Services
Preventative Maintenance
Raw water impellers pick up river/sea water and relay it to the engine's circulating pump. These should be replaced at least every two seasons depending on usage time. This is a fairly simple process that can save a lot of headache.
Engine oil & filter changes should be completed every season; even up to twice per season if your boating involves heavy loads that work the engine hard, like full ballast wake surfing.
Outdrive gear lube is often overlooked- gear oil sees elevated temperatures and gets worked hard- it's a pretty tough life inside an outdrive! Give this item some attention every season.
DC electrical systems can build up corrosion at the terminals and limit the amount of current that can pass through to the electrical load. This situation can sometimes be misleading, for example, giving symptoms similar to a failed starter, when the terminals just need a thorough cleaning. Equally important is maintaining a good, clean ground (negative) terminal on the batteries, engine blocks, and DC bus bars.
Boatside Electrical
Switches at the helm can corrode from the inside-out, leaving you with questionable reliability. These can be changed individually, or as a group. We are typically able to find a match to an existing switch style to keep your helm looking original.
Gauges will begin to age and cease to operate as they should, or with compromised resolution. Because many boat builders have limited production runs from gauge manufacturers, a particular replacement gauge may be difficult to source. Options are available though: remove the faulty gauge and send for repair, or upgrade to a new gauge package for a sharp, newer looking helm. Gauge sets aren't as costly as one might think. A GPS speedometer is an option at this point, as well.
Navigation lights are something to check before every outing. Not only are they neat looking, they're the law. Nav lights spend a lot of time in direct sunlight. This makes the red & green plastic lenses brittle, which can break when attempting to change the bulb. Replacement assemblies are easily available.
Blower motors have a limited lifespan, too. Again, a legal requirement. This is an easy replacement and much more affordable than an engine room explosion.
[509] 713-5528
Drive Systems
Modern outdrives, V-drives, and direct drives are very reliable systems, but like anything with moving parts, they do require regular maintenance to stay in good, operational condition.
U-joint bellows create a pliable seal between the outdrive upper and the transom shield, encapsulating the universal joints and keeping water out. Typical service life for a U-joint bellow is about 5 years. Aged bellows will begin to split, letting water in, rusting the U-joints and gimbal bearing, leading to potentially greater issues.
Gimbal bearings carry the rotational load of the outdrive input shaft between the drive's upper and the engine coupler. When excessive wear occurs, this bearing will often make a low grinding noise that can be heard resonating through the transom. It is strongly advised to replace a gimbal bearing immediately when it begins to fail; the bearing can quickly seize in the transom shield and lead to a very expensive repair procedure.
Intermediate shift cables are an actuating cable that runs from the shift quadrant, on or near the engine, to the outdrive upper. These cables can stretch with age and use; the symptoms will often exhibit a chattering noise when attempting to shift from neutral.
