To anyone thinking of buying any boat with Outdrives

O

oldgit

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A little while ago posted a request for comments to relay to a chap who was thinking of buying a 10M boat with outdrives
The fact it had outdrives,did not ring any alarm bells louder then normal ,other than a suggestion for him to check that a nice big wad of long term servicing bills were around somewhere.
We are not talking about budget boating here.
Despite pre sale checks and surveys,during a subsquent lift out for new anodes,close inspection of the DP legs revealed that both were beyond economical repair.
A replacement pair of recon legs are now being provided by a very reputable East Coast Volvo Dealer.
Just another plea to be ultra careful when buying any boat with outdrives.
 
oldgit said:
A little while ago posted a request for comments to relay to a chap who was thinking of buying a 10M boat with outdrives
The fact it had outdrives,did not ring any alarm bells louder then normal ,other than a suggestion for him to check that a nice big wad of long term servicing bills were around somewhere.
We are not talking about budget boating here.
Despite pre sale checks and surveys,during a subsquent lift out for new anodes,close inspection of the DP legs revealed that both were beyond economical repair.
A replacement pair of recon legs are now being provided by a very reputable East Coast Volvo Dealer.
Just another plea to be ultra careful when buying any boat with outdrives.
Click to expand...

ouch... tell us, did the boat actually have the engines / outdrives surveyed before sale, or was that bit skipped?
 
oldgit said:
A little while ago posted a request for comments to relay to a chap who was thinking of buying a 10M boat with outdrives
The fact it had outdrives,did not ring any alarm bells louder then normal ,other than a suggestion for him to check that a nice big wad of long term servicing bills were around somewhere.
We are not talking about budget boating here.
Despite pre sale checks and surveys,during a subsquent lift out for new anodes,close inspection of the DP legs revealed that both were beyond economical repair.
A replacement pair of recon legs are now being provided by a very reputable East Coast Volvo Dealer.
Just another plea to be ultra careful when buying any boat with outdrives.
Click to expand...

It would be even more interesting if you shared what was found wrong with the outdrives during the subsequent lift out, particularly as it was not found during the presale checks etc.
 
Like any other mechanical device, preventative maintenance!......had many boats with outdrives...alpha1....bravo3....Vp280....and Vp290.....just bought another with a 290....ok agreed a shaft is easier to maintain but look after your outdrive and no problem in my experience.
 
A slight modification, and the original post would be equally valid:

######
A little while ago posted a request for comments to relay to a chap who was thinking of buying a 10M boat with engines.
The fact it had engines did not ring any alarm bells louder then normal, other than a suggestion for him to check that a nice big wad of long term servicing bills were around somewhere.
We are not talking about budget boating here.
Despite pre sale checks and surveys, during a subsequent lift out for new anodes, close inspection of the engines revealed that both were beyond economical repair.
A replacement pair of recon engines are now being provided by a very reputable East Coast Volvo Dealer.
Just another plea to be ultra careful when buying any boat with engines.
######
 
FlowerPower said:
A slight modification, and the original post would be equally valid:

######
A little while ago posted a request for comments to relay to a chap who was thinking of buying a 10M boat with engines.
The fact it had engines did not ring any alarm bells louder then normal, other than a suggestion for him to check that a nice big wad of long term servicing bills were around somewhere.
We are not talking about budget boating here.
Despite pre sale checks and surveys, during a subsequent lift out for new anodes, close inspection of the engines revealed that both were beyond economical repair.
A replacement pair of recon engines are now being provided by a very reputable East Coast Volvo Dealer.
Just another plea to be ultra careful when buying any boat with engines.
######
Click to expand...

A forum search for engines being the source of problems would definately fill a room.
A forum search for outdrive problems would ensure your filling ALL of the Tardis. :)
 
RobWales said:
Like any other mechanical device, preventative maintenance!......had many boats with outdrives...alpha1....bravo3....Vp280....and Vp290.....just bought another with a 290....ok agreed a shaft is easier to maintain but look after your outdrive and no problem in my experience.
Click to expand...

Only ever had one past 8 y ( ex rag+ stick) like you no probs ,but do follow or my tech guys do the VP service schedule

I don't think the design concept is too bad --- compared to helicopters or Italien super cars .
Same applies - look after them and they will look after you
 
Portofino said:
Only ever had one past 8 y ( ex rag+ stick) like you no probs ,but do follow or my tech guys do the VP service schedule

I don't think the design concept is too bad --- compared to helicopters or Italian super cars .

Same applies - look after them and they will look after you
Click to expand...

If only that were true.Both about North Sea helicopters and outdrives.
 
Got to agree with oldgit here. Have been brought to my financial knees in the past with outdrive repairs. Fine on a new boat but on older used boats - a nightmare.
20 + years down the line, complexity just provides a vastly increased number of things to go wrong. Robust simplicity will always be better placed to stand the test of time.
 
Old git is just trying it on again!! you who run out-drives I ask WHY? or should I ask what usage do you get, if your boat spends it's time on a trailer or sitting on a berth then maybe when you do use it you get performance and efficiency we "shafters" would love to have. But when and if you eventually see the light you will find that the Old Git is talking a bit of sense, in as much as he/we can go to sea at any moment without the need to worry about gears, bearings, boots, and milky water instead of oil in that "THING" hanging off the transom.
 
I bought a boat with an outdrive, despite the good advice on here. It was serviced, looked after and was in good condition.
Now, a Year on, If I ever buy another boat, even if it's sole means of harnessing the engine power and transferring it to the prop' is via my testicles, that would still be my preferred drive option over an outdrive.

Regards,

Chris (not a fan of outdrives)
 
blueglass said:
And therein lies the rub!
The only thing between the sea and al those vulnerable parts is a bit of thin rubber.
Click to expand...
Also very true but I am not sure the issue some people have with outdrives is on average water ingress which is why it would be very interesting to get some tangible information out of oldgit on this thread.
Infact I hate them too mostly because I have take them off and put them on every 2-3 years, for one my body don't agree with the lifting and I am too cheap to pay someone to do it for me and that is not considering that I have a hard time trusting anyone else getting all the bits right putting it back together.
 
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