Outdrive damage

[RenkenII]

Last season ended with a outdrive cracked from a hydrofoil that was put on by a previous owner. I have a '87 Renken 18' bow rider with a Mercruiser 470. The crack includes the area where the trim tap is located and a 2" piece of the corner has come free. The crack has not compromised the inner workings of the lower drive, is it OK to run? Should I have a metal guy try to fix it? Looking for ideas and thank you.

 

[achris]

Re: Outdrive damage

Last season ended with a outdrive cracked from a hydrofoil that was put on by a previous owner.

If you talk to the 'pro-wing' lot, they will tell you this can't happen.... I have seen too many drives broken like this by wings to count...

I have a '87 Renken 18' bow rider with a Mercruiser 470. The crack includes the area where the trim tap is located and a 2" piece of the corner has come free. The crack has not compromised the inner workings of the lower drive, is it OK to run? Should I have a metal guy try to fix it? Looking for ideas and thank you.

You are fine to run it as is, as long as the trim tab is tight.

One word of warning... If you intend to have it TIG welded to fix, then the longer you leave it and the more you throw it in the water, the harder it will be to fix. The reason is because all the corrosion on the mating surfaces needs to be cleaned off before it can be welded, and as time and water wait for no man, the further in it will penetrate...

Chris.........

 

[RenkenII]

Re: Outdrive damage

Thanks Chris. It sat in the basement all winter while I stared at it! I have a brother-in-law that's great with metals and welding and we'll got from there.