Newbie with tons of questions!

Gents/Ladies,

I just wanted to introduce myself. I am first time boat owner. I did run a marina in the FL panhandle for 4 years I know relatively little about boat repairs. Usually, if someone had an issue they had their mechanic come and work on it...mostly yachts and sport fish types.

Anyhow, again this is my first boat:

1987 Galaxie Boat Works 19' Open bow with a 230 hp 5.0 4V engine with an OMC outdrive.

The engine runs like a top. Starts up with no issues and ran perfect one the test run. The previous owner mentioned that the boat takes on water. He said that he had it on a sand bar and when he went to leave the boat had water in it. In the short term he had put silicone around the outdrive on the transom to slow the leak. While out on our test drive the bilge would spit out water from time to time but it did not run continuously. After the hour test run it had a small amount of water under the engien but nothing I would consider excessive...

Just curious if the seal for the outdrive to the transom is a hard repair better left to a boat mechanic or is it something I could do with minimal effort? Would I be better of installing a bilge with a float to keep the water from getting to high and just leave it or to have it properly repaired. I am fairly certain I should just get it fixed.

If there is anything else I should look at while I am prepping it for summer just let me know. I am a newbie for sure!

Thanks
Thad

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

I would have made the repairs a condition of the sale.....that said, I wouldn't leave this boat in the water until I had it fixed.

More likely the bellows need replaced...not something your going to want to tackle your self if you know relatively little about boat repairs. It's not going to be a cheep fix.

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

The guy I bought it from was up front about the leak and marked down the price accordingly...

I anticipated spending $500ish on repairs, which was factored into the price of the boat.

I plan to take it to Beacon Marine here in town (junction City, KS).

Thanks
Thad

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

could be bellows... Could be rot.. If it's rot $500 isn't going to cut it.. Whew I would change some bellows for $500
Here is question.. Why did you buy a boat that is 24 years old and you know very little about boats and how to repair them? I wouldn't of bought a boat that takes on water.. Screams rot to me.. Especially in a boat that old

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

Where exactly is the silicone? Your best bet is to find where the leak is at first and then go from there. Did he say the leak started just after he was on the sand bar?

As said, you should check the bellows too... if the previous owner hadn't replaced them in the last few seasons, it's probably time for new ones. Even if that isn't where the big leak is, if they are rotted or cracked, they have to be replaced. Depending on your tools and patience and ability to follow the mercruiser manual, you might be able to do the job yourself. Lots of "newbies" have done it (including myself), but it does take some time the first time.

The auto bilge pump is great, but don't let it distract you from the fact that you have a leak. Those automatic switches don't always work and you could be caught with water over your oil pan before you know it, especially if the leak worsens (likely to happen).

Find the leak first..

PS.. you do have the manuals for the motor/outdrive, right? Some of them are available to download online. Or maybe somebody can post the link... (I don't have it)

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

Joshua Nichols said:

could be bellows... Could be rot.. If it's rot $500 isn't going to cut it.. Whew I would change some bellows for $500
Here is question.. Why did you buy a boat that is 24 years old and you know very little about boats and how to repair them? I wouldn't of bought a boat that takes on water.. Screams rot to me.. Especially in a boat that old

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I started with an older cheaper boat since it was in my price range. If I could have afforded it, ie talked to the wife into it, I would have bought a newer boat.

I could have been F*&^'ed by the previous owner but I don't think so. I have a descent ability to pickup a scam. He had the integrity to mention the leak and he also offered to drive it an hour away to test run it. Doesn't sound like a scammer to me.

If I remember right he said the bellows were recently replaced. I could call and ask him since he told me to call if I had questions.

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

dccordell said:

Where exactly is the silicone? Your best bet is to find where the leak is at first and then go from there. Did he say the leak started just after he was on the sand bar?
Where the outdrive connects to the transom. After the sandbar was when he started to notice it.

As said, you should check the bellows too... if the previous owner hadn't replaced them in the last few seasons, it's probably time for new ones. Even if that isn't where the big leak is, if they are rotted or cracked, they have to be replaced. Depending on your tools and patience and ability to follow the mercruiser manual, you might be able to do the job yourself. Lots of "newbies" have done it (including myself), but it does take some time the first time.
I mentioned it above but I am fairly certain they were recently replaced.

The auto bilge pump is great, but don't let it distract you from the fact that you have a leak. Those automatic switches don't always work and you could be caught with water over your oil pan before you know it, especially if the leak worsens (likely to happen).
Point taken!
Find the leak first..

PS.. you do have the manuals for the motor/outdrive, right? Some of them are available to download online. Or maybe somebody can post the link... (I don't have it)

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I would be open to any tech manuals that are out there for this boat!

Thanks
Thad

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

I could have been F*&^'ed by the previous owner but I don't think so. I have a descent ability to pickup a scam. He had the integrity to mention the leak and he also offered to drive it an hour away to test run it. Doesn't sound like a scammer to me.

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Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,...

I hate to be the 1 to tell ya this, But,.....

You've been F*&^'ed by the previous owner,.....

You've got a hull with a Rotten transom, 'n probably stringers too....
It's powered with a driveline from a Long Dead company,... OMC....

$500. ain't gonna get ya a Safe, reliable ride...
It probably won't even cover the costs of Glass, 'n resins......

Sorry man..... Hope ya didn't pay much....

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

As you can see (most of us have) that one problem leads right into a whole bunch more... as Bondo said, if water had been leaking in through any part of the transom for some time now, it is likely that there is at least some rot... maybe a little, maybe a lot.

