[MAJIC]

Well this is not how to end the season ... cruising along on Saturday when all of the sudden the sterndrive started making a bad clicking noise. Backed off immediately and put it in neutral - noise was still there. As I increase RPM, clicking increased too.

So we limped back to the marina (luckily we only made it about 1 mile). They took it apart and found the cam gear was missing a tooth. That ate the other cam gear, bearings, etc.

Estimate to repair is around $1,700. No idea as to what made the gear do that. This is the 2nd year owning the boat (bought it with 290 hours) and I know we haven't hit anything. Maybe the previous owner did... ughhh.

Anything else I should look out for or have them look for while they have things apart? Any thoughts on the repairs? Does that price seem right?

Thank you for your feedback!

[MAJIC]

Well we're back and running finally. This turns out to be one of those things that we risk when we buy a used boat.

So the previous owner must have hit something, because as the mechanic was taking things apart and inspecting everything, he found an additional serial number on the props. He found out who worked on them. They said the were reconditioned in 2003 but that was the only work done.

Here's what we think happened: when the previous owner scrubbed the blades, something weakened in the lower unit. Over the next few years, the boat wasn't used much until I bought it in late May, 2008 when we've put on about 100 hour since then. My mechanic found the shaft from the lower unit had play in it - that's not good. That play caused the pinion gears to weaken and finally break.

To end this long story, I now have everything back together. Too bad the seasons just about over...

At least I'll be ready to go next year! Happy wintering everyone!

[WetWilly]

Hi MAJIC, Sorry to hear about your outdrive. guess it's like buying anything used, things happen, but now that it's fixed, as you said, you're ready for next season and now you know your outdrive is in top condition.

WetWilly

[slcboater]

Sorry to read about your outdrive. We bought our boat in April and after our third time of being on the water, I noticed oil leaking from the lower unit by the props. I took it in to have new seals put in. The mechanic called me and asked what I had hit because the splines on the driveshaft were twisted. I took the props over to the shop (I had removed them to take the boat to the mechanic) and we concluded that the previous owners must have hit something at high speed that caused the damage. After having a new driveshaft and seals put in, we took her out one last time and everything functioned great. Issues like this aren't evident in a marine inspection.

[MAJIC]

No matter how hard we look and research, there is always a risk of buying used. Still cheaper then buying new in the long run - just a bit more aggravating, although there are plenty of stories about new boats and their problems.