All of this talk about low transoms and cut out transoms, being the
number one reason for outboard motors sinking, made me think about the
number one reason I/O engines sink is due to a failure rubber outdrive boot.

I check the boot annually and whenever I go in the water, but has anyone
seen a recommended life on a I/O. Seaworthy Magazine recommends
changing them every 5 years, but does this include fresh water boats?

My boat is 7 years old, and the boot seems as pliable w/o any visible
cracks what so ever, but I am feeling it might be time to change the
sucker.

"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote in message
. ..
All of this talk about low transoms and cut out transoms, being the number
one reason for outboard motors sinking, made me think about the number one
reason I/O engines sink is due to a failure rubber outdrive boot.

I check the boot annually and whenever I go in the water, but has anyone
seen a recommended life on a I/O. Seaworthy Magazine recommends changing
them every 5 years, but does this include fresh water boats?

My boat is 7 years old, and the boot seems as pliable w/o any visible
cracks what so ever, but I am feeling it might be time to change the
sucker.

often wondered the same myself...

My rubber boot is 11 years old and still pliable no signs of dry rot or
brittleness. But I check it often and my boat does not stay in the water.

My last boat sunk for this exact reason. I was leaving it in the water,
hadn't checked the boot and when I came back the boat has sunk. A LOT of
work for a rubber boot!!!!

"john" wrote:
My last boat sunk for this exact reason.

How old was the boot? And was it moored in salt or fresh water?

I've owned a couple of sterndrives over the years, with boots that
became fairly old ( 10 yrs), but I would never leave them in the
water. Well.... except maybe a weekend here and there or a week
(vacation) when I planned to use it every day.
From what I've seen of moored boats, I would think a boot would last a
lot longer kept in fresh water than salt.

Rick

wrote in message
...
"john" wrote:
My last boat sunk for this exact reason.

How old was the boot? And was it moored in salt or fresh water?

I've owned a couple of sterndrives over the years, with boots that
became fairly old ( 10 yrs), but I would never leave them in the
water. Well.... except maybe a weekend here and there or a week
(vacation) when I planned to use it every day.
From what I've seen of moored boats, I would think a boot would last a
lot longer kept in fresh water than salt.

Rick

I only left it in the water from weekend to weekend myself, It was in Fresh
water. It has been a while, I haven't had that boat for 10 years. I
"think" the boot was probably about 17 years old, but it might have been
older, I was the third owner, I bought the boat and drove it for 7-8 years
before it sunk.
It was my first I/O and now I know better to check those kinds of things.

On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:58:38 -0400, Reginald P. Smithers III penned
the following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

All of this talk about low transoms and cut out transoms, being the
number one reason for outboard motors sinking, made me think about the
number one reason I/O engines sink is due to a failure rubber outdrive boot.

I check the boot annually and whenever I go in the water, but has anyone
seen a recommended life on a I/O. Seaworthy Magazine recommends
changing them every 5 years, but does this include fresh water boats?

My boat is 7 years old, and the boot seems as pliable w/o any visible
cracks what so ever, but I am feeling it might be time to change the
sucker.

Changing it is probably some pretty cheap insurance. Cracks usually
form in the creases, which are not all that easy to asses correctly.

You probably need to inspect every three months and replace at least
every 5 years.... sort of like the cooling impeller.... you don't want
to wait until it *needs* repair to fix it!

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
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Gene Kearns wrote:
On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:58:38 -0400, Reginald P. Smithers III penned
the following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

All of this talk about low transoms and cut out transoms, being the
number one reason for outboard motors sinking, made me think about the
number one reason I/O engines sink is due to a failure rubber outdrive boot.

I check the boot annually and whenever I go in the water, but has anyone
seen a recommended life on a I/O. Seaworthy Magazine recommends
changing them every 5 years, but does this include fresh water boats?

My boat is 7 years old, and the boot seems as pliable w/o any visible
cracks what so ever, but I am feeling it might be time to change the
sucker.

Changing it is probably some pretty cheap insurance. Cracks usually
form in the creases, which are not all that easy to asses correctly.

You probably need to inspect every three months and replace at least
every 5 years.... sort of like the cooling impeller.... you don't want
to wait until it *needs* repair to fix it!


I think you are correct. Has anyone changed the outdrive boot and is it
a DIY'er job or one best left to the pro's.

"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote
Has anyone changed the outdrive boot and is it a DIY'er job or one best
left to the pro's.

The one I replaced didn't take any particularly special skills, but it did
take several special tools:
http://home.comcast.net/~blizzard3/boat/bellows.htm

On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:37:09 -0400, "Ernest Scribbler"
wrote:

"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote
Has anyone changed the outdrive boot and is it a DIY'er job or one best
left to the pro's.

The one I replaced didn't take any particularly special skills, but it did
take several special tools:
http://home.comcast.net/~blizzard3/boat/bellows.htm


Scroll to the bottom and click on index. This guy writes up his trials and
tribulations pretty well!
--
John H

John H. wrote:
On Tue, 21 Aug 2007 19:37:09 -0400, "Ernest Scribbler"
wrote:

"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote
Has anyone changed the outdrive boot and is it a DIY'er job or one best
left to the pro's.
The one I replaced didn't take any particularly special skills, but it did
take several special tools:
http://home.comcast.net/~blizzard3/boat/bellows.htm


Scroll to the bottom and click on index. This guy writes up his trials and
tribulations pretty well!

Thanks, and I did notice it was not an easy procedure. It is one i
definitely will pay someone to do.

Ernest Scribbler wrote:
"Reginald P. Smithers III" wrote
Has anyone changed the outdrive boot and is it a DIY'er job or one best
left to the pro's.

The one I replaced didn't take any particularly special skills, but it did
take several special tools:
http://home.comcast.net/~blizzard3/boat/bellows.htm


Ernest,
Thanks for the great link and write up. I think it goes beyond my skills.