To get a better idea, you would have to drill some core samples from different areas of the transom to see what the wood inside looks like. That's a common process, lots of threads on here about how to do it. The same thing goes with the stringers... if the transom is rotted (or wet), the stringers (the supports under the deck) would likely be the same way... drill core samples to find out.

Trying to figure out how the sandbar caused the thing to start taking on water... it was probably doing that already.

From what I read, OMC parts are hard (impossible) to find.. or getting that way. You said it runs good, but for how long?

Nothin' wrong with buying an older boat.. heck, a lot of us are here because we did. Sometimes... you get something not so nice though. You should find out what the condition of the transom is, and if it turns out not good, do some research (search here) on how to fix it. It's a big job, not impossible... costs $$ and it's always worse than you thought.

Maybe some others will chime in on the specifics of the transom sealing for that OMC... I'm not familiar with it. But you need to address these other areas before you get too deep into sealing up a leak that is the cause of bigger problems.

Good luck..

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

Bond-o said:

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,...

I hate to be the 1 to tell ya this, But,.....

You've been F*&^'ed by the previous owner,.....

You've got a hull with a Rotten transom, 'n probably stringers too....
It's powered with a driveline from a Long Dead company,... OMC....

$500. ain't gonna get ya a Safe, reliable ride...
It probably won't even cover the costs of Glass, 'n resins......

Sorry man..... Hope ya didn't pay much....

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I have a buddy whose transom was rotten, in the investigation to try and get it replaced I ran accross "Seacast" http://www.transomrepair.com/catalog/index.php. I have never used this stuff and we determined that his [my buddy's] transom was too far gone for this to be a legitimate fix. So...anyone ever use this? Could this be an option for dakotajeep?

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

I saw a fella used it on a boat with a outboard.. Turned out pretty sweet.. Lots of work though. Lots of prep..

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

pvmtsux said:

Could this be an option for dakotajeep?

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Not really. You'd still have to pull the motor and everything near the transom out of the way and at that point you may as well just put in new, properly sealed, wood instead of a couple hundred worth of SeaCast. Plus he's probably going to find stringer rot also. SeaCast is a great product but in my opinion it is best suited for an outboard boat that has a transom "cavity" you can access from above.

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

Well, as I said earlier its at the shop. They are going to give the boat a once over and let me know.

I had no idea that OMC was so outdated.

I really hope that its not as bad as everyone thinks....

Thad

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

dakotajeep said:

Well, as I said earlier its at the shop. They are going to give the boat a once over and let me know.

I had no idea that OMC was so outdated.

I really hope that its not as bad as everyone thinks....

Thad

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Me too......it's easy to jump to conclusions, without actually seeing the boat. Lets hope it's something simple! It could be as simple as a leaking hose.....

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

I am relatively new to boats as well. I have turned plenty of wrenches on Jeeps and cars. Relax. I had the same thing happen. I bought an older boat. It started taking on water. It was just the shift bellows. Since that rubber part rotted I opted to redo all the bellows and buy all the tools to do it. I live in Pensacola, not sure where you are at in Florida, but you are welcome to borrow all the tools from me as long as you return them in the same condition they left and you provide me with a bottle of Jack Daniels or a case of Bud Light. BTW for all the tools to do it right I can also give you vectors to get them, but plan on about 300.00 to get everything you need.

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

dakotajeep said:

Well, as I said earlier its at the shop. They are going to give the boat a once over and let me know.

I had no idea that OMC was so outdated.

I really hope that its not as bad as everyone thinks....

Thad

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H Thad,


Well,

We always hope "that"!


Add, YES, they are "that" outdated....... Although The company (OMC) is gone, depending on the model, AND some critical parts are no longer available, most of the "normal" wear parts are generally available...........


I did the same thing except I bought a 1987 OMC powered (in my sig) boat from my Brother who bought it new!!

When I got it apart, I drilled the transom in a few places and water RAN OUT OF THE HOLES!

I also drilled the transom drain out using a hole saw....... it wasn't sealed well and quite a bit of water ran out!

This is VERY common in older boats! If the water is allowed to sit very long in unprotected wood, it causes rot. Transom,floor and (under-floor) stringers.

You also have a 1987 model year OMC Cobra drive system, which may or may not have it's problems going on......

If you have rotten transom and/or stringers it WILL cause alignment problems. Alignment problems frequently cause coupler failures (requiring engine R&R)


It's worth determining the state of ROT "back there"............




Good luck,



Rick

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

Hypothetically speaking, if I had to replace the outdrive what would that cost? I understand that there must be many variables, but generally speaking. I would like to keep the engine since it runs great. Basically, I am curious what is would cost to replace the outdrive?

Also, what would having the transom repaced cost? Again generally speaking. Just trying to figure which route I should take if this is rotted out...

Thanks
Thad

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

Also, what would having the transom repaced cost? Again generally speaking. Just trying to figure which route I should take if this is rotted out...

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Ayuh,... Depending on just how Rotten it is,....
$2,000. to $5,000....

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

Outdrives are not cheap. I just replace my lower and spent $800...<---That's acctually a GOOD DEAL!

Re: Newbie with tons of questions!

I got F*^&'ed hard. Really hard.

The transom is rotten. Confirmed by the boat mechanic.

The engine has a crack in the block....I got screwed.

What do you guys think I should do with my new yard ornament?

Thanks
Thad