mechanic wants 1200.00 to replace seals!!

[sde628]

i have a 93' bayliner classic 1950 with an alpha one outdrive. havent had the boat on the water since 07 a few months ago i noticed a small puddle of oil under the outdrive, so i took it to the local guy ( there is only one as i live in the antelope valley desert Richards boats) he says" oh those seals and gaskets are very expensive thats going to cost 1200.00 - 1300.00 dollars" this sounds like an ankle grabber to me, is this right? I plan on selling the boat this spring and it would be easier to sell a boat thats ready to drop in the lake than one thats leaking oil. as i said i haven't had the boat out in a few years i dont know why it would be leaking out of nowhere, at any rate does this sound like a fair price?

 

[180shabah]

Re: mechanic wants 1200.00 to replace seals!!

$1300 buys a NEW sei drive - sell the old one on eBay, and recover a few hundred

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: mechanic wants 1200.00 to replace seals!!

lololololololol...ankle grabber!...lolololololol.
Seriously though, I do all my own work and have nothing to relate, but shops do charge hourly and these things can take time.

 

[sde628]

Re: mechanic wants 1200.00 to replace seals!!

As i suspected, sounds like i need to look around for more options. there just isnt any inside of 100 miles. Thanks for the input guys...

 

[truckermatt]

Re: mechanic wants 1200.00 to replace seals!!

as said, you can brand new outdrive for the same price..

and sell your old one for some money too.

here is the website.

http://www.sterndrive.cc/

Edit: A little note to remind all to look here at iboats. SEI's are sold here too

 

[JustJason]

Re: mechanic wants 1200.00 to replace seals!!

Is he doing the bellows to?

 

[Don S]

Re: mechanic wants 1200.00 to replace seals!!

Are you mechanically inclined to at least remove the drive, seperate the upper and lower and do a pressure test? If you are, you might want to consider fixing it yourself. Since it leaking on the ground, it's not the input shaft seal, the oil would remain in the bellows.
As bubba said, it probably in the lower, and probably not the prop shaft seal unless there is fishing line around it. That would be the hardest seal to replace because you need the special tools to remove the carrier nut and carrier, they also seldom leak just setting.
The most common places for oil to leak is the PLASTIC carrier under the raw water pump, or the PLASTIC shift shaft bushing. Either of which gets replaced easily without taking all the gears and bearings apart. Either one of those leaking and you don't even need a full seal kit.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: mechanic wants 1200.00 to replace seals!!

In defense of the shop your post gives me several possibilities as to why the price is $1200.00

1. Only shop within 100 miles...don't be fooled...there's a charge for that.

2. Because it's the only shop he's prolly busy...there's a charge for that.

3. He knows you don't do your own work...there's a...you get the picture.

4. 17 year old boat...funny **** happens opening stuff like that up.

When I was in the car biz we had a sign on the wall...

Our repairs are Good, Cheap, and Quick

Quick and Cheap won't be Good
Good and Cheap won't be Quick
Good and Quick won't be Cheap