Urgent help - boat fell off trailer while backing down ramp

[DollarBoat]

My father-in-law accidentally unhooked the boat as we were backing it down the ramp and it slid off and landed on the leg while it was still in the up position. From the impact, the abrasion of the concrete sheared a hole in the bottom front of the lower unit (see picture) and the oil all leaked out. We got the boat back on the trailer. It looks like I at least need a new lower unit but not sure about the upper. I also noticed a little bit of water in the engine bay when there was none before we launched it and inspected the bottom of the hull which had scrapes but no cracks or holes I could see. The boat is a ‘98 Sea Ray Express Cruiser with a 5.0 Merc and Alpha One leg.

Question is, how do I determine if it is a gen 1 or 2 Alpha and what we he gear ratio is? Unfortunately the serial number on the leg has worn off over the years

 

[alldodge]

You have thru bolts so that's a Gen 2
Whats the thing bracketed on the upper?

 

[nola mike]

Ratio is probably 1.47 or 1.62, but it doesn't matter if you're just replacing the lower

 

[Scott Danforth]

Ouch. A1G2, most likely 1.62:1 ratio

 

[Lou C]

Also why is there sealer around the transom mount? That’s a hint of a past problem…

 

[itsathepete]

Also why is there sealer around the transom mount? That’s a hint of a past problem…

Agreed. I'd be checking thoroughly for a cracked transom. If there's sealer around the drive it has been leaking before, which most likely means rotted and weakened transom unless it's wood free.

 

[achris]

Whats the thing bracketed on the upper?

Drive cooler...

 

[alldodge]

Drive cooler...

Really, don't see it going down, only up

 

[achris]

Really, don't see it going down, only up

For when it's being run on flushers.

 

[DollarBoat]

The bracket is a steering bar for the kicker. And the sealant is something I put on when I just got the boat 10 yrs ago and didn’t know much about boats. It never had a leak in the transom before. My worry is now that with the hit, water is getting in but I can’t see any damage on the upper unit. Again, it’s not a huge amount of water, probably one gallon. Any ideas?

Also, just to confirm, any gen 2 alpha one lower unit will fit on the leg as it doesn’t matter about the gear ratios?

 

[alldodge]

Leaking water in does indicate the transom is compromised, otherwise there would be no water

AS for the ratio it does mater

 

[achris]

The bracket is a steering bar for the kicker.

Interesting. Wouldn't have picked that.

And the sealant is something I put on when I just got the boat 10 yrs ago and didn’t know much about boats. It never had a leak in the transom before. My worry is now that with the hit, water is getting in but I can’t see any damage on the upper unit.

Unlikely any damage to the upper, but you could have disturbed the seal between the transom housing and the transom enough to create a leak.

Again, it’s not a huge amount of water, probably one gallon. Any ideas?

Also, just to confirm, any gen 2 alpha one lower unit will fit on the leg as it doesn’t matter about the gear ratios?

The ratio-ing of drives in mostly done with the gears in the upper housing.
There are 2 different lower housing ratios, 1.62:1 and 2:1, with the 1.62:1 being far more common than the 2:1. The 2:1 lower was only used with the 3 litre engines, and only then for the 2 and 2.4 drives , which are not common, even on the 3L engines.

Chris....

 

[DollarBoat]

Any idea if this is a gen 2 lower unit? Guy selling it doesn’t know…

 

[achris]

It's an MR or Alpha One... NOT a Gen II...