gjgm
Well-Known Member
We arent doing too well between us then Nick....
Sterndrive Service Expence
- Thread starter Jim@sea
- Start date
We arent doing too well between us then Nick....
Jim@sea
Well-Known Member
In fact I noticed an old boat with the right engine where the photo of the outdrive leg looked dreadful (**** paint job) and as it is below my budget I may just consider spending £1500 on a new leg. Does anyone do an exchange and fit as I live in the Frozen North near Kendal and the boat is 300 miles away in Southampton and I would want the job done down there immediatly after purchase.
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tico
Well-Known Member
I know its too late now, but google 'speedsleeve'..... its a very thin stainless sleeve designed for just this type of job
lovezoo
Well-Known Member
There is bound to be a local mechanic who can do the job for you, but no need to change it if it actually works. If I were you I would do/spend my money on the following:-
1) Check the bellows. Do they need replacing? If in doubt change them now.
2) Get the existing leg pressure tested - if it isn't leaking just replace the oil.
3) If the leg is an Alpha 1, get the impeller replaced if it hasn't been done recently.
4) Whilst the leg is off the boat, get the engine alignment checked and adjusted if necessary.
5) Lubricate all the lubrication points.
6) Paint the outdrive.
Job done.
blueglass
Well-Known Member
There is always a distinct dichotomy of opinion on shafts v outdrives, not much middle ground here.
For my two pennorth - Unless you are buying new or nearly new, IMHO outdrives are nothing short of a maintenance nightmare. The expense is one thing - the downtime is even more annoying. Had a ten year old boat with legs once for 5 years -and vowed NEVER, ever, ever again.
for comparison, both boats over 10 years old
5 years with legs - £7,000 plus on repairs, liftouts and maintenance = average 3 failures a season
5 years with shafts - £0.00 and no failures
a no brainer for me.
For my two pennorth - Unless you are buying new or nearly new, IMHO outdrives are nothing short of a maintenance nightmare. The expense is one thing - the downtime is even more annoying. Had a ten year old boat with legs once for 5 years -and vowed NEVER, ever, ever again.
for comparison, both boats over 10 years old
5 years with legs - £7,000 plus on repairs, liftouts and maintenance = average 3 failures a season
5 years with shafts - £0.00 and no failures
a no brainer for me.
lovezoo
Well-Known Member
Volvo Pentas by any chance?
Jim@sea
Well-Known Member
Thank you Bluegrass and other members. The reason I was looking for an out-drive was that I was after a planing hull and the advantage that the boat can dry out. The majority of the boats I am considering buying have a 150/170 hp diesel engine. So assuming that they fit the same leg on petrol boats with 300/500 hp, surely it is the out-drives which are subjected to twice as much power which give the most problems.
However I do remember a conversation in 1975 when I had a Conway 26 (excellent boat) with twin Volvo out-drives and at 2 years old I had a service and the engineer said "I have saved your leg" and that was when it was only 2 years old.
Mind you I have been offered a similar sized boat with a 5 year old 90hp Suzuki Outboard but using petrol puts me off, not because of the cost but where I go boating the nearest petrol station is a mile away and I see people struggling with 5 gallon drums of petrol going from the car park to their boat.
(still looking for a 22-25 ft diesel boat)
However I do remember a conversation in 1975 when I had a Conway 26 (excellent boat) with twin Volvo out-drives and at 2 years old I had a service and the engineer said "I have saved your leg" and that was when it was only 2 years old.
Mind you I have been offered a similar sized boat with a 5 year old 90hp Suzuki Outboard but using petrol puts me off, not because of the cost but where I go boating the nearest petrol station is a mile away and I see people struggling with 5 gallon drums of petrol going from the car park to their boat.
(still looking for a 22-25 ft diesel boat)
omega2
Well-Known Member
It's not the power it's the torque that wrecks legs.
lovezoo
Well-Known Member
No, its water getting into the leg and causing the gears to rust is the problem. A correctly specified outdrive will not get wrecked in normal use any more than a correctly specced gearbox on a shaft-driven boat would fail.
neale
Well-Known Member
It's probably all a bit academic really. If you want a 22-25ft diesel boat that planes and can dry out, you are almost certainly going to end up with a drive. (I know there are probably shaft drive boats that meet those criteria but they are few and far between). So best to focus on what goes wrong with them and what you can do to limit your potential liability. I would say get as new as you can and one that has been well looked after. If you can find one that has been trailed or drystacked from new even better. Then make sure you stick to the service schedule without deviation. FWIW I have had outdrive boats for 13 years now and so far, touch wood, nothing other than regular maintenance. (Thats probably blown it now. Look out for my 'where can I get a replacement leg' question next week
)In the meantime enjoy the fairly decent fuel savings that come from owning an outdrive boat.
