www.iFourWinns.com

I was out on the water in my 2003 Sundowner 245 8.1 DP and started experiencing shuddering from the drive when turning, and when trimming up or down outside of a certain range. Pulled into the marina, lifted the engine hatch and saw water pouring in at the transom. Pulled the boat and discovered the following (area where bellows attached to transom shield, transom shield broken around rim of flange):
https://ibb.co/hV4Yhv

Pulled this debris out of the bellows (part of transom shield and a ball bearing):
https://ibb.co/cxjYhv

I'm guessing from the rusty color of the shaft inside that the bellows leaked, caused the gimbal bearing to fail (the recovered ball bearing), sending the drive shaft astray, and then caused the destruction of the transom shield lip.

What kind of repair bill am I looking at here? Any way I can lower it? E.g. sourcing used parts? All help is appreciated.

_________________
Matt
2003 Four Winns Sundowner 245
VP 8.1Gi/DP
2008 Toyota 4Runner

Start by looking for a used transom shield but you are easily into 3 to 5k range especially if you are paying to have it done. Motor will have to come out.

_________________

2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr

I was afraid of that. I'm having a hard time figuring out the exact part number for the transom shield. Any help out there?

_________________
Matt
2003 Four Winns Sundowner 245
VP 8.1Gi/DP
2008 Toyota 4Runner

I don't remember the exact website but I think there was a link somehow through iboats where you can find your workshop manual

_________________

2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr

I don't remember the exact website but I think there was a link somehow through iboats where you can find your workshop manual. Actually it's boatinfo.com

_________________

2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr

Thanks, Rick. I did find some service manuals on a boatinfo.no website, but I'm not sure which outdrive I have.

Anyone know what model outdrive a 2003 Sundowner 245 8.1L injected Duoprop would have? I'm seeing SX-DPS (LK Series), SX-DPS (HU Series), DP-D, DP-E, etc. There are dozens listed.

Once again, thank you so much for your help. The cost of this repair really has me concerned.

_________________
Matt
2003 Four Winns Sundowner 245
VP 8.1Gi/DP
2008 Toyota 4Runner

Estimate of $3800 for the repair. $1800 for the transom shield alone.

_________________
Matt
2003 Four Winns Sundowner 245
VP 8.1Gi/DP
2008 Toyota 4Runner

If you're willing to pull your own engine, you might look at buying the whole transom assembly and doing it yourself for $3800. Its not that hard. I did mine a couple years ago when my u-joint blew up. It was much easier to replace the entire assembly than just the shield and you will have all new parts including bellows, gimbal bearings, trim cylinders, trim pump etc.

https://www.dougrussell.com/engines-ste ... ansom-assy

_________________
2004 Vista 298
Twin 5.7L Volvo Penta GXi-E

$4500 later, she's back on the water. Owned for seven years and could always hear drive the driveshaft turning (almost a rubbing kind of sound, but not quite) when in gear. That noise is now completely gone. Seems that I had an issue brewing for quite a while.

_________________
Matt
2003 Four Winns Sundowner 245
VP 8.1Gi/DP
2008 Toyota 4Runner

4-1/2 Boat dollars... ouch!

But you are back on the water in less than a month.
Actually sounds like you had good service at a fair price?

_________________

"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

Ha! Never heard about "boat dollars".

Included spark plugs and bellows. They also had a ridiculous time getting the engine out of the boat. He said "They must have built the boat around this engine."

Less than a month and it rained two of the weekends anyway. Plus, boat is running better than it ever has (not $4.5 worth, but it's certainly a nice bonus).

_________________
Matt
2003 Four Winns Sundowner 245
VP 8.1Gi/DP
2008 Toyota 4Runner

Now what you have to do is get yourself on a maintenance schedule where the drive is removed once a year at the end of the season for the normal maintenance checks. This way you can avoid any further issues. This is what I do with mine and even with 100% salt water use (moored in salt water 14 seasons 6 months out of the year); I have not had major drive problems.
Replaced:
Bellows 2x, gimble once, trim hoses and a few seals on the drive. The rest is all OE including the U joints. Going on 30 years old!

I also recommend checking the drive oil for water each season when you change it.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Yes, listen to Lou, I assumed the drive had oil after a new upper lower unit was put on by a marina and apparently there was none and dumbass me did not check, and now boat is out of water and figuring out what all has been burned up by lack of oil.

Congrats on getting back on the water so quick with that much work!

I have my mechanic do this every year. I have owned boats for 25 years, no major explosions yet all my boats have been older also....

_________________
Current:
2000 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer "still Livin the Dream"

Past
2002 268 Vista 5.7 GXI "Livin' the Dream"
1996 Rinker 192 Captiva. "The Simple Life"
1999 Yamaha XLL 1200 Waverunner.
1976 Mercury Marquis tri hull 120 hp

B.O.A.T. Dollars = "Bring On Another Thousand" Dollars

(not my term...it's been around since a few weeks after the first boat was built)

_________________

"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings