You will pay even more for this service if there are no professionals for that job nearby. If the shaft is not correctly aligned with this opening, as it often isn't, it may mean the shaft is in contact with this flange, often to such a degree that it is bending the shaft. Check the StrutsYou can check the struts yourself by taking a heavy wood shoring block and hitting the strut hub with it. Once all the products required are added up, the total cost to DIY washing your boat will be around $200per year for all the washes throughout the year. Such a bow may lead to excessive vibration, premature cutless bearing wear and in extreme cases, shaft failure. a few thousandths of an inch is a waste of time. the shaft will tend to self-center as a result of centrifugal force. A conventional shafting system is essentially a If within .003 to .004 reading, tighten the flange bolts and youre finished. out of the base, then you can be sure that you have a loose strut. If they are at the maximum range, fully depressed or fully extended, it leaves no room for future fine tuning and in the latter case the increased leverage increases the likelihood of failure. Over forty years of knowledge and experience The Important FactorsSmaller boats typically have only one strut per shaft, while larger ones will have two. In fact, most sailboats with an inboard engine run on 15 to 30 HP. If there is water squirting out of the base, then you can be sure that you have a loose strut. that a lack of general understanding of these systems often translates Never forget that negligent maintenance and irregular oil changes can significantly shorten an engines lasting. Further, the shape of the hull changes shortchanged. Even an axle change on a small trailer would cost you around $600, depending on the place you are looking at. rough water and measuring stringer deflection. Once the adjustment process is complete, and the gap is minimized, the coupling bolts can be installed. of Marine Surveyors in 1972, he has conducted over If not, repeat the process, adding or removing shims until your reading is correct. When the vessel I was aboard pounded into 12 foot head seas and 50 knots winds hour after interminable hour, as she madeher way north form the Norwegian mainland, maintaining her heading and control throughout, I thought about the value of her robust steering system and over-sized hydraulic autopilot pumps. definitely a problem. As you can see, it is necessary to consider all possible factors before going shopping since buying a motor is a long-term investment. Related Post What Are Blisters On A Boat? Shafts 1-1/2" If your coupling is not perfectly parallel you can tell where the problem is by where the bigger gap is; top or bottom means the engine needs to go up or down in either the front or back; a bigger gap on either side means the engine needs adjusting side to side. the stuffing box flange plate hole. This varies slightly depending on the boat and its condition, but it will be close to those figures. . Look for a feature article on this passage, covering its many natural wonders, and lessons, in the months to come. If they are all tight, you can continue with loosening the flange as described. They also have slots on the aft side of the mounts where the mounts attach to the engine bed; these allow for minor movement side to side. More often than not, the source of the problem lies elsewhere. Bertrams, Hatteras or Viking yachts. after getting the boat back in May 2011, the new rebuilt engine would bog down when given full throttle from idle and . the engines steady is very simple, it is called the Back Down Test. And generally, waxing is required once every 1 3 years, not every year, though. Eliminating shaft droop can be accomplished using a hanging or conventional scale, thereby accounting for the weight of the shaft and coupling. 2019-2022 Junko A. Pascoe All rights reserved. That way, you will get more horsepower, switch to a joystick controller, and improve other boat features. (3) Hitting something in the water knocks struts out of alignment, usually too little to notice visually. to structural hull weaknesses. Shipping speed. However, some bottom paints can effectively last for one to two years or more. The Ins and Outs of Engine and Shaft Alignment A laser can be used to "sight through" a shaft. shafts tend toward self-centering. as the shaft is not being bent around the hull opening flange. Note that its badly cocked to the However, it is highly fuel-efficient and has only one moving part, meaning you will have problems with only a few components over the years. between strut and prop hub should be no more than 50% of Weak engine mounts mean that Ideally, these should be tight and the coupling surfaces parallel. problem develops. that is on a calibrated roller bed. David Pascoe is a second generation marine surveyor Cummins Care Marine Specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help with the following requests: Providing consistent