Fellas,glad to find the site and forum is an understatement!
Just got a wake up call from a friend/mechanic helping me with my recently aquired '38 offshore..
We had agreed the TRS drive units needed replacement or
upgrading(cracked housings) but disagreed on initial prices of
bravo(XR) drives (rebuilt) found in lauderdale.
I for one figured I'd try you guys here first..
Then out of the blue he calls and tells me something catostrophic is wrong with the hull and he doesn't believe I have the stomach or wallet to withstand the strain.
After days losing sleep he does agree to meet to discuss problem but has offered to buy my problem?
Then calls to postpone but after pressing the issue explains that a transom gasket has been blown by hydraulic fluid or
pressure and must be the reason boat was sold or auctiuoned?
He also states hull integrity has been compromised( prior
owner must have hit rocks-he says) and boat likely won't float!
I understood these hulls to be some of the stongest on the planet and foam filled so why shouldn't it float?
Tell me this isn't the transom gasket that's between the
gimbal and the transom..? With the transom plate on the inner flange ?Somebody tell me I'm getting bull****ted here?
Thanks in advance B..

Welcome
I think your friend/mechanic is talking with a paper a$$hole. Where are you located so we can find someone for you to looks at this?

I would not think it's all that bad... tell us more, post pictures of what is the problem... It's fiberglass so almost everything is fixable, up to a certain level... get a moisture test see how bad the hull may be, if ever it is...

Sounds about as fishy as stories come.

We have someone around you who can look at this for you. I'm assuming you looked under this and didn't see sunlight shining through the bottom so you're most likely OK. If it's the transom that's the issue, you do have the possibility of needing it replaced- that's common and not a big deal. It's dirty work but very do-able for someone with basic skills and there's no shortage of guys who can do it for you. If you were going to Bravos it needed to be done anyway- the x-dimension between the TRS and the bravo is different- basically you'd need to move the outdrive holes in your transom- meaning you have to plug it first before relocating for the new drives.

You're right- while everything is certainly breakable, the Cig 38 is pretty much up at the top of the food chain as far as nearing un-breakable. They are not foam-cored. They're fiberglass-cored. The lay glass in the mold, then they lay more, then on top of that, they add more layers. They're built old-fashioned tough.

Sound like he's feeding you a bunch of crap.

i'd second that, especially if he is offering to buy it.

Hey thanks for the input guys ..it goes along way in allaying my fears and learning curve.
My BS sensor has been going off for three days!
I will be looking for an alternative shop and or storage so I
can obtain a second opinion.
I'm in the annapolis,maryland area and would greatly appreciate any ideas for someone objective to look over what
I'm dealing with.
Yeah when someone offers to buy my problem and get me
out of a jam ,the BS sensors go wild!
Much thanks Bert...email [email protected]

Try MDG Performance in Edgewater...410-956-5381. Ask for Dave. I have had a good experience with him working on my 35 Cafe.

You might want to consider going with Konrad drives as opposed to the bravos. I think that they would hold up better on that heavy hull and be an easier swap. P.M. ''Biggus" here on OSO and He will fill you in.

Roger

Thanks for the recommendation Roger! Cigg, Konrad Marine offers a bolt-on replacement drive package for the old TRS units. Warranteed to 800 hp.

Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] and I'll send over a brochure.

Kurt