Gimbal Repair
10-27-2008, 05:50 PM
#1
Registered
Thread Starter
Gimbal Repair
I have a 2000 24 ft VIP Vindicator Boat.. Similar to 25 Outlaw. It came with a 7.4 mpi 310 hp and Bravo I Drive. I Just replaced the Motor with a 496 mag HO 425 hp with orig drive. The steering has always been a little loose, when I bought the boat it had been used for 6 mo and had 35 hrs on it. It now has about 180. I have had 2 "qualified" mechanics look at the loose steering prob and both said it needed a new Gimbel Ring as the orig one was for lack of a better term, wallowed out to a dangerous degree. On plane the boat drives and steers well , but coming off plane it pulls a little to the right. Anyway its about $1000.00 for the part and 900 for labor. Both mechanics stated the 2 bolts at the upper front of the gimbal could not be tightened further for fear of breaking them. Both also stated this is common on fast boats without external hydraulic steering. Can this not be sleeved to take up the slack? Anyone have any cheaper fixes?
Chris
Chris
10-27-2008, 06:17 PM
#2
Charter Member #601
Charter Member
Chris,
I have repaired this area before, on my own boat. Although it is not recommend by anyone and I dont recommend it. It has been done. I have removed the gimble and squared off the hole where it was wallowed out. I then took some SS sheet metal and made a sleeve that would fit snuggely in place. Retightned the u-bolt and it was solid. You have to make sure there are no fractures in the area also.
Now with dissimilar metals there can be a galvanic action that takes place so the area needs to be inspected to monitor any problems. I was in fresh water and as far as I know the boat stills has that same gimble on it.. several years later..
I think there is also a guy here on OSO that made a repair kit, making the pin larger I believe.. Do a search on gimble's, pins, etc see what you find.
Again I recommend all new parts, that would be the safest way to correct the problem.
Hope this helps.
Dick
I have repaired this area before, on my own boat. Although it is not recommend by anyone and I dont recommend it. It has been done. I have removed the gimble and squared off the hole where it was wallowed out. I then took some SS sheet metal and made a sleeve that would fit snuggely in place. Retightned the u-bolt and it was solid. You have to make sure there are no fractures in the area also.
Now with dissimilar metals there can be a galvanic action that takes place so the area needs to be inspected to monitor any problems. I was in fresh water and as far as I know the boat stills has that same gimble on it.. several years later..
I think there is also a guy here on OSO that made a repair kit, making the pin larger I believe.. Do a search on gimble's, pins, etc see what you find.
Again I recommend all new parts, that would be the safest way to correct the problem.
Hope this helps.
Dick
10-27-2008, 07:42 PM
#3
21 and 42 footers
Platinum Member
Do a search here on OSO. This has been discussed often........unless your planning on patching the boat and just dumping the problem on the next guy you should follow the advice you've already recieved (sorry 
)
btw: 1/2 the labor was done when you replaced the motor...the transom assembly needs to come out but the motor needs to come out first.
)btw: 1/2 the labor was done when you replaced the motor...the transom assembly needs to come out but the motor needs to come out first.