Spi D
...
If one assumes that the engine/drive combo was is original the drive should match the engine hp/torque.
Shaft boats that can dry out safely has a hull shape, keel or protector fitted and will therefore not be fully planing. Several semiplaning hulls in that class, but not true (fast) planing.
Shaft boats that can dry out safely has a hull shape, keel or protector fitted and will therefore not be fully planing. Several semiplaning hulls in that class, but not true (fast) planing.
DAKA
Well-Known Member
Agreed , 22-24 foot diesel boat and it has to be on legs, he did ask the question about costs though and everyone else startedIt's probably all a bit academic really. If you want a 22-25ft diesel boat that planes and can dry out, you are almost certainly going to end up with a drive. (I know there are probably shaft drive boats that meet those criteria but they are few and far between). So best to focus on what goes wrong with them and what you can do to limit your potential liability. I would say get as new as you can and one that has been well looked after. If you can find one that has been trailed or drystacked from new even better. Then make sure you stick to the service schedule without deviation. FWIW I have had outdrive boats for 13 years now and so far, touch wood, nothing other than regular maintenance. (Thats probably blown it now. Look out for my 'where can I get a replacement leg' question next week
In the meantime enjoy the fairly decent fuel savings that come from owning an outdrive boat.
This might be suitable
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volvopaul
Well-Known Member
Its under offer im going to survey the engine and drive next wednesday.
Must admit its a bargain.
lovezoo
Well-Known Member
Well someone has got themselves a good deal. That must be quite a good engine/drive combination for that boat.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
Handy guide.Worth saving, printing out and keeping somewhere.
You'll be needing it next year..... and the year after that ....and the one after that
.Tricket Marine are doing the complete Gen 2 leg for a tad under £2000 inc VAT delivered.
Ps. No anodes or anti foul ?
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neale
Well-Known Member
This[/URL] might be suitable
I agree
And thanks for the plug!Trust me you don't want to know how much I spent on the conversion
No one has bagged the deal yet. I've just been in PM's with VolvoPaul and it looks like he is surveying a different Bayliner on the Thames.
It's a great boat for what it is. 29 knots top speed, very economical. Not many trailerable diesel sportscruisers with a bowthruster for this sort of money on the market. It's taken me from Essex to the Solent, onto France and the Channel Islands and back without missing a beat. I'll be very sorry to see it go.
lovezoo
Well-Known Member
Annual maintenance is just change the oil and lubricate - it takes no more than 1 hour to do.Handy guide.Worth saving, printing out and keeping somewhere.
You'll be needing it next year..... and the year after that ....and the one after that
Tricket Marine are doing the complete Gen 2 leg for a tad under £2000 inc VAT delivered.
Ps. No anodes or anti foul ?
I know some people aren't going to like to hear this, but the Mercruiser bellows are made from thicker plastic than the equivalent Volvo Penta and last 5 years or so.
Similarly the Mercruiser Alpha 1 drive has a dog tooth clutch - no cone to wear out or need adjusting.
The Mercruiser doesn't suffer from fishing line around the shaft like the VPs do either, as it has a metal shield to protect the seals. So no knackered drives because you caught a fishing line and didn't notice there is water in the drive.
You can get brand new Alpha 1 Gen 2 outdrives for around £1500 including everything, but you can pay £2000 if you want.
Anodes and anti-foul? Why would I want to waste my time and money on stuff like that?
Jim@sea
Well-Known Member
I am aware of your boat. And I am sending you a private message about it.
lovezoo
Well-Known Member
At that price, with the usual provisos as to condition etc, you can't really go wrong. The boat itself is obviously dated, but if the machinery is only 6 years old, you would be paying pretty much half the price of something like a 2006 Sealine S25.