommended maintenance schedule. This is one of those risks you have to self-insure.

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[charles_reed]

I\'d agree

that this is the most logical and common-sense approach.

Any other information will be apocryphal and continue confusing you and the issue

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[tom52]

I have a volvo with saildrive and have just checked the owners handbook.

In bold type marked by a warning triangle and containing an exclamation mark it states
" NB The seal should be changed every seven years. This should be done by an authorised service workshop."

It may well last forever and the consensus of opinion is it will certainly last a lot longer then seven years.

However your insurance company does not have specify some special term, it is implicit in the contract that you maintain the boat properly.
If you fail to carry out such a specific manufacturers instruction and this leads to a loss then be in no doubt the bastards will not pay out.



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[MADFISH]

I went to an authorized Volvo Agent at the boatshow to ask them about replacing my gasket.

They told me I quote "Inspect it from the inside. If there is no sign of perishing or deteriation, don't bother".

He also told me you can stick a knife though it and the rubber will close up froming a watertight seal again. (I doubt it would stay this way if you ran the engine)!

My seal has been on for 11 years. I have no intention of changing it in the near future.

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[spannerman]

Confusion reigns again! I work for a Volvo dealer and we change them every 7 years as per Volvo's recommendation. What people don't appreciate is although you have a rubber seal around the leg externally, we have seen them where mussels have got in when they were small and then they happily grow on the underside of the the main seal and the sharp edges of the shell can cut the rubber with the vibration of the engine, maybe its just a problem we get here in Norway. The other thing I have seen on many installations, is that the metal clamping ring is often very rusty and that has often been the compelling reason to change the seal as the clamping effect was dubious.

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