communication and updates on repair event status. It is designed for use with all Mercruiser all MC-I, R-MR, Alpha I, and Alpha I/Gen II stern drives. While its possible to achieve a If the shaft moves up and down, its worn and is ready for replacement. Therefore, you should take no chances, make sure yours is correct. David Pascoe is the has gone into its design. Progressively the engine settles lower and lower until it is eventually bending the shaft. MerCruiser Boat Engines and Motors, MerCruiser Complete Sterndrive Engines, whole lot more than the skinny strut, and that's why some builders Vibration causes damage to other systems. The changing shape of the hull is likely Factors That Affect the Price not hard to see the futility of it all. If the engine is properly supported and the contact point in the strut (the cutlass bearing) is in good shape, the next step is to check the alignment at the coupling. So they installed the rebuilt engine and replaced the captain's call exhaust components at a cost of almost $11K. For more photo albums, visit SDMCs Photo Gallery. But the cost of having your boat winterized by a professional varies greatly. This is an important distinction that is often confused. If you use your vessel for regular fishing trips, it is necessary to check the engine every five years. small outboard engines (2-5 hp): $1,000 - $1,500. Navigating the boat market for bass boats can be daunting with such an array of design features, models, and brands. This puny little mount on a diesel Most boat owners aren't even aware that engine alignment is one of those things that requires occasional maintenance, and is one of the last things to be considered when some kind of drive system problem develops. Unless you have taken proper care of it, they are going to spread quickly throughout the boat. SAE spec on the coupler minor dia ispline is 1.005"/1.000". matter what you do. Michael H. Bartlett has performed over 1,500 successful optical alignment procedures working at yacht and ship builders and repair yards since 1998. On fiberglass boats particularly, two alignments are required, one when the boat is on land and again when the boat is floating. Maintaining those devices on the boat will cost you some percent every year. For example, take the blister scenario. gauging the amount of movement relative to the deck above. the struts yourself by taking a heavy wood shoring block and hitting Boats being in moist environments most of the time causes many other problems along with the common ones. When there are tens of thousands Boating Valley is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Under no circumstances should stainless steel bolts be used. As the shaft bearings are aligned, the engine is also brought into precise alignment with the shaft. to change position. shaft is really very easy, but the principle is the same for both. particularly when it is hauled. Free shipping. There is no doubt that this strut will hold the shaft go sending the props off to the prop shop, or call for an engine Marine Engine Alignment. If the shaft is touching, Add to this the factor of the boat hull not being rigid and its Needless to say, they are also more expensive. Albeit relatively minor, the passage was not without its failures, among these, the day before my departure a leak was noted at one of the steering rams (one that had been replaced two years ago), and the main engines raw water pump developed a leak, which Migrations owner repaired shortly after my departure. Lock washes or locking nuts must be used, and in all cases a minimum of two threads should protrude past the nut. Plus, you can replace several engine parts on your own, like: You only need to be skillful and have adequate tools and spare parts. leverage to the mount. If it is, you have a problem. Once your boat engine turns twenty, you will hardly find a suitable replacement or at least necessary parts. Repowering is one of the alternatives to engine replacement. The process includes cleaning and testing one component after another. no way this long, thin strut is going to prevent the propeller Inboard engines are the most affordable type, and you can buy one for $1,000 to $1,500. An inboard powerboat engine replacement costs approximately $15,000, while you should set aside about $5,000 to $10,000 to replace the motor for a sailboat. toward the top. on, despite the fact the coupling can be difficult or even impossible It is also used for OMC Cobra stern drives. Weak Engine Mounts Top quality to understand why transmissions break down, stuffing boxes leak the strut hub with it. Ill give you a few tips on how to check the alignment and adjust it so your boat runs perfectly smooth. Then look at the strut width Check this article to know more about the overall costs of boat ownership, like costs of storage, maintenance, fuel costs, insurances, etc. Typically there is about 1/4' total clearance here (1/8" all around). At the least, this type should not need to replace it. If the boat is equipped with the more modern cast aluminum and rubber mounts a threaded stud and lock nuts, the alignment procedure is similar but the adjustments are accomplished without using metal shims. left. one side, or cocked in the up and down plane, then there's no way The stronger and faster boat you have, the more you will pay for its engine replacement. If you are lucky enough, the mechanic will determine the problem in inexpensive engine parts. Let see those individual maintenance costs and their needs in a detailed way.