Water plug?

[smokeonthewater]

That trim tab is for correcting steering torque and not for the boat leaning... The prop turns right so the boat leans slightly left... It's normal..... If you have a whale tail on the outdrive try removing it... Very common issue..

Agree that it should not leak a drop... My boats don't leak and no modern boat should except for an older inboard with an old style stuffing box and MAYBE a riveted aluminum boat and then VERY little.

 

[smokeonthewater]

You might look into smart tabs... You can set up the left one with slightly more preload than the left and level the boat at speed.

 

[stingray3]

Wow! This is a great forum with great suggestions you have eased my concerns. Thanks so much.

 

[Maclin]

They hook up a hose to the ear muffs and with a funnel pour antifreeze into the hose with engine running until the water comes out pink.

That is from the book titled "How To Guarantee A Cracked Block Next Spring"

 

[stingray3]

Well I took my boat to the shop[ to get winterized, while there he give me a few things that need done. carb. rebuilt, Lower shift cable about $400.00 carb $160.00 needs a trim wire around $500.00 and maybe some Bellows what ever that is? rubber things I guess! Man I better get on the stick and learn boat repair fast! Looks Like I'm going to need a lot of help here. YIKES!!!!

 

[garbageguy]

about $400.00 carb $160.00 needs a trim wire around $500.00

Sounds like you know what B.O.A.T. stands for - and why there's so many DIY'ers. Yes, the folks on here are great.!

 

[JimS123]

Sounds like you know what B.O.A.T. stands for - and why there's so many DIY'ers. Yes, the folks on here are great.!

All the thing quoted are easy DIYs. But that pesky bellows - after doing one myself that's best left to the mechanic no matter what it costs!!!

 

[fishin98]

All the thing quoted are easy DIYs. But that pesky bellows - after doing one myself that's best left to the mechanic no matter what it costs!!!

+1....it's best to have the bellows replaced/installed by someone who knows what their doing......trying to cheap you way out could have you trying to lift your boat off the bottom.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Hmmm I disagree BUT I have always been mechanically inclined... That was my first ever I/O boat maintenance project 20 yrs ago... I asked the folks at my local dealership if a shade tree mechanic could do the job with factory service manuals.... They told me no way and it was a HUGE job requiring all sorts of special tools. I was terrified but after the raping the parts counter gave me there was no way I could pay what they wanted for labor which was twice what I paid for the boat....

3 hours later I was at home, done with the job and extremely pissed that they had outright lied to me....

I went back the next day to speak my mind and the reply was "how would we make any money if we told people they could diy"

I've never once spoken to another service department since.... Instead I set my mind to doing it ALL myself.... Haven't once regretted a second of it.

If you are inclined to get your hands dirty and save hundreds or thousands here are plenty of good people who will hold your hand and walk you through it....

Disclaimer: if you have been known to put washer fluid in the power steering res and totally destroy an engine by changing spark plug wires, disregard the above and pay the man.... Lol

 

[stingray3]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Question would there be a limit on how much money you would invest in a 1985 crestliner crusader 165 before you would scrap it and count your loses.

 

[smokeonthewater]

you don't want to hear my answer there BUT understand that about ANY low cost boat is gonna need all sorts of work

 

[fishin98]

Back to the OP's 1st post...just snug the plug in...water intrusion could be from any number of places. When you launch and are tied up to dock, take a moment and look....I had the same problem on my Bayliner Capri O/B....I found that the inspection hatch in the splash well had a bad gasket(O Ring). I have found throughout my boating life, that there are somethings better off left to a certified marine Mechanic. Finding one that you can completely trust is unfortunately a LONG process. This forum among others is a great place to get information on general maintenance and DIY projects. The tab at the bottom of the drive above the propeller is a torque tab, adjusting either right or left can affect your steering. When you purchase a CHEAP boat or motor, expect to spend time and money on it, that's just one boatings FACTS OF LIFE....Just my 2cts

 

[stingray3]

I got a call from the shop, to get everything fixed it looks like about $ 3500.00 to $4000.00. I'll get the print out when I pick the boat up in a couple of hours. Next I'm going to take it to some guy that does stringer repair, he is going to Inspect it to see if that part is sound if not $4000 and up. That's why I asked how far I should go before I cut my losses and move on I paid $1800.00 for it from a friend he said all it needed was a new choke. I did take it to a Boat shop and the said it was a good price. It's OLD I get .

 

[fishin98]

Well I took my boat to the shop[ to get winterized, while there he give me a few things that need done. carb. rebuilt, Lower shift cable about $400.00 carb $160.00 needs a trim wire around $500.00 and maybe some Bellows what ever that is? rubber things I guess! Man I better get on the stick and learn boat repair fast! Looks Like I'm going to need a lot of help here. YIKES!!!!

Looks like the dealer/mechanic was trying to take advantage of you!

 

[frantically relaxing]

$400 to change a shift cable and $500 for a "trim wire"---

I'd be seriously looking for a different mechanic for a second opinion or three...

 

[Maclin]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Question would there be a limit on how much money you would invest in a 1985 crestliner crusader 165 before you would scrap it and count your loses.

If it is the 470 4cylinder Merc, then that plus all the quotes you got for everything, add it all up and I think you are there...

 

[stingray3]

Ok here is the latest. I took the boat to have the stringers checked and everything checked out good! Thank Goodness for that! Here is exactly the cost for each item Bellows $847 -Trim sender $734 - if I do them at the same time $1079.00. -Upper and Lower seals $929.00 - Lower Shift cable $351.00, By the way how do you add pictures on here? Thanks.

 

[BRICH1260]

I`m no marine mechanic but those quotes seem high. To be financially right in this boat, I think you are going to have to learn to do your own repairs. A lot of what you listed I think you could do with the right source of instruction; you tube, shop manual, ect.

 

[JimS123]

The price quotes are high. Regardless, spending $2400 on a 30 year old boat is poor economics. You'll have invested double what the boat is worth. Those are common items - wait till you find out what it costs to fix next year's problems.

 

[smokeonthewater]

learn to diy and you'll do ALL of that plus buy a pivot pin tool an alignment bar and special socket for the lower shift cable and align the engine for less than $500 TOTAL