Questions About Installing A Plate To Access Steering Arm/Nut/Pin Externally

San_Diego_SeaRay

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
343
I have a friend who is refurbishing a 90's-era 24' Maxum. It has a Bravo 3 outdrive. There is lots of evidence galvanic corrosion. The worst of it is about a 1.5 inch hole in the external transom housing assembly right where the steering arm is located. You can see the nut, washer, etc. So he plans on fabricating a trapezoid plate out of aluminum in the exact shape of that outer "face". Then he says he's going to drill and tap four holes and use stainless steel bolts to secure each corner of the plate. He'll use some sealant to seal the edges.

So I have some questions for the wisdom of the forum:
  • Is there adequate "material" in the corners of this area to tap screws into?
  • Does anybody know why Mercruiser didn't engineer this type of plate or access originally? I mean, in the Tech Manual there are instructions on how to install a similar plate after the fact...so why didn't they do it originally?
  • Do you have any add'l thoughts about how my friend is tackling this? Anything he should be aware of?

wink.gif
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
51,014
best way is to pull the drive, then pull the motor to get access to everything.
 
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