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'boatingvalley_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingvalley_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'boatingvalley_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',199,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingvalley_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-199{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Wear or worn out engine mounts cause drive shaft misalignment to stern drive, causing universal joints and gimbal bearings to oscillate and wear out. the same size propeller. To get the engine to align I remove the front shims to bring the rear of the engine up but it still wan't enough. 1.5" tend to be self-centering because they will bend so some for, but can save yourself a lot of money by heading off problems The Nature of Inboard Drive Systems For skilled professionals, analysis is often quick and easy, rarely taking more than a couple of hours. some misunderstanding about this. The first and most familiar is that which occurs between the engine and shaft, often referred to simply as engine alignment. will have two. Blisters on a boat are bubbles of water under the Gelcoat. I know that seems like a lot. that the engine can be aligned to it. be shocked when you see as much as 1/4" deflection, for this If the gap between the flanges occurs lagerally, you make adjustments to the mounts by adding shims and/or moving the engine. of dollars at stake in machinery, the drive support system must The fact is that conventional shafting systems will tolerate a great With todays storm and major storms like Hurricane Sandy becoming more destructive, more information Storm damaged boats go to a liquidator, whose job it is to sell it at auction. Published by: D. H. Pascoe & Co., Inc. why vee drives have more problems than straight shafted boats. When you find the .004 blade also slides between the flange halves, you will know an adjustment of the alignment is needed. why. drives are the least intolerant to misalignment or weaknesses in I'd remove the coupler bolts, slide the shaft back enough so the coupler pilot disengages and see if you are at the midpoint of your up/down shaft movement. Keep the trailer light connection on your tow vehicle covered when not towing to prevent corrosion (, Secondary (engine mounted) fuel filter change. However, it varies drastically from as small as $700 or less per year (if you DIY) to $5,000 or more per year (if you hire a professional to do it). Observe the shafts while running at stud to make sure that its centered in the base with the vessel (2)Hullchanges shape. And when its moving that much, its not hard Transmission failure caused by increased stress on the rear Periodically check your tires for wear and age. As noted above, boat hulls can and do change shape over time, 14 Examples (Various models), link to How Much Does a Bass Boat Cost? Thus, a five inch diameter coupling should accept a feeler gauge that is no larger than 0.004 (again, less is better) at any point around the interface. $19.99. The situation is analogous When it's centered, the shaft droop will have been eliminated. strong struts are, just take a look at the huge struts used on larger That way, you can save thousands of dollars, depending on the necessary components and the damage extent. In this article, we will walk you through how much it costs to maintain a boat per year. Does an Overhaul Entail?" Thus, a 1/16" To prevent gel coat oxidation and color fading, waxing your boat is a must. However, if you DIY, it could cost around $200, but it could cost around $3 $5 per foot per wash if you hire someone to do it. Related Post Symptoms Of A Bad Boat Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter, Impeller, Starter, Alternator, battery, and spark plugs. Also note whether the hull bottom is deflecting to cause the shaft to bend. Of course, when someone is trying to align the If a gap existed at the 6:00 oclock position, the front of the engine would have to be lowered. at idle speeds but not at cruise. All should be free of any dents, dings, scoring, corrosion or other damage, and they must be capable of engaging each other snugly (you cant actually see them engage once assembled, however, the engagement can be felt, if the pilot bushing and indentation into which it fits are not a snug fit, the coupling may be off center). Joined Jul 26, 2010 Messages 447. Here's a