Short answer: Harbor Marine repairs sterndrives and outdrives for Gainesville boat owners at our Buford shop: bellows, gimbal bearings, U-joints, gears, seals and strike damage. Call (770) 967-8495.
Low water on the upper arms
When Lake Lanier drops, the upper reaches of its arms around Gainesville get shallow first. Points stretch out, sandbars appear, and the stumps left when the lake was filled sit closer to the surface. The sterndrive is the lowest part of most lake boats, so it is the first thing to find them. Many of the drive repairs we see from the north end follow a low-water summer.
Signs of drive trouble
- Vibration that gets worse with speed.
- A clunk or grind when shifting.
- A growl from the back of the boat at low speed.
- Milky or low gear oil.
- Trim that is slow, jerky or drifts down.
- Cracked or split bellows.
After you hit something
If the drive hits bottom or a stump, look at the prop first. Then pay attention on the run home: new vibration, a change in shifting, or a different sound all point to damage beyond the prop. Check the gear oil once you are back at the dock. A hard strike can bend the prop shaft, chip gears or crack the housing, and running on that damage can make it worse.
Bellows and the gimbal bearing
The bellows keep lake water out where the drive passes through the transom. When the rubber cracks, water reaches the U-joints and gimbal bearing, which then rust and fail. A torn exhaust or shift bellows can even let water into the boat. Rubber ages with time, so bellows should be checked every year and replaced on schedule.
Inspections at the lift
Many Gainesville boats live on lifts, which makes a drive check easy. With the boat raised, we can look at the bellows, prop, skeg, anodes and paint, and check the gear oil, without hauling the boat anywhere. If the inspection finds a problem, the repair is planned for the shop.
Repairs at the Buford shop
Drive repairs happen at our shop at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford. There we can pull the drive, replace bellows, bearings, U-joints and seals, check alignment and open the gearcase. If you need help getting the boat south, ask about boat transport in Gainesville.
Anodes and corrosion
An aluminum drive in the water all season relies on sacrificial anodes to protect it. Check them often and replace them when about half worn. Paint chips on the drive let corrosion start, so touch them up. A lift helps, because the drive is out of the water between trips.
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:
- The drive model and age.
- How far the damage goes beyond the bellows.
- Gearcase or housing damage from a strike.
- Parts availability.
Reading the lake level
Before heading into the back of a cove or up an arm in a dry year, check the current lake level and slow down near points and shallow flats. Trim the drive up a little in water you do not know well, and watch the depth finder. If you run aground, shut down before trying to back off, and check the prop and drive before running at speed again. A few seconds of caution can save a gearcase.
Off-season is drive season
Drop the boat off over the winter for a drive service, and it will be ready before spring launches start.
Related and nearby
Strikes often damage the hull too. Our Gainesville gel coat repair can fix it in the same shop visit. While the boat is in, ask about engine service in Gainesville.
Heading south toward our shop, we also offer drive repair in Flowery Branch and in Buford. Owners on the Forsyth shore can look at Cumming, and the lake-wide page covers drive repair on Lake Lanier. Everything we offer Hall County owners is on our Gainesville boat repair page. For how the work is done step by step, see the main service page, or get in touch.