Short answer: Harbor Marine repairs sterndrives and outdrives in Buford at our shop on Lanier Islands Parkway. Trailer boats can be dropped off, and in-water boats can be brought in. Call (770) 967-8495.
Drive repair needs a shop, and ours is in Buford
Sterndrive repairs almost always mean pulling the drive, so they happen in a shop, not at the dock. For Buford owners that shop is close: 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway, near Lake Lanier Islands at the south end of the lake. Trailer boats can come straight in, and boats in the water can be brought over.
What we see on Buford drives
- Cracked bellows: the rubber boots that seal the drive to the transom dry out with age and sun.
- Worn gimbal bearings and U-joints: usually heard before they are seen, as a grind or rumble.
- Stiff or vague shifting: often a cable that needs adjusting or replacing.
- Prop damage: dings from shallow water near ramps and points.
Trailer boats and drives
Many Buford boats are trailered. Launching and loading put the drive close to the ramp, and road miles add vibration. Owners who trailer often should look at the skeg and prop after each trip and keep an eye on the bellows. If the drive is trimmed up for the road, make sure it is supported the way the manufacturer recommends.
How we handle the job
- Pull the drive and inspect the bellows, gimbal bearing and U-joints.
- Check the gimbal housing for corrosion.
- Open the gear housing on the bench if needed.
- Explain what we found and what we recommend.
- Replace worn parts and reassemble with new seals and gaskets.
Fall is drive inspection season
Many Buford owners have the drive inspected in the fall, as the boat comes out for winter. Any worn bellows, bearings or seals can be replaced over the off-season, and the boat is ready when the weather turns. Waiting until spring means competing with everyone else getting ready at the same time.
Rinsing and storing the drive
After each trip, rinse the drive with fresh water. Look over the bellows when the drive is trimmed up, and keep an eye on the anodes. When the boat is stored, follow the manufacturer's guidance on trim position. Small habits like these add years to bellows and seals.
Gear lube tells the story
Draining the gear lube is one of the quickest ways to check a drive. Clean lube is a good sign. Milky lube means water is getting past a seal. Metal flakes point to internal wear. Buford owners who bring the boat in for a seasonal check get a lube change and inspection together, so small problems show up before they become rebuilds.
What affects a drive repair
Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:
- Whether it is an inspection, bellows job or a gear rebuild.
- The drive model and parts availability.
- What we find once the drive is pulled.
Close to the ramps
Because our shop is on Lanier Islands Parkway near the south end of the lake, Buford owners can have a drive checked soon after a strike, often without a long tow.
Bring it in or have it brought
If you have a trailer, call (770) 967-8495 and drop the boat off. If it is in a slip, ask about boat transport in Buford. For engine issues on the same boat, see engine repair in Buford. Everything we offer in town is on our Buford boat repair page.
Owners nearby can see sterndrive repair in Sugar Hill, Flowery Branch or on Lake Lanier. Our main sterndrive and outdrive repair page explains every part we inspect. Contact us with questions.