Replacement Outdrive for 97' 200?

[Mbrockman5]

Do you guys have any suggestions for replacement drives for a 1997 Cobalt 200?

Apparently, the boat I just bought a couple weeks ago had an unseen/unknown pre-existing problem with the drive not getting a sufficient supply of oil and has been slowly breaking down over time. I had it looked at today and they said with the metal particles all over inside, as well as some small/tiny pieces of gear teeth that had broken off, replacing the outdrive would be a better choice than trying to rebuild the current one in it's current state. He also said that the bearings have needed to be replaced for awhile.

The boat "has been maintained/serviced every season" (as per the previous owner) and was docked on Lake Tahoe for the last 4-5 years before being pulled and stored at a Storage Unit in Reno at the beginning of May where it sat until Aug. 6th 2020. The 1st time I took it out it seemed like it was running fine besides having to refill the Drive Oil Reservoir (it was empty when I got it), but the next day was when I noticed it leaking Drive Oil on my driveway.

I'm working with the previous owner to get it repaired as he was nice enough to offer to help with the cost... Half of me feels horrible for having him get involved because he's and older guy and one of the nicest people I've ever met (my wife and kids love the guy), but the other half of me is frustrated for buying a boat with such an expensive problem. Having bought the boat for $8,000, only to have it break down and cost me $$$ for it to work is disheartening and extremely frustrating.

[Big Block Power]

Look at a SEI drive. Much cheaper and I know a bunch of guys that have used them with no issues.

[Mbrockman5]

Ok. From everything I've read online I have only seen 2 different companies that make Replacement Outdrives. SEI and Mercruiser... Is that correct?

[Big Block Power]

Ok. From everything I've read online I have only seen 2 different companies that make Replacement Outdrives. SEI and Mercruiser... Is that correct?

Yea pretty much.

[dustinm]

The 1st time I took it out it seemed like it was running fine besides having to refill the Drive Oil Reservoir (it was empty when I got it), but the next day was when I noticed it leaking Drive Oil on my driveway.

I'm working with the previous owner to get it repaired as he was nice enough to offer to help with the cost... Half of me feels horrible for having him get involved because he's and older guy and one of the nicest people I've ever met (my wife and kids love the guy), but the other half of me is frustrated for buying a boat with such an expensive problem. Having bought the boat for $8,000, only to have it break down and cost me $$$ for it to work is disheartening and extremely frustrating.

That guy owes nothing. Fix it and move on.

[rabiddawg]

Mbrockman5, don’t feel bad. I too trusted an older guy and I’m still trying to get my boat to run right. Engine.

In this market, (if it’s priced right) if you don’t buy it someone else will. I still feel I bought it right but it does get frustrating not being able to enjoy the new purchase.

[Mbrockman5]

Rabiddawg, I completely understand. When we were looking for a boat, we would find "THE" one (in our budget), but it would be either sold RIGHT before we'd call, or they forgot to remove the ad because someone bought it an hour after they posted it. It got so frustrating that we gave up for awhile. We eventually stumbled upon the boat we ultimately bought and it's a great boat. We're the third owner and it only has 668 hours, the interior is flawless and the guy gave us so many extra stuff with it even though he got a brand new boat. When I called him about an issue with it leaking the drive oil, he felt so bad that he drove 2 hours to our house and hand delivered some cash to pay for or put towards the repair and said that if it wasn't enough, let him know and he would take care of it.... I've never done business with someone that respectable (granted, he was pretty disappointed with the diagnosis)...

[Mbrockman5]

Dustinm... I totally agree. I've never demanded assistance or reimbursement. As I said to Rabiddawg, he drove to my house after I told him no. But you have to admit that that is a respectable businessman.

[cmattj]

Be cheaper for the guy to buy it back.. fix and try again.
I worry the shopping could go Bravo for 8k as opposed to a SEI or repair for 3k.
Ok I’ll go sit down.

[Stagdad]

Alpha one or bravo drive? If an alpha then try SEI...

[Mbrockman5]

It's an Alpha 1/Gen 2.... I talked to the mechanic yesterday and it is getting replaced with an SEI. Now it's just a waiting game... Because of all this COVID crap, it's going to take 2 weeks before it arrives.

In the mean time, I have a chance to play around with it and add some personal touches (gunwale lights, maybe updated radio, etc) since the shop let me take the boat home until the parts get in.

[Stagdad]

Let us know how the SEI works out, same , better, worse. Hopefully same to better.

[Mbrockman5]

Will do. I'm anxious to get it done and over with so I can get back on the water.