Orana 44: Sail Drive/Hull Internal Rubber Boot

[pstadt]

Hi all, coming up on 7 years in the water and book recommends changing the rubber boot/collar that attaches the sail drive to the hull (not the external rubber fairwater).
No leaks or concerns at this point - any experience with doing this/postponing this? Would rather not tackle this if it is un-necessary....

Thanks,

Pat

[DotDun]

Replaced mine at 14 years, old ones still looked new and just as soft as the replacements. Mechanic asked why I was replacing them, he recommends replacement only if there is a problem or changing the whole saildrive.

[SaylorMade]

Had mine replaced a couple of years back.
Date stamp said 1984 (same year the boat was built).
Nothing wrong with it, it looked just fine.
Volvo 120S

[rabbi]

expensive thing to change.

I had them changed on our Lagoon 410 with Yanmars back in 2011. I also found the 12 year old ones to be as good and flexible as the new ones.

Total cost was around 1900 Euro (in Spain) including recoating of the saildrive legs, plus haulout cost. About 2/3 of the cost was in parts, so worth to shop around on the internet if you can find a mechanic to fit it (or DIY).

[ggray]

I'll be watching this thread for other's experiences!

Our boat is starting year 18, seals never changed. I would feel a little differently if the motors were not behind a somewhat watertight bulkhead in the sterns of a catamaran. I up-sized the bilge pump on one side, need to do so on the other. That makes me feel a bit better, too.

I wonder, absent an impact to the saildrive, has anyone had a failure with this boot, and at what age??

[belizesailor]

Just changed one this year. It was 17 y.o. and was still in good up shape.

While the bellows may not need changing, I think there are other good reasons to change them. For example, the clamp ring on Volvos is just stamped painted steel, it corrodes of course...it was this that prompted me to pull the drive, not actually the bellows. It should be about $35, but of course Volvo charges 10x that. I removed mine, cleaned it up and coated it with 2 part epoxy primer, top coated to make if look purty, that should easily last another 17 years.

While I was at it: I re coated/painted things you cant get to with sail drive in place: re-coated entire sail drive with epoxy barrier coat, repainted drive with bottom paint, bottom painted the externally exposed area of engine bed where sail drive fits, replaced a worn but still serviceble thrust bearing...which I likely would not have otherwise noticed...etc.

I kept the old as a spare, just in case.

Boat was already hauled out and I did most of the work myself so cost was not much.

Good routine maintenance I think even if the boot is fine.

[SaylorMade]

I have never heard about any instance where it has ruptured and sunk the boat.
I asked my insurance company if they required that it is changed with Volvo's 7 years interval recommendation. They did not, and these seals are not an area of concern for them. (This is just one datapoint from my specific insurance company).

A Volvo mechanic told me, that years back Volvo actually wanted to change the 7 year "rule" and extend it, but there was too much push-back from the dealers so they didn't move forward with it.

[arsenelupiga]

this is what i have done:

tested that engine room is watertight. it wasnt so i had to make it that way.

then simulated water ingress, like seal failure or saildrive ripped out. basicalyy just filled water to match height in saildrive intake.

water in but did not manage to go all the way to engine.

so, the reward is i can afford to wait to fail and feel safe and protected even is some disaster scenarios.

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

this is what i have done:

tested that engine room is watertight. it wasnt so i had to make it that way.

then simulated water ingress, like seal failure or saildrive ripped out. basicalyy just filled water to match height in saildrive intake.

water in but did not manage to go all the way to engine.

so, the reward is i can afford to wait to fail and feel safe and protected even is some disaster scenarios.

Not sure I understand, if the diaphragm leaks, water will rise to the (hull) waterline (plus an inch or so). Is that what you mean?

[arsenelupiga]

Originally Posted by DotDun

Not sure I understand, if the diaphragm leaks, water will rise to the (hull) waterline (plus an inch or so). Is that what you mean?

yes. i could actually see exactly up to where - in still conditions, in rough conditions would be more but not concerning unless extremely large opening. this is because watertight separation of engine room from living area. Lagoons are heavy so having 6 truly isolated areas is in my opinion essential for safety. FP will probably score better