Stressed Bellows... should I say something?

[oGaryo]

There's a boat a few berths down from us that leaves his boat in the water with the drive in this position

I've always stored my drive in the down position irrespective of whether it's on the hard or in the water in the belief it puts undue stress on the bellows in the up position when left like that for long periods.

Am I wrong in that opinion?

 

[kashurst]

there is the trim rams as well - left exposed to the furry creatures
difficult to start the conversation though.....

 

[Portofino]

You are correct --- inviting trouble with Bellows and Ram.
Also if trim relay fails then he can not go out until diagnosed/ replaced .
Conscience test, do you say something now ,or " I knew that was going to happen " later?

 

[lisilou]

Personally Gary, if I was leaving the drive down and I wasn't aware of the damage/stress it could cause (which until now I had no idea), I'd be grateful for somebody pointing it out to me. But then I'm not a bloke and I know you lot can get a bit funny about being told stuff. Na..I would strike up the conversation with him.
L

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

hi G.... how about approaching the question from the other end.....strike up conversation as to "what is the advantage of leaving it up like that"??.....you never know he/she might know something that none of us do !!!!!!!!!

 

[Scubadoo]

I would tell him, I have done that once or twice in the past. But in my cases they were people new to boating and happy for any advice.

It depends if your feel the guy is approachable.

 

[oGaryo]

got chatting with him when he first arrived, very approachable fella but haven't seen him nor his family for a while... maybe a message slipped under the cover will do the job if he's not down this coming week.

defintely more a tell him and help avoid a disaster sort of personality rather than sit back and watch him damage his boat, or worse still, sink it.

Lisa, no point in telling the owner if they're a lady boater... been telling my wife for years to stop nagging me as it causes (me) so much damage and stress but still get it in the ear from time to time.. no helping some folk

 

[lisilou]

got chatting with him when he first arrived, very approachable fella but haven't seen him nor his family for a while... maybe a message slipped under the cover will do the job if he's not down this coming week.

defintely more a tell him and help avoid a disaster sort of personality rather than sit back and watch him damage his boat, or worse still, sink it.

Lisa, no point in telling the owner if they're a lady boater... been telling my wife for years to stop nagging me as it causes (me) so much damage and stress but still get it in the ear from time to time.. no helping some folk

 

[carlton]

Yep - stick him a little billet doux under the canopy - anonymous if need be. At least it should make him think about it a bit more. Prob'ly just trying to keep the props clean, so kinda understandable, but it's not good for the important bits.

 

[ACE]

Definetly tell him, if he has problems one day out and about you will feel bad ! I am glad someone told me after they transported my boat to Spain and it saved me enormous problems. I am sure he will be thankful !

 

[RobWales]

Gary,

I guess it all depends if the owner has a mechanical mind and can get a grip of what the consequences of his actions could lead to?

If he has no techie knowledge at all then perhaps print this photo off and show him what could happen.....eeek!

Rob.

 

[oldgit]

Err........No Choice for many outdrive owners

Over many years of ownership of boats with outdrives have always left both my drives in the "up" position as will 100% of outdrive owners on drying berths and many in marinas..
Many many many problems with outdrives but never had one where outdrive bellows failed due to being left in raised position.

 

[tinkicker0]

Yep need to tell him Gary.

1: stressed bellows.

2: Trailer boat = poss UV degradation to rubber.

3: Boat in water = more vulnerable to cuts from barnacles and mollusc shells.

 

[Firefly625]

I'd get SWMBO to tell him...

If he disagrees and has a really good reason for doing what he does, at a later date you could then apologise for your wife not having a clue what she's talking about.

 

[epervier]

Over many years of ownership of boats with outdrives have always left both my drives in the "up" position as will 100% of outdrive owners on drying berths and many in marinas..
Many many many problems with outdrives but never had one where outdrive bellows failed due to being left in raised position.

I'm with you on this Fred, I have a drying berth and when I owned "One away" twin VolvoDP drives, I always left them in the beached position,with no damage, after all, if the ability is there to power trim them clear, if it is bad for the leg/bellows/rams then surely the manufacturer wouldn't fit this feature.

 

[oldgit]

Simple fact that every boat likely to take the ground will have the legs in the raised position for 99% of its life and only have them in the down position when underway.
Keeping the outdrive down does not seem to have stopped all freshwater boats and stuff parked in marinas from suffering exactly the same bellows problems as everyone else ?

 

[mbird]

Yeah, I agree, mention it to him. Maybe a "I hope you don't mind me saying....knackered bellows, buggered trim ram seals etc...."

 

[lovezoo]

I'm with you on this Fred, I have a drying berth and when I owned "One away" twin VolvoDP drives, I always left them in the beached position,with no damage, after all, if the ability is there to power trim them clear, if it is bad for the leg/bellows/rams then surely the manufacturer wouldn't fit this feature.

Sorry, but that last bit is funny.

 

[Garold]

if it is bad for the leg/bellows/rams then surely the manufacturer wouldn't fit this feature.

You can't be serious.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Sorry, but that last bit is funny.

How so?

I too owned an outdrive powered boat many years ago which was kept in a drying harbour again with no particular issues with the bellows. Along with all the other outdrives powered boats in the same harbour.