short list of the problems that can be caused by engine/shaft alignment faults: Misaligned strut galls shaft, requiring shaft replacement. of articles have appeared in boating publications about dial indicating the length of the other, which allows a much longer bearing that Articles, Images: Copyright Vee drives need to have very solid engine mounts, While its possible to achieve a close tolerance at the coupling, correct alignment here does not mean that the overall alignment is correct. Engine alignment is a subject that is little understood and often neglected. be aligned with the engines. This varies slightly depending on your boat and its condition, though it will likely be close to this figure. is common. engine, is there? Most professionals, when discussing alignment, are referring to the first type, that which involves the engine. Shop for all your boating needs at www.wholesalemarine.com This video is a guided demonstration on how to align your boat engine. in rubber bearings. Observe the point where the engine bracket attaches to the mount. At If the mounts are the vertical stud type set in followed by engine mount and strut problems. I hope you find it both useful and interesting. This is also the reason why vee drives have more problems than straight shafted boats. the entire weight of the boat and some beef is needed there to hold This is because shafts with multiple bearings can bend it into Otherwise, it is better to call the service to prevent worsening the problem and spending more money. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'boatingvalley_com-box-3','ezslot_10',614,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingvalley_com-box-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'boatingvalley_com-box-3','ezslot_11',614,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-boatingvalley_com-box-3-0_1');.box-3-multi-614{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Apart from buying a boat which is expensive in many ways, even the maintenance costs for that boat are also an extra expense to spend the money on each year. How Long Do Boat Motors Last? Gravity will bend a 15' shaft a lot. I documented the passage on my own, as well as the vessel manufacturers, website. shaft diameter. Loosening of struts, causing leaking and possible sinking. How's that? The engine mounts have adjuster nuts that allow you to raise or lower the engine front or back. to a guy with a feeler gauge trying to make an alignment within the mounts for movement. Runout up to 1/8" is acceptable on shafts 1-1/2" and under Articles, Images: Copyright 1997 - 2018 David H. Pascoe All rights reserved. are completely rigid (which they usually aren't) the shaft goes the source of the problem and fixing what doesn't need to be fixed. The tolerance is within .003 thousandths measured with a feeler gauge. To make an alignment even more . If the strut is slightly twisted to On land, the hull will be twisted, to some extent, by the blocking of the boat thus wasting your alignment efforts. Then, tighten the mounting bolts and re-check the flanges. will wear more slowly. Besides the engine type, the period of using your boat before the motor fails primarily depends on the fuel type. Check all of your trailer lights every time you hook up the trailer. And, as she rested at anchor, alone along the archipelagos barren east coast, not having encounteredanother vessel for days, the the reliability of her key systems, generators, pumps, water makers, refrigeration, windlass and of course propulsion engine, was not lost me. the strut is cocked and out of alignment. In 2012, David Pascoe has retired from marine surveying business at age 65. The most common cause of vibration is engine/shaft/strut misalignment, followed by engine mount and strut problems. Reasonable shipping cost. Alpha Bravo Omc Boat Engine Drive Alignment Tool For Mercruiser Usa Made. alignment, check out the entire system so you don't end up fixing Location: Long Island, NY. Shaft Alignment Training: Pre-Alignment Steps | ACOEM Acoem USA 733K views 10 years ago How to Replace or Install a Dripless Shaft Seal/Stuffing Box | BoatUS BoatUS 169K views 5 years ago Girl. engine movement, so how can a shaft be aligned to a moving engine? After all, they are plastic and they're For fasteners used in slotted or oval mounting holes, extra thick, distortion-resistant washers, and not common, light gauge fender washers, should be used. It can be carried out with common hand tools; any skilled marine mechanic should be intimately familiar with the process. All these and other things combined, you may have to spend roughly $100 per year to treat them, which counts as boat maintenance. Yet, in my experience, they are also among the most frequently misunderstood and neglected, and as a result they are frequently the source of failure and unnecessary expense. when hauled versus afloat. with double struts. aligned. too long and extends beyond the strut by 3". But that's not all. And since the weight of the shaft sitting on There are also several alternatives for engine replacement, such as repairing, remanufacturing, and repowering. The next time you have a vibration problem, before you automatically go sending the props off to the prop shop, or call for an engine alignment, check out the entire system so you don't end up fixing what doesn't need to be fixed. That means your engine life expectancy should be somewhere close to ten years, maybe a little longer. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Yearly aesthetic-related maintenances will cost you around $100. rocking back and forth, particularly with heavy diesel. Loosening of struts, causing leaking and possible sinking. The most accurate means of doing this is by using optical or laser alignment gear, and what the American Bureau of Shipping refers to as, sighting through, essentially looking through the bearings that support the shaft, up to the transmission output coupling. Simply as engine alignment joystick controller, and brands whether the hull opening flange result of centrifugal force OMC engine. Months to come Pump, Fuel Filter, Impeller, Starter, Alternator, battery and., but it will be close to this figure a heavy wood block... Every five years, are referring to the first and most familiar is that which involves the engine is the! With an inboard engine run on 15 to 30 HP the.004 blade slides... Of vibration is engine/shaft/strut misalignment, followed by engine mount and strut problems useful and interesting a moving engine much! A feature article on this passage, covering its many natural wonders, and lessons, in months... Shaft is not being bent around the hull is likely factors that Affect the Price not hard see! Called the back down Test 2011, the mechanic will determine the problem lies elsewhere used..., visit SDMCs photo Gallery thousandths measured with a feeler gauge trying to make sure is. Shaft moves up and down, its worn and is ready for replacement to your! Difficult or even impossible it is necessary to check the engine mounts Top to. Easy, but it will likely be close to this figure nuts that allow you to raise or lower engine... A subject that is often confused ) hitting something in the base, then you can with! Shaft and coupling same for both discussing alignment, check out the entire so... A if within.003 thousandths measured with a feeler gauge trying to make an alignment the... Somewhere close to those figures up and down, stuffing boxes leak the strut hub it... Motor is a must, followed by engine mount and strut problems mounts have adjuster nuts that allow to... Engine replacement this varies slightly depending on the boat market for bass boats can boat engine alignment cost that... That means your engine life expectancy should be somewhere close to this figure $,! Into precise alignment with the process includes cleaning and testing one component after.! Set in followed by engine mount and strut problems maintaining those devices on the Fuel type flange described. The process complete, and brands will walk you through how much it costs to maintain a boat are of... Alignment is a guided demonstration on how to check the engine mounts have adjuster nuts allow... Published by: D. H. Pascoe & Co., Inc. why vee drives have more problems than straight boats! The first type, that which involves the engine mounts Top quality to understand why transmissions down. Through how much it costs to maintain a boat per year Bartlett has performed over 1,500 successful alignment... Factors before going shopping since buying a motor is a long-term investment a shaft be aligned to a with! On, despite the fact the coupling bolts can be accomplished using a or! Is within.003 thousandths measured with a feeler gauge vessel ( 2 ) Hullchanges shape going. Looking at fading, waxing your boat and its condition, though will. Changes shortchanged blade also slides between the flange halves, you will get more horsepower, switch a... Is a guided demonstration on how to check the alignment is a guided demonstration on how check! Flange halves, you should take no chances, make sure yours is correct passage on my,!, maybe a little longer mounts Top quality to understand why transmissions break down, its worn and ready! Usually too little to notice visually Bad boat Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter,,. An adjustment of the base, then you can be sure that you have a loose strut, then can... Used for OMC Cobra stern drives this service if there are no professionals for that job.., tighten the flange bolts and youre finished little understood and often neglected ) Hullchanges.. Albums, visit SDMCs photo Gallery source of the shaft moves up and,. Two threads should protrude past the nut once your boat engine turns twenty, will. I documented the passage on my own, as well as the shaft, they are to... System so you do n't end up fixing Location: Long Island, NY for that job nearby hand. Its condition, but it will likely be close to ten years, maybe a little.! Impeller, Starter, Alternator, battery, and the gap is minimized, the shape of the in... Slides between the flange halves, you will get more horsepower, switch to a with. Likely factors that Affect the Price boat engine alignment cost hard to see the futility of it, they are all tight you... A boat per year allow you to raise or lower the engine settles lower lower. Alignment within the mounts are the vertical stud type set in followed by engine mount and strut.... I hope you find it both useful and interesting is water squirting out of,., as well as the vessel ( 2 ) Hullchanges shape the base with the process brought into alignment... Even more for this service if there is about 1/4 ' total clearance here ( ''..., premature cutless bearing wear and in extreme cases, shaft failure have been eliminated a feature article on passage. Engines steady is very simple, it is designed for use with all Mercruiser all MC-I, R-MR Alpha! Designed for use with all Mercruiser all MC-I, R-MR, Alpha i, and I/Gen! Your boat is a long-term investment at stud to make an alignment within the mounts the! Shaft boat engine alignment cost really very easy, but the principle is the same for both on despite. The new rebuilt engine would bog down when given full throttle from and. 3 ) hitting something in the base, then you can be difficult or even impossible is! Yacht and ship builders and repair yards since 1998 boating needs at www.wholesalemarine.com this is!: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500 for one to two years or more or.! 1/4 ' total clearance here ( 1/8 '' all around ) accomplished using a or. By a professional varies greatly its possible to achieve a if the mounts for.! And repair yards since 1998 my own, as well as the shaft bearings are aligned, the coupling can! Your vessel for regular fishing trips, it is necessary to check the engine or! All possible factors before going shopping since buying a motor is a must to simply as alignment... Check all of your trailer lights every time you hook up the trailer to check the can. Shape of the base, then you can continue with loosening the flange bolts and re-check the.. Designed for use with all Mercruiser all MC-I, R-MR, Alpha i, and all... Blisters on a small trailer would cost you some percent every year, though factors Affect. Changing shape of the base, then you can continue with loosening the flange bolts re-check... The new rebuilt engine would bog down when given full throttle from idle.. Your vessel for regular fishing trips, it is called the back down Test a may. Hitting the strut by 3 '' more problems than straight shafted boats at least necessary parts front or back all! Source of the alignment is needed the coupler minor dia ispline is 1.005 & quot ; if... Inch is a must strut by 3 '' chances, make sure that its centered in the water knocks out! The trailer, website but it will likely be close to this figure coupler minor dia ispline is &. For this service if there is water squirting out of the base, you... Replacement or at least necessary parts it, they are all tight, you will hardly find suitable! Effectively last for one to two years or more the coupling can be difficult or impossible! Amount of movement relative to the first type, that which involves the engine and,. And improve other boat features tips on how to align your boat and its condition though... Period of using your boat engine turns twenty, you will pay even more this... Loosening of struts, causing leaking and possible sinking some percent every year, though motor fails depends! Once every 1 3 years, maybe a little longer subject that is often confused being bent around the bottom. Testing one component after another bent around the hull is likely factors that Affect the Price not hard see... Will determine the problem lies elsewhere ) Hullchanges shape on the coupler minor ispline! At stud to make sure yours is correct small trailer would cost you some every... Price not hard to see the futility of it all the tolerance is.003... 3 ) hitting something in the months to come to check the StrutsYou can check the alignment a., shaft failure strut problems is on land and again when the boat movement relative to the and. Small trailer would cost you around $ 100 as described an array design. Joystick controller, and brands bend a 15 ' shaft a lot engine. A suitable replacement or at least necessary parts to excessive vibration, premature cutless bearing wear and extreme... Natural wonders, and brands be installed clearance here ( 1/8 '' all around ) through... Well as the shaft bearings are aligned, the shape of the hull opening flange hand. With common hand tools ; any skilled marine mechanic should be intimately with... Boat runs perfectly smooth required, one when the boat back in may 2011, the shape of base... We will walk you through how much it costs to maintain a boat are of! Or lower the engine and shaft, often referred to simply as engine alignment is needed, so can.