2011 Bravo 1 hit a stump!!!

[skyman2112]

Hi gang, I need advice on repairs,I hit a stump and a one of the ears of the upper case broke off and now they want to replace the whole lower unit for 9000 bucks!!!
The gimbal bellhousing was torn from the gimbal ring and a piece of the gimbal ring broke off at the bottom, and also a piece of the upper case broke off. Lower case is fine, upper and lower shaft of gimbal housing is fine.
Do i try to get a complete new upper case, or just get a bare case and re-use the internals. Either way i need a bellhousing and gimbal ring. Lower case is fine. They quoted me 7000 for just the upper case and 8300 for a complete lower unit which seems crazy. I saw a bare case for 1500 and a crowley marine upper case for 3600. Not sure how to proceed.

 

[Bt Doctur]

looks more like a upper unit and gimbal(transom) assembly , and a trim cylinder

 

[wahlejim]

My first call would be to your insurance agent to see if this is covered in your policy. I know someone that hit a wing damn and their entire unit was replaced by the insurance company. Depends on your coverage.

 

[ThomW]

Definitely worth reaching out to insurance company, if the boat is insured. I know when I wrecked my lower unit, the insurance company covered it for me.

Not to add insult to injury, but just looking at the stainless prop and damage to it, definitely need to check the gears in lower and see how they fared with the impact. Takes a lot to bend a stainless prop like that, and the gears in the lower are not as tough as that prop.

 

[harringtondav]

Ditto on checking w/insurance. I hit a submerged, abandoned lock lock canal wall, later a wing dam. Prop hsg. bullet nose got ventilated both times. I had the tools and rebuilt the lower gear case the first time. Ins. paid for the parts. When I finished I could have bought a complete Merc. hsg. for the same or less. Use the insurance, that's why you bought it.

The shop goes for a good insurance (new everything) estimate first. If your insurance is a little soft or nonexistent go for your lowest cost strategy which you've covered. I'd suspect the prop shaft is bent, needing replacement. So tear it down as well as the upper hsg. You'll see if there are problems. But I'm betting you prop's hub slipped and protected those Rc 56-60 beast Bravo parts.

Go for ebay salvaged gimbal assy and hsgs. Sierra for the rest. Add it up and see if you have the stomach for big DIY. Price the Merc. manual too. You should have this and many special tools to get it right. If it pencils out, dive in. You'll be in a better position if there is a next time.

 

[porscheguy]

Another vote for insurance. If you broke the gimbal/transom assembly, that’s a lot of damage, not including internal damage you may not see. Unfortunately there’s no low cost repair options. Sure you could buy a new case, then swap your guts into the new case. Do you have the various special tools needed to do this? Are you going to pay someone to do this? You’ll pay so much in labor that you spend close to what it would have cost to just replace them.

if you don’t have one, it may behoove you to invest in a depth finder/gps/chart plotter. You don’t hit stumps in deep water. You hit them in water too shallow to be driving in on plane or fast enough to break off your outdrive.

 

[tpenfield]

Looks like a new bell housing, gimbal ring, and maybe trim cylinders.

Tell the folks with the $9000 quote to shove it.

 

[Bt Doctur]

I feel sorry for the stump

 

[harringtondav]

If I'm in strange water, I hold back until a bigger boat than mine enters. Then I follow, but far enough back to stop if I see his stern jump up. That's a joke. I stay out of strange water. Two bang ups are enough. Sorry flyer2112 . Me and anyone else cackling have probably been there.

 

[Bondo]

Looks like a new bell housing, gimbal ring, and maybe trim cylinders.

Tell the folks with the $9000 quote to shove it.

Ayuh,..... I'm thinkin' a big part of that number is Labor,.....

 

[TurtleTamer]

If insurance doesn't work out, you'd be amazed what's out there on Craigslist, Marketplace, OfferUp, etc

 

[Scott Danforth]

first and foremost, call your insurance company.

this is why you have insurance.

 

[skyman2112]

Haha so funny if i had insurance there would no need to post here for advice. So replacing the internals on the upper case is doable? Thats my main question. I got a shop that said they can do it but im wondering how hard it is to do it rightl