1998 yamaha c150 not level

[Serkit]

Hey everyone,

Last year while dropping my 21 foot Sea Pro with a 1998 Yamaha C150 outboard into the water for the season, the lower shaft from the outboard mount came out due to a "bumpy" road and my transom bolts not being tight enough. At the ramp I was able to lift the bracket get the shaft back in and attach a c clamp to it. I tightened all outboard bolts and i was on my way. This year while riding behind the boat to put it in the water again i noticed that the aluminum anode looked lopsided, and after further inspection it looks like the whole transom mount was lopsided. This outboard uses a slot style bottom fitting where the lower bolts go thru the transom, and its about 1/2 inch lower on the side that came undone last year. The outboard itself is not level due to this. Is this something i can fix while the boat is inside the water? Also im not really understanding how this part could have dropped 1/2 an inch when the upper bolts are a fixed position.
Excuse my lack of knowledge in these parts.
Thanks,
-Devin

 

[GA_Boater]

Mounting bolts don't normally loosen on a bumpy road unless you drive on a torture test track.

I think it would be a good idea to have someone knowledgeable examine the transom. It may be failing. And no you do can't do much with the boat on the water. Look at the water line and the two lower bolts - They are in the water.