I thought so.
While I'm still learning about the boat mechanics, I am very familiar working on engines/drivetrains. I've rebuilt engines from a bare block to drag strip ready. Change rear gears, never had the need or chance to crack open a tranny though. I know they are not the same, and that's why I really want to learn about the ins and outs of the boat engine.
My dad owned this boat before me, and he bought it from one of his coworkers. As this was Dad's first boat, I don't ever recall seeing ANY maintenance done on it. After I bought it from him(about 5 years ago) the first thing I did was put it in shop for a checkup and told the shop owner to do what was needed to get her safe and seaworthy. Shop kept her literally ALL summer, so I can only assume the condition she was in after sitting for so long. When I got her back, I took her on the water and was left stranded at my second stop because mechanic did not put the cotter pin back on the prop shaft and of course the prop nut spun off, dropping the prop in 4 feet of water. (Before you ask, it was after a long drift).
The next mechanic I took it to was because the jack plate had leaked hydraulics(thank you first mechanic) and when I tilted the motor the steering arm caught the transom and blew out the seals on the main piston. So...mechanic number two fixes the hydraulics on the jack plate, and then proceeds to take the mallet to the pin to remove the tilt/trim unit, essentially mushrooming it. He then calls me up and says he can't do it because the pin is mushroomed. I could have kept using the boat, I know, but had to put it in storage shortly after as I was going through a divorce. I had to downsize from my f150 to a smaller vehicle and couldn't move my boat.
I prepped boat for storage and there she's been. I finally got back on my feet, moved in with my girl(that loves to fish) and got myself another truck. I brought the boat back in may of this year and started working on rewiring the boat, replacing the tilt/trim,(which I did even though the mechanic couldn't/wouldn't) and getting her running again, and boy did she run well. Had her going getting on the bay fishing 2-3 times a week
You can understand how I've lost confidence in shops doing my work, and I know how bad stealerships will gouge me. For those reasons, I;d rather do as much of the work that I can myself.
After spreading out the cost of the repair over two paychecks, it's softened the blow of the big ticket price, and of course, I didn't realize that I was going to need rebuild practically the entire LU. I'm this far in, and I've found a good mechanic from a marine shop that everyone swears by. I spoke to him today and he'll shim the driveshaft for me for $60.00.
I hear your advice to just get good rebuilt LU,and I know that you guys speak from experience, and I am taking in everything you guys offer. Believe me, that would be the easiest route to take, but at this point, I'd rather just finish the job. I hope you all can see where I'm coming from and not hold that against me.
