MerCruiser Bravo III Piece Broken

[tbarnett1]

I just purchased this boat. It's a 1996 Crownline CCR 220 with a 454 7.4 litre. After looking at several different places online, I feel like this won't hinder the performance, but wanted to get a 2nd opinion. Check out these pictures and tell me what you think I should do. Will it be okay until maybe end of the season?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

Unfortunately the pics didn't make it up the gangplank.

You need to have more than 3 posts before attaching pics.

Try Option 3 when you try again - http://forums.iboats.com/forum/forum-rules-and-guidelines/9938375-photo-upload-tutorial

 

[tbarnett1]

Trying again...

 

[alldodge]

Oh you have some issues. The lower housing anti-ventilation plate is broken off, and the top of the lower housing has a crack. My guess right now is the drive doesn't have any lube in it

 

[tbarnett1]

Let me try to get a better picture of it. The spot that looks like a crack is actually part of the anti-ventilation plate break. It's a clean break and all fluids are there and good.

 

[alldodge]

IMO if the above piece is a crack or not, you have an issue with the lower section of the drive. The anti-vent plate (most call it a cav plate) needs to be intact to keep air from entering into the prop. Part of the plate is bent down and will create drag and my guess is the damage will increase until there is a catastrophic failure

 

[tbarnett1]

This may show a little better. That isn't a crack, it's actually the design. Just drained oil from the foot to change it. So, is that the speedometer cable that's exposed? Will this hurt to be left this way so that we can weld a piece of metal on to fix it, or am I completely wrong?

 

[alldodge]

Didn't help a hole lot, but still think you have an issue which needs fixed

 

[tbarnett1]

Well, thanks for the input. I'd rather fix it now and not worry about it.

 

[alldodge]

If it was mine I would replace the lower unit or get another lower housing and use the inners to install in the new housing