Advice needed on repair

[aldena]

The boat in question is a 94 four winns 5.8l with cobra outdrive. I'm 99.99% sure the outdrive is the OMC/Volvo crossover. It is in great shape, been covered it's whole life, runs great, and never a major problem.

Then I took it in for an outdrive service, they replaced the gimbal bearing also, and now there is a transom leak. We went out last Saturday for the first time after the service. I saw water trickling down the inside of the transom. Took the boat to another shop, where we filled it with water, and saw it seeping out. The boat NEVER leaked a drop until these guys touched it. I'm pretty sure they won't admit to causing this problem. I'm going to call them today, but I doubt they are going to volunteer $1500 of free work. How could pulling the outdrive cause the transom to leak?

I checked NADA, the boat is worth around $5000. Do I put $1500 into a 5 grand boat? I could: 1) Ignore the problem, install an automatic bilge pump, and use the boat until the transom is toast. 2) Sell the boat for less, disclosing the problem. 3) fix the boat and sell it, hoping to recover the reapair cost, or 4) fix the boat and keep it.

I feel like one problem will just lead to another and another, from a boat that was never a problem until now.

 

[Don S]

Re: Advice needed on repair

The boat NEVER leaked a drop until these guys touched it. I'm pretty sure they won't admit to causing this problem.

I would guess the leak is from around the transom shield where the shield meets the transom. If that's the case, the guys pulling the drive had nothing to do with it. You have a rotten transom, and they didn't cause it.
Covered or not, a transom can rot, but it's not going to happen in a few days. It takes years to get that bad.

 

[Opnine99]

Re: Advice needed on repair

I ran into the same problem with my old sunbird. Had some work done during the off season, winterized put in the garage. Spring comes around dewinterize drop in the water and what was once a dry boat was leaking severely. The guy who did the work went out of business shortly after doing the service so I had no way of putting the blame on him so I installed a float switch on the bilge pump and ran it for the season that way then disclosed the information and sold it. Paid 4200 for the boat put about 800 in it during the 2 years I had it and sold it for 3500 so I came out pretty good I suppose. Boat was a 17' with a GM 3.0 and OMC Cobra Outdrive

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Advice needed on repair

Call the original shop and see what they say. If they are any good they should be able to tell you what is causing the leak.

 

[aldena]

Re: Advice needed on repair

I would guess the leak is from around the transom shield where the shield meets the transom. If that's the case, the guys pulling the drive had nothing to do with it. You have a rotten transom, and they didn't cause it.
Covered or not, a transom can rot, but it's not going to happen in a few days. It takes years to get that bad.

And last September it didn't leak a drop, but last Saturday it took on about 5 gallons in 3 hours, and was visable. Now my buddy at work is showing me used boats for sale. "Dude, check this out..." Nice 2001 Howard with 350mpi and 187 hours. Dang!

 

[jestor68]

Re: Advice needed on repair

You say that you saw it seeping out of where exactly? That's what you need to show the shop that did the work.

But the fact that it decided to start leaking over the winter does not necessarily mean it's their fault. Stuff happens.

Fixing a leak is cheaper than trading boats.

 

[aldena]

Re: Advice needed on repair

So, it's leaking out at the bottom left of the housing. Of course, the other shop says bring it in we'll take a look. We did have a couple of cold nights over the winter, maybe some moisture in the transom froze and expanded causing a leak. We decided the boat's in too good of shape to not fix.