@ harringtondav: Thanks for the briefing on the torque. I'm still wrapping my head around how the drive can be so torqued when there's just a prop spinning in water. I have no doubt I need to accept your explanation...I just don't get it. I can move 200 lbs. of water just by jumping in it.
On your FYI, it is curious to me why there would be wooden anchors for motors to begin with in vessels that certainly get water in the bilge from time to time.
I used regular Bondo fiberglass resin available at pretty much any hardware store.Only took a gallon with 'clumping' kitty litter to create the medium to anchor the motor mounts. To give me more time I only used about 2/3 of the hardener required. It took a little longer to set up but the voids where the rotted wood was removed were still pretty stout. Once they were filled with the resin mixture they turned out at least as solid as wood would have been. I drilled 11/32" holes and used 2 - 6" x 1/2" stainless lags to anchor each of the motor mounts through the polyethylene shims. In my view it is rot proof now.
Moving forward; I am likely to install a Bravo One if only so I don't have to forfeit the adrenalin rush. I know it's adolescent, but I refuse to grow up, and frankly, I get a thrill out of it.
@ achris and Bondo: I appreciate your honest comments; even though I don't like their implication. I was looking for simple answers, and although you did answer my questions simply, they weren't the answers I wanted. I wanted someone to tell me to just put the Alpha One Gen I back on and you'll be good with your exuberant habits. Clearly that's not the case. So...I have sourced a rebuilt Bravo One, again for a reasonable price, although twice that of a rebuilt Alpha One. And, if you will help me further, I have more questions for y'all to make sure I only do this once:
- Do I need to change the transom plate on the inside? The rebuilt drive I found comes complete with the transom plate, hoses, trim cylinders, oil reservoir, trim pump, gimbal assembly. The whole shebang.
- Will my existing throttle/shifter work with the Bravo One?
- Will my existing power steering system that works on an Alpha bolt onto a Bravo?
- The 5.7 has v-belts. I found a v-belt raw water pump, bracket and pulley. The current configuration pumps water through a power steering cooler before it goes to the engine water pump. Clearly the incoming water comes through the Bravo Sterndrive. Do I then connect the pumped water to the power steering cooler?
I appreciate your help in this.
Thanks,
