I decided it was about time to dig my ChrisCraft 169 out of the
mothballs to start the spring boating.

it was winterized correctly, but needles to say. I'm wondering what is
going on. it appears to ahve gear lube oil seeping from the lower end,
especially from between the prop and lower end housing and also from
the bottom of the water intake ports, left the lower end in "trailer"
position for the last 6 months, and was wondering if I have seal[s]
going out? or is this a sign of a more serious complication. I was
wondering if there is anything I could inspect before taking it to a
marina. Understandably, those guys are pretty well covered up this time
of year, and if ti's something simple I'd like to get going.

any help is appreciated.
Thanks!

On 16 May 2005 19:47:12 -0700, "Tim" wrote:

I decided it was about time to dig my ChrisCraft 169 out of the
mothballs to start the spring boating.

it was winterized correctly, but needles to say. I'm wondering what is
going on. it appears to ahve gear lube oil seeping from the lower end,
especially from between the prop and lower end housing and also from
the bottom of the water intake ports, left the lower end in "trailer"
position for the last 6 months, and was wondering if I have seal[s]
going out? or is this a sign of a more serious complication. I was
wondering if there is anything I could inspect before taking it to a
marina. Understandably, those guys are pretty well covered up this time
of year, and if ti's something simple I'd like to get going.

any help is appreciated.
Thanks!

This suggests a leaky seal on the downshaft of the upper unit, or the
tail shaft of the lower unit.
Cheap Approach: check /fill oil levels, take a ride.
Inspect for leakage and level after.
Bristol Approach: Get a pressure check,
replace seals as necessary.

Brian Whatcott

Thanks Brian,

I thought to myse3lf, I dot' have time for this crap, so I toook it to
a friend of mine who isn't really a mechanic, but used to work part
time for a marine mechanic when in highschool. Not skillfull, but
knowledgeable.

it looked at the bottom, and saw where somebody had welded on the
housing to fill up soe type of crack. We thought that in it's previous
life it had been frozen, but are more covinced that it was hit. We did
siome scraping around inside the drain hole, and found SAND!

ARRRRGH! somebody hit it, did a quick fix (sor of) then threw it on
ebay to get rid of it.

So....

I will say it IS a nice boat and worth more than I gave for it, but I'm
thinking on installing a new bottom end lower half.

Costly, but it's done right.

Thanks!
Tim

The old saying: "Always hope for the best and expect the worst"

I took the boat to a good marine mechanic, and he told me that he
really didn't think it was that bad, and could be repaired fairly
easily. He told me after he had the lower end dissasembled, he'd tell
me the olutcome and give me an estimate. But so far he said it would
propbably be about $150-175.00 to change the seals, flush out the
housing, inspect the gears and weld the casting. This guy has been
working on boats for about 30 years, and from what I gather the people
I've talked with say he's "the man"


*Whew*

"Tim" wrote in
oups.com:

But so far he said it would
propbably be about $150-175.00 to change the seals, flush out the
housing, inspect the gears and weld the casting. This guy has been
working on boats for about 30 years, and from what I gather the people
I've talked with say he's "the man"


Look closely at his face when you ask him for this in writing....(c;

$175 is the price for a nut on an Alpha One....

Oh, I understand.

where I was getting the real concern is all the oily looking crap
bleeding fromt he water intake and the prop. he told me that what that
was,...was a mixture of green anti-freeze and some RV "pink crap".

When I got the boat, i noticed there was a portion of a bottle of "pink
crap" back by the engine compartment. so actually, no leaks.

But I wanted him to do an inspection on it anyhow. I have heard ghost
stories of somebody getting out in the middle of the lake with a burned
out gimple or lower end. Not saying it would happen, but it could
happen.... he's going to pull the unit also and install a new lower
water pump, inspect the shafts and gears.. concerning the crack in the
housing? The friend that recommended him to me, told me that he welded
up a hole in his bravo 1 , and there was no problem.

So, I'm pretty confident in his work. if the lower end is shot,(which
I really doubt) I'll pay him for his time and if I think his estimate
is too high, I'll get a new aftermarket lower end from ebay. I don't
know if they are better or worse, but they have a one year warrenty for
less than $800.00 , a book, and do it myself.

Tim

Well, here's the latest.

I picked it up today and payed the bill. parts $115.90 Labor 2-1/2 hrs
87.50.

"Removed and replaced lower unit. reseaql leak replace lower pump.

Alpha 1 waterpump kit 77.80, shift seal 17.95, lower unit grease 7.95,
trim tab 12.20

total w/tx. 211.20

we talked about it for about a half hr. and he was giving me the
details and what and how to check stuff. he was pretty thorough. he
wasn't far off his guestimation of $175. so I'm not griping.

I think it was a fair shake. now...TO THE LAKE!!

Tim

On 21 May 2005 12:01:32 -0700, "Tim" wrote:


Well, here's the latest.

I picked it up today and payed the bill. parts $115.90 Labor 2-1/2 hrs
87.50.

"Removed and replaced lower unit. reseaql leak replace lower pump.

Alpha 1 waterpump kit 77.80, shift seal 17.95, lower unit grease 7.95,
trim tab 12.20

total w/tx. 211.20

we talked about it for about a half hr. and he was giving me the
details and what and how to check stuff. he was pretty thorough. he
wasn't far off his guestimation of $175. so I'm not griping.

I think it was a fair shake. now...TO THE LAKE!!

Tim

Stay away from the shallow rocks!

Brian Whatcott Altus, OK

Brian Whatcott wrote in
:

Stay away from the shallow rocks!

Brian Whatcott Altus, OK



Wow! Tim got out CHEAP!......

On Sat, 21 May 2005 20:28:05 -0400, Larry W4CSC
wrote:

Brian Whatcott wrote in
:

Stay away from the shallow rocks!

Brian Whatcott Altus, OK



Wow! Tim got out CHEAP!......

....this time!

:-)

Brian W