OMC Stringer Boot Orientation?

[flockshot]

I read today in a post that the Sierra transom boot should be installed with the "double arrow" pointed down. The poster says that he learned this the hard way.

I just installed mine on my OMC 400 Stringer with the arrows up. I did not buy it directly from Sierra but it does have the double arrow. Must I reinstall with the arrows down? Will it work either way? Was the other post accurate about the double arrow pointing down?

I will do what it takes to get it right, but I don't want to change it if it isn't installed wrong.

 

[flockshot]

Re: OMC Stringer Boot Orientation?

After a good number of people reading this post, and no comments, I must assume that the "arrows up" orientation is correct.

I have not found any knowledgable people who believe that the arrows on OMC Stringer Boots from Sierra are pointing in the incorrect direction.

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC Stringer Boot Orientation?

After a good number of people reading this post, and no comments,

Ayuh,... It's an Antique drive,... Few to None of Us have an answer for ya....

 

[Lou C]

Re: OMC Stringer Boot Orientation?

I'm pretty good with Cobras...but stringers I know nothing of...but try asking here...there are some who are knowledgable on this forum:

http://www.marineengine.com/boat-forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4

 

[superbenk]

Re: OMC Stringer Boot Orientation?

I'm the guy that said it needed to be arrows down. The orientation is very important & you will find that if you leave it as is, you'll get cracking rubber in no time like this:

Those cracks started forming within a month or two and only got worse. When I replaced it this year I noticed that the cracks actually went all the way through and had created a hole. Fortunately I trailer the boat & haven't had the motor working well enough to have had it out for extended periods of time or else I'd have a major leak situation.

This year when I replaced it, I put the boot over the drive without screwing it to the transom in both directions (arrows up & arrows down) and stepped back to look at how it oriented against the line of the transom. With arrows down, it lines up perfectly so that it just accordians back an inch or two and lines up with the holes. With arrows up, the orientation wasn't lined up at all.

You'll also notice if you look carefully that the hole in the boot is slightly off center & biased towards the top. If you've had your boot on incorrectly for any length of time, I'd check the pleats VERY carefully for damage (both the ridges & the valleys) so you're not stuck in the middle of a lake with a big hole you can't fix.

As a side note, silicon calk WILL NOT patch the cracking rubber The silicon just peels off under water.

 

[superbenk]

Re: OMC Stringer Boot Orientation?

This is how it should look when done right:

 

[superbenk]

Re: OMC Stringer Boot Orientation?

I have not found any knowledgable people who believe that the arrows on OMC Stringer Boots from Sierra are pointing in the incorrect direction.

Down isn't necessarily a wrong direction, just not intuitive Unfortunately the manual says the boot should have 'TOP' written on the top, but at least with Sierra this is not the case.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: OMC Stringer Boot Orientation?

I put them arrows up. I use the GLM boots though, not Sierra.

 

[flockshot]

Re: OMC Stringer Boot Orientation?

Thanks for the information and expecially the pictures. Now I know exactly what to look for.