wrote in message
...
On Apr 26, 12:32 pm, wrote:
Jim Rojas wrote:
I didn't like the older OMC stern drives because it had
that over sized boot on the transom. Those could really get you in
trouble quickly if they gave way.

I had one of those. And yes, it was a concern in the back of my mind
but I never had a problem with it. The advantage though, was it was
right out in the open and easy to inspect. Any problem with cracking
or deterioration would be noticable right away.
Both of the boats that I saw sunk with my own two eyes were
Mercruisers, in their slips, left unattended. Both sinkings could have
been easily prevented with regular inspection but... just didn't
happen. I don't know why. To much trouble I guess.

Rick

Lots of boats sink in their slips. Just because they had mercs
doesn't mean that they sank because of the boot on the drive. You saw
the failed boot? Or you "heard" about from someone who "heard" about
it, etc. The boot very seldom fails just sitting unless they are old
and the drive is left tilted up. Which you are not supposed to do.
Anyone that leaves an i/o in a slip is not too smart anyway.
Especially salt water.

We have had a couple of boats sink locally because of holes in boots. But
all those I know of were because the muskrats chewed the hole in the boot.
The Sacramento Delta has a thriving population of the little buggers.