Well, before I run off and join some half-arsed boater’s board, I turn to the SDMB. Let’s see if the Dopers can help with boats.
I’ve got a lengthy background with outboards, but my next boat (high performance) is going to be an inboard/outboard. Now, I am going to buy a used boat to take advantage of some other sucker absorbing the pain of rapid depreciation…
…so while surfing the adds for used boats, I’ve noticed a good number make a point to say that the outdrive is new or rebuilt. Enough ads mention this fact to make me go “hmmmmmm” in my head.
Some 20-24’ makes I’ve been perusing include Baja, Formula, Chapparal, Donzi, Wellcraft. I am looking for a hi-po V8, thru-hull exhaust, etc.
Is the outdrive some type of planned maintenance I need to consider? Is the outdrive something that is likely to be overworked by a hi-po engine, much as a weanie rear-end in a car could be the weak link? :dubious:
Just out of curiosity, what body of water, or type of body, do you figure these boats are spending the majority of their time? I ask because my first thought was the outdrive will obviously bear the brunt of groundings and underwater debris strikes. With some waterways, it’s not if you’ll run aground/strike an object, but when and how often, regardless of skill and/or experience. Illinois’ Chain O’Lakes comes to mind.
Hmm - outdrive, sterndrive same thing…So what do you need to know Phil? Is it something you would need to rebuilt or clean every year? Well what kind of boating are you going to be doing? Cruising on Lake Mich? Or Salt water run arounds? The long and short answer is yes, you can clean it yearly, and rebuild it if necessary annually. Should you need to on a newer boat? No, not if it has been taken care of.
I live in Connecticut, we have a Grady with and outdrive that looks very similar to this new Mercruiser. These things get corroded like crazy if the boat if left on it’s mooring. Barnicles, sea weed, salt water etc…etc… But if you don’t moor a boat or have it on a slip for extended periods of time, you won’t need to worry about annual rebuilds of the outdrive. It simply won’t need it. Hose off the parts when you get out of the water and you’ll be fine.
Is that what you are looking for?
The boat will be kept in a salt water slip from about Mid May until Mid September every year. I live in Southern New Jersey and the boat will be used in Cape May county with some ocean use, but mostly intercoastal waterway and back bays.
So…seems my enemy is the sea when the drive just sits in the water (epiphany). I guess my brain is so used to the outboard (tilted it up and flushed it out every run) that I forgot the stern drive is gonna be sitting in salt water for about four months.
Okay, so every year I’d want to plan in some disassembly and cleaning/inspection, with a rebuild as needed. It is gonna hit some sandbars, but most strikes will be soft mud.
Yeah, this is kinda what I was getting at.
Anything else this life-long outboarder should keep in mind? (Heck, my 115 HP Evinrude 2-stroke outboard really made low-maintenace a reality! All I did was change the water pump proactively every couple of years!)
Nothing engine specific, but it’s always a good idea to get the boat checked out by the local CG Auxiliary prior to the season. And remember that float plans are wise, especially if you’re going out on the big pond.
[/public service announcement]
