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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".

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