water in bilge from drive?
 

So I bought a used boat last summer late and when it was winterized I had the outdrive pulled and checked too. There were no problems that made me just good measure and they saw nothing. I also store it with the drive down. I know that all this realy means nothing but its fyi.

It is taking in water in the drive. I can not see exactly but appears to be rolling straight down into the bilge. I was told that it probable the steering pin? The bravos are notorious for them I guess? The cost to fix is roughly 1500 to do that and a full belows while there.

We heading to a lake that the boat will be slipped in August and I done want to worry about it overnight.

Is there a way to tell if it is this pin or just bellows? Does it matter in the cost to fix or best to just do it all? Is this something a shade tree can handle?

Does the leak get worse when you turn the drive full lock left or right or trim it up?

Back the boat down the ramp, leave it on the trailer, and check. Move the steering to see if it gets worse. Lean in there and wiggle the shift cable to see if it gets worse. Jack the drive up and visually check the bellows if you can. I would be damned if I would willy nilly start replacing parts without having some idea of where the leak is coming from.

With the drive all the way in, see if you can move it side-to-side from outside the boat. If there is slop, then you most likely have a steering pin issue that will require eventual replacement. I would not leave a boat in the water with a steering pin issue. Not even if hooked to a battery charger and shore power.

The reason I asked this is that generally speaking, the Shift Boot and / or U-Joint Bellows are the far more common things to go and cause leaks. Moving the drive as I mentioned is an easy way to force either of those bad boys to open and close if they're leaking. Of course if you know what they look like and where they are on your drive, you can usually see the problem on dry land - particularly the Shift Boot.

Thanks all I will look and take it to the ramp for checks. I am not going to start throwing new parts at it. I just need to get it done before I go to Table Rock in August where it will be slipped.

I also have a trim sender acting up so I was thinking about opening things up and getting it all done. The shop said they would pull the drive and look for the cause, but they wanted me to be prepared that the Bravos are notorious for a steering pin issue that is expensive.

I will post my findings because before I take it in I would like to be educated.

put in water on trailer and lift drive all the way up. if leak gets worse it is shift or shaft bellows. probably shift. the shift cable and boot are 1 part you can justify willy-nilly replacing...

Well the news is not good so far after a quick check. I did not have much time between jobs (to pay for this expensive hobby) so no water just driveway.

I seem to have some play moving the outdrive, hard to tell but I think there is some, actually seems like a lot. The bellowd look good. I saw no tears, holes or anything with a good look. I will have some time to do a water check Saturday after my FD shift tommorrow. More to come, probably more money but more none the less.

have someone inside to make sure you aren't seeing play in the steering cable and blaming the pin...

I just redid both of mine. Check out jrmarine for full how to kits and parts.