1987 25' Trophy OMC 350 leaking around lower unit

[blackwater1]

Just put the boat in the water and it is leaking into the bilge area from the lower unit. Is there seal around this area inside the unit? Looks like it's leaking right thru the center of where it bolts up. How difficult is this job for the average mechanic and how much $$$? Thanks for your help!

[fendersfender]

sounds like bad u-joint bellows. get it fixed ASAP....you can fix it yourself with the help of a manual.....i'm sure others will chime in with there advice....good luck

[Gary H NC]

Is this a Cobra drive? Remove the drive and replace all the bellows.If one is bad the exhaust and shift cable bellows are soon to leak also.
Not that hard of a job on a Cobra.You will need a service manual and alignment tool..
Remove it soon before the u-joints and drive shaft rust.
Boats can sink from a bad bellows!

Welcome aboard!

[blackwater1]

It is a cobra but not a king cobra lower unit. I just replaced the exhaust bellow but not the U joint bellow or the shift cable seal. I don't have a problem unbolting the lower unit but the manual calls for the dealer's help and tools to realign the engine? Is this true? Thanks for the advice.

[Bond-o]

Unless you're a Pretty Handy kinda Guy,.........

Ayuh,..........
It's Very True................

[Gary H NC]

Not that big of deal.All you need is an alignment bar.
Pick one up from ebay for about 40 bucks.If you plan on keeping the boat for awhile and doing your own service and winterizing you will need one anyway. Either way get that drive off ASAP! u-joints and drive shaft could be rusting away!

[blackwater1]

Looks like it is leaking from the shift cable. Tried to push thru transom without any luck. I read the instructions in the OMC manual and it just says to push thru transom. Shouldn't there be some kind of seal from the outside? How come the hose is not going thru as easy as the manual states?

[Don S]

Shouldn't there be some kind of seal from the outside?

The hose on the inside of the boat should have the opening where the cable comes out ABOVE the water line. If it's laying down below the water line, water will come in.

How come the hose is not going thru as easy as the manual states?

You have to have the hose exactly straight and everything to work perfect and all brand new for things to work as easy as any manual will say.
Welcome to the real world.