"longshot" wrote in message news:Rln2i.5771$vu2.470@trndny01...

got my not so shiny new to me 1987 Bayliner in the water for the first time last night... I have a leak between the transom & hull. boat mechanic says the motor has to be pulled to put a new gasket on it. he gives me a price of 300-400. is this a reasonable price?

These days, to get a boat mechanic to show up and pee in your bilge for $300-400 is reasonable. For him to actually fix something for that price is an outright steal.

1. The problem you mention is a common one.

2. Yes, the engine does need to be pulled to replace the seal.

3. $300-400 is more than reasonable for the job, assuming the mechanic is competent to do it correctly.


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$3100 for the boast , $80 to dewinterize... $358 in title/tax fees, now another $400 for the leak... arrrrgggghhh!

I've got bad news for you, sunshine. You're just barely getting started. You have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, but you will.

To verify where the leak is, fill the bilge with a garden hose while the boat is on the trailer. Fill it high enough to involve the bottom of the transom mount for the outdrive, but low enough not to involve the starter motor or any other electrics. If you have an automatic bilge pump, temporarily disable it. Observe where the water exits at the transom. Leak found and confirmed. Drain bilge by removing the plug. Sometimes the drain plug itself can be the source of the leak, which is a cheap fix.