Stern drive rubbing against the stern near the plug.

[1983tempest]

Hello, as the title says. I'm looking for reasons and fixes for it. When my stern drive is all the way down as well as the trim tabs, it rubs against the stern near the drain plug when I turn. I noticed it last season when it was very hard to turn, this season as I brought it out I noticed there was damage near the drain plug.

 

[southkogs]

Yours is a Stringer, if I remember right. Do you have fixed mount or does yours trim?

Might post a few photos up too.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Sounds like the motor mounts are rotten, 'n completely collapsed,...

 

[southkogs]

I was thinkin' the same thing unless the power trim has gone way off somehow.

 

[1983tempest]

My motor trims! I will look into the motor mounts!! Thank you appreciate all the help.

 

[southkogs]

Get a look at the trim rig and see that hasn't busted loose. But then motor mounts are the next check. Also, look over that transom boot - who knows what kinda' stress is on that mug right now - a hole in that will ruin a trip to the lake in just minutes.

 

[1983tempest]

Hello again, the motor mounts are fine, trim rigs are fine. I noticed today that the plates for the engine to the wood are unaligned. I'm going to try to attach a few photos.

 

[1983tempest]

Cant upload because pictures are bigger then 2 MBs.

 

[southkogs]

Photo tutorial HERE.

I'm not sure what you're describing. Kinda' sounds like the motor mounts - or rather, what the motor is mounted to.

 

[1983tempest]

 

[Grub54891]

You have the motor out? Would like to have seen the drive itself where it's rubbing the hull.

 

[1983tempest]

No motors not out, just the angle. Trying to prevent having to pull the motor. Those were shots of the plates the motor is mounted on. The hole is now patched, have not put the stern drive down since noticing the hole.

 

[Grub54891]

Ok, I'm slightly confused. Did you add the iron to cover rotted mount's? Or were them irons already there?

 

[1983tempest]

The irons were already there, I apologize it's hard to describe.

 

[southkogs]

The first picture (left one in your post) sure looks like the iron is resting on a rotted stringer. I can't see the same thing in the other one, but just in front of the angle iron there looks to be some breaking up of the fiberglass ... and I'm guessing there's no wood underneath.

I've not seen one mounted to metal plates like that before. The mount brackets are typically screwed into a stringer (hence the drive line name). And if those are your rear mounts, that would explain why the drive is saggin'.

I would drill a core or two on the wood and see what kinda' shape you're in.

 

[1983tempest]

There is wood underneath both plates and fiberglass. Pretty sure its rotted. This boat is one of a kind lol. But great idea, will do and will let ya know.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... My guess is, those steel angles aren't original, but added by a po to hide the rotten stringers,.....

In the 2nd pic, you can see where it's been movin' about, 'n torn up the vertical wood next to it,....

I wouldn't run that boat, til the motor is pulled, 'n the stringers are replaced,.....

 

[Grub54891]

I have to agree with southkogs, the stringers are shot. One of my friends had a stringer setup, like yours. Not knowing a lot about boats at the time, he was out with the family, when suddenly the boat took a hard right. Luckily no one was hurt, didn.t sink the boat, but the motor had shifted way over to one side. He managed to limp it back to the ramp and scrapped it.
You can fix it, with help from people here.

 

[1983tempest]

Thanks everybody I appreciate it all the help. Does anybody have an estimated cost on how much it would be to take out the motor and replace the stringers? I myself don't know too much about boats. I've had this boat for 3 years now and always a new problem.

 

[Redrig]

replacing stringers and motor mounts is a serious job that involves basically rebuilding the boat .

That setup currently is a recipe for disaster . If that motor shifts around much more (hit a big wave or something) it could collapse those stringers and tear the rubber boot = boat sinks .

Im with everyone else, dont run it as is.

do some reseach from the restoration forum and rebuild it , or part it out and get something newer.