Sell It or Fix It?

[petersen_1955]

I purchased my '75 Cobalt Tri-Hull (351 Windsor, pre-alpha outdrive)last September. I've put about 25 hours on her, making a total of less than 450 hours on the engine. The boat is in great condition considering her age.<br /><br />I am storing my boat at an indoor facility for the winter. I took it in at the end of November. I had them winterize it for me. I also told them to replace my water pump (I have no idea when it was last replaced). <br /><br />I stopped by this week, because I told him I wanted to pick up the battery after they serviced it. He looked up the paperwork (I still haven't received a bill for the work) and he said, "Oh yeah, there was a problem when we checked the gear lube". He said that when they went to change it there was some water in it. He said that they'll pressure test it and hopefully it's just a seal or something. He also said that he noticed some hairline cracks on the bottom of the transom and he thought that it might need some repair, now or eventually. I told him that I haven't had any vibration problems.<br /><br />I've did alot of searching for infomation about transom repair yesterday. It sounds like boats with an I/O is a pain in the you know what. To do the job right you have to remove both the outdrive and engine. I don't think I'm up for that. I could always drive it until the outdrive falls off. Who knows, that could be five years down the road. <br /><br />Bottom line is I don't want to spend alot of time and money on repairing it. What do you think, sell it or fix it?

 

[KRS]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

If the transom isn't soft, then there isn't a problem. Gelcoat develops hairline cracks at stresspoints, it's somewhat normal for an older boat. So, I don't think, from what you wrote, there is a problem.<br /><br />The outdrive is a different story... they say they found some water. If water was indeed in the outdrive, then it needs to be fixed.<br /><br />I would be concerned with having them change the impeller also, it picks up the raw water and sends it up to the motor, the water pump then circulates it just as a car engine would.

 

[llerrad]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

Have similar rig and age, 351 bullet proof pre-alpha, fix it, they are bullet proof as well, your craft will go like stink and you have many good year coming to you. I've had hair line cracks for years the gel coat will do that

 

[petersen_1955]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

The guy did say that the transom was soft (showed me on a boat that was being worked on). I guess I'll have to see for myself when I pull it out of storage.<br /><br />llerad - have you upgraded your distributor to an electronic ignition? Any mods to the engine?

 

[petersen_1955]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

sorry, I meant llerrad

 

[markvictor]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

They were right about the pressure test, but her's my question : When you say water pump, do you mean the raw water pump in the drive?...If so, they should have done the pressure test as soon as they saw water...now to repair a seal they are going to charge you to R&R the drive AGAIN...and charge you for gear lube AGAIN...in other words you're going to be charged for doing the same thing twice...Oil floats on water so it would have been evident as soon as they started draining it the first time...<br />If you are talking about the circulating water pump on the engine...they still should have done the pressure/vacuum test before they changed the lube...not nice...Two common ways to ingest water into the drive are fishing line wrapped aromd the shaft behind the prop, or a bent propshaft, keep your eyes out for the fishing line asnd remove it as soon as you see it...there are other seals which can fail but the propshaft seals are often the ones causing your problem...<br />As for the transom cracks, if they are just stress cracks you want to fix them so they don't let water into the underlying laminations and the plywood in the transom, causing compounded problems..if the transom is soft already...good luck, brother...that's a big fix.<br />However, one thing to note...an outboard is much, much harder on a transom than a sterndrive...if that's what you were alluding to...<br />regards,<br />markvictor<br /> (No links allowed)

 

[petersen_1955]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

Sorry, I meant the pump in the drive. I don't think they replaced the impeller because they saw the water and knew that they were going to have to pressure test it. I think they were concentrating on getting all of the boats winterized at the time and felt that they would get back to it later. They tell me that it s/b towards the end of the month before they have a chance to look at it. Ever feel like some boat mechanics have you by the nads?

 

[Don S]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

Ever feel like some boat mechanics have you by the nads?

I doubt your mechanic/shop is out to get you, most shops in norther climates get very slow during the winter, and many layoff all or most of the mechanics due to lack of work.<br />If they are working with a skeleton crew, then it may take longer to get to your boat. As you mentioned, they were probably getting all the boats winterized so they didn't sit around the yard a freeze, then go back and fix the broken ones. When a drive is drained and there is water in the drive, the engine is usually not finished being winterized and needs to be run a fogged etc., so lube must be put back in the drive to finish the winterization.<br />Granted, they should have contacted you about the problem a lot earlier, but even us poor ole marine machanics aren't perfect in every way.<br /><br />With water in the drive, you could also have water in the bellows that will get into the drive. Did they pull the drive and check for water, lube the ujoints, gimbal bearing and check the alignment during winterization?<br /><br />If you are looking for a second opinion about the transom, contact a local marine surveyor and have him check it for you. If the transom is soft (wood rot in the plywood cores) it is expensive and time consuming no way around it.

 

[petersen_1955]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

I asked them do the whole enchillada....pull off the drive, etc. Hopefully they DID do that and not just stop when they checked the gear lube. I guess I'll find out at the end of the month. Thanks for the "local marine surveyor" tip. Are they listed in the phonebook under that description?

 

[markvictor]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

Like I said,your getting double charged,and you don't need the drive on the boat to winterize it, it is just a little faster that way..I am a<br />marine mechanic and I would have stopped and made the call as soon as I found water...bottom line is you're paying twice...<br />markvictor

 

[llerrad]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

No up-grades on Ignition I find it too easy to maintain myself with points they always work unlike electronics when they go they go, old system can always limp home, Thought of EFI conversion with Holley, my Carb just keeps goin', I keep engine oil clean, fuel filter changed on time, titanium spark plugs keep it tuned and timmed, must have a million hours on the beast and have never been let down. We are on the water all summer the the rig is a 1974 vintage.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Sell It or Fix It?

How are you going to sell it if you don't fix it? It's worth almost nothing if not in running condition, unless you are willing to foist your problem onto someone else....Mechanical stuff is one thing, a bad transom, quite different....Forget the surveyor.....Go stand on your transom & bounce up & down, there should be no flex...If there is you might get a little more time out of it, when it starts to leak you will either have to shoot it or fix it........A rebuilt drive & bellows (worst scenario) should not break the bank.....How much you have all ready invested would tell me how much I would be willing to put into it.....JK