Ben's Boat Repair
Dear Boat Owners,
Since closing in October 2016, we have kept our eye on the industry, the economy, and the changing climate conditions. We find the conditions are still unfavorable economically, and are disappointed by the industry's lack of progressive innovations.
Consumer demand often drives progress and innovation. Many consumers seem to be unaware of the incredible innovations happening around the world, so we have decided to use this space to increase your awareness of the alternatives to gasoline.
Imagine owning a boat that requires no oil changes, fuel stabilizers, or winterizing. Imagine never paying marina fuel prices ever again. Imagine never trashing another engine because of ethanol damage.
"Rainbow water" is bad for the environment. We can no longer be complacent or complicit in the destruction on the planet. I can no longer look into the eyes of your children and grandchildren without feeling shame.
If that makes me a "tree hugging liberal", I'm okay with that.
Love,
The Wench
An eye on the emerging future
Call or Text: 254-716-9593
Stern Drives aka outdrives aka Inboard/Outdrive
The Stern Drive is essentially the "transmission" for the boat. Through the correct operation of the gear selector and shift cable, the unit makes the boat go forward or reverse. It requires regular maintenance just like the engine does. It has been our observation that the average customer is a forgetful creature, often storing the boat with the unit in the raised or trailering position. This will lead to premature shift cable failure which can result in severe internal damage to the unit.
There are several other important components to be aware of as well.
The Prop and Skeg
The prop and skeg are the first in line for damage because they hang below the water. Your skeg (the pointy piece at the bottom) is the only protector of your prop. If you damage your skeg by dragging your drive or hitting rocks, your prop will suffer and so will your boat's performance. A chewed-up prop with misshapen blades will not perform as well as one with smooth and rounded blades. The "Prop Guy" in Valley Mills, Tx fixes props and skegs for a reasonable price. There are also accessories you can buy to help protect these pieces, such as a Prop Guard or Skeg Guard. Some props contain hubs that will save your drive if you hit a log or get tangled in a rope.
Gimbal Bearing and
Transom Plate
A gimbal bearing and bellows kit usually averages around $300 plus a few hours labor. It's a good idea to change the bellows every couple of years, and it's not a bad idea to do the bearing while you're at it. When a gimbal bearing locks up, it will destroy the u-joint shaft, transom plate, bellows, housing, etc. Spending $500 on preventative maintenance will save you $6000.
The U-Joint Shaft
This is what $500 looks like. That's the average price for a U-Joint shaft, some are more expensive than others. U-joint shafts break for several reasons. If you hit something, like a log or the boat dock... and your prop doesn't have a hub... or if you neglect your bellows or your gimbal bearing... you'll end up buying one of these.
U-Joint Shaft part 2
The hip bone's connected to the thigh bone, right? Well, on a boat The engine is connected to the drive through the engine coupler. The U-joint shaft runs through the gimbal bearing into the engine coupler. The u-joint shaft is connected to the gears in the drive which are connected to the prop. If the prop stops, something will break. If the gimbal bearing seizes, something will break. Take care of your equipment, know your depths, watch out for underwater hazards. Boat doesn't have to mean "bust out another thousand".