Stern drive oil leak from upper

[achris]

If the water pipe still goes through that guide, you can keep using it.

 

[Dschotts]

Update,
So upon closer examination I noticed that the water hose looks ratty next to the Bellows. Took it in and as it turns out since were in there to replace the water hose had them do gimbal and replace bellows including shifter cable.

This boat ownership is expensive stuff! Did a quick burn on the lake and will do one more longer one today and recheck the levels and gear oil condition. Fingers crossed.

 

[achris]

Was the gimbal bearing shot? If not, you just wasted money. And no, not 'good insurance' at all. Just putting money in the shop owner's pocket. I have several of my customers with gimbal bearings over 20 years old. All still in perfect condition (thanks to proper and timely maintenance) and not looking like they'll need to be replaced any time soon. And exactly the same goes with shift cables. If it's not worn or tight, it's perfect, and doesn't need to be replaced 'just in case'...

Boat ownership will be expensive if you keep replacing things that do not need to be replaced.

Chris......

 

[Dschotts]

I can appreciate that perspective but for peace of mind I'd rather err on the side of caution and create a maintenance baseline that is comforting when I have my grandkids out on Lake Ontario. Since the boat is 25 yrs old and the gimbal already came in the kit with the bellows et al AND I've just bought it as a new boat owner only to find a receipt for work where it appears the previous owner had been ripped off (they apparently did the gimbal but I don't trust it based on condition of all the rest of the components that they should have replaced while in there and then charged $1100 for it).

BTW in a previous post I'd concluded the bellows looked perfect which would align with the bill from the work allegedly done last year but once I put my readers on and a proper light it was obvious the bellows were aged and split wide open along with cracked water line... let's just say that trust level isn't too high on that previous work.

Call it insurance, call it peace of mind, call it a waste of money but I do feel a little more confident in the beast (and relaxed) knowing the status of that area and the u-joints.

Thanks for all your help Chris, enjoying learning from everyone.