~~ I have a 2008 Larson 180 LXi 4.3L Volvo Penta I/O. My boat was winterized last September by a local Marine Shop and I bundled it up nicely for winter, leaving the outdrive in the 'up' position.
During the winter, the outdrive ended up in the 'down' position, resting on the driveway. I recently connected my fully charged battery to fix this issue. When the trim was engaged, it sounded like it was working perfectly fine, but the outdrive wouldn't budge. I raised the boat shroud(?) to access the engine compartment and noticed a pink-orange fluid in the bilge area, about 1/2cup. I checked the fluid reservoir and it was between empty and MIN. I added Dexron to the MAX level, and initiated the trim. Again, it sounded like it was working but the outdrive still did not engage. I then manually raised the outdrive, secured it with a rope and ratchet, and took it to my boat guy.
My boat guy told me one of the two cylinders on the outdrive was cracked and needed replacing. I have never jarred or hit anything with the outdrive, but is there not a bit of 'cush' or 'give' to these cylinders to allow them to avoid such a crack if you did hit something with the outdrive? Additionally I have to wonder if the fluid leaked into the bilge area, would that not indicate the issue was with the motor and not the outdrive? Perhaps a loose hose? There was a small spot of what looked like an oily leak at the base of the outdrive on the driveway, but only a tablespoon or so.
It gets better...I was also told my water pump was cracked and needed replacing to the tune of $1400.00. I saw a couple online for about $350.00. I can only assume draining the water pump is a basic, elementary part of boat winterization. I'm no mechanic, but it makes sense if you don't drain the water out of a pump in this part of the world, it's going to freeze and crack. My boat guy was trying to explain this is an issue with this generation of Volvo Penta I/O's, and said he was going to get another under warranty. Correct me if I am wrong, but are water pumps that are cracked in a situation such as this NOT covered under warranty? Correct me again, but does this not seem like an incomplete, poor winterization? I am looking at a huge repair bill here, problems of which I don't believe I contributed to. Am I getting taken to the cleaners by my boat guy? Should my boat guy fess up and take responsibility for something here? I can tell you, once my repairs are done, I'm grabbing my boat and getting the hell outta Dodge! Any advice, information or comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance. Happy Boating!
thefixitchick
