Boat-inboard-stern drive question

[Texas Diesel]

A friend has a boat, " a hole in the water he pours money into".



He has a crack or puncture in the boot sealing the stern drive unit, it's the big rubber thing that lets the drive turn left/right.



He wants to know if he can patch it somehow and extend it's life.



I dont know but I know someone on the board knows the answer.

 

[Bertram65]

Sounds like a real old OMC unit, it would be very difficult to "fix" it so it does not leak and is safe. If it rips further while in the water he may lose the boat. The new bellow probably does not cost that much money.

 

[midlife crisis]

TD- can you shed some lite on what model drive he has? Commonly referred to as a bellows the degree of damage (cost) can change with brand and duration. If its a merc- the boat will take on water QUICKLY, besides the mechanical ramifications of sw intrusion (u-joints, flywheel,starter, water in the drive-easy cause its a one way seal designed to keep oil in, not water out). If its a Volvo, you wont sink, but all else applies. If bad enough, the engine has to come out due to the intermediate bearings ( merc its a "gimbal") taking water. Severe cases have shown the bearings to fail, the input shaft go everywhere, taking out everything in its path. BOAT- Break Out Another Thousand.

 

[Texas Diesel]

I'll try to find out the brand & year. All I know is the engine is a Chevy 350.

 

[Texas Diesel]

It's a 1985 Cobalt Bow Rider.

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Originally posted by Tejas Deezul

It's a 1985 Cobalt Bow Rider.

Is it a Mercruiser Alpha or an OMC...

 

[bulabula]

to make it a little easier... . is the outdrive white or black?



In any event, thats one of those repairs that require more than a band-aid.

 

[Skydiver]

I've got a 1989 black OMC king cobra(460 Ford). Good outdrive.

The white OMC is a night-mare. I've got a friend that is a marine mechanic and he won't touch a booted OMC. Liability issues.