I'm looking at a 1990 Sea Ray 17 with a Merc 3.0. While being loaded on the trailer last year they forgot to put up the outdrive. The outdrive hit hard enough to break off the lower 4 inches of the outdrive and then destroy the prop. I plan on putting water to it, start the motor, put it in gear and see if it shakes or wobbles or grinds. Any thoughts on the likely damage? How tough are these outdrives?
They are pretty tough. I broke the skeg of my Alpha drive while on plane, about 20 mph, did not realize my depth finder transducer was kicked up and reading behind the boat instead of under the stern, made a sharp turn, hit hard sand bottom, snap, skeg hit prop and put a nick in it near the hub, still runs great, I did pull the lower unit and have the skeg replaced, you can pull both the prop and lower unit and have them repaired, if prop is not damaged too bad.
Just to give you and idea of before and after. I had already ordered another prop so I did change props, I will have the original repaired and have a spare.
Thanks for the reply and pictures. Your damage was probably covered by insurance but any idea what the repair cost was. I'll have to repair this myself since I'm buying the boat this way. It looks like I can purchases a remanufactured lower unit for about $800 and I'll probably install it myself unless it's really tough and then I'll have the local SeaRay dealer do it.
If the only damage is the skeg broken off, you can pull the lower unit and take it to a prop shop and they can weld either a new skeg or just a piece to what is left, they can also repair the prop if damage is not too bad. Somewhere around $200 to $250 should cover the cost of the repairs to both. Your outdrive case is not broken is it, if not and the prop shaft is not bent there should be no problem, usually the aluminum props will give before gear or shaft damaged occurs. One other thing, get yourself a manual, it will guide you in the repairs you are talking about whether it is just R&R or replacement of the lower unit, you might as well replace the water pump impeller while the lower unit is off.
Thanks again for the information. I don't believe the lower unit case is cracked I'll inspect it very carefully. Hopefully it's not. Then I'll take your advise, get a manual, remove the lower unit, have it repaired and install a new water pump. What's the best manual in your opinion?
The best manual is the factory Mercruiser manuals, they are pricey, but you can go to the iboats store and get a Seloc manual which should have everything you will need. I believe the 1964 to 1991 manual would be the one for you. Link below
If it is just the skeg that was damaged you can just buy a new skeg replacement that just screws onto what is left on the lower unit. They have them in overtons.
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damaged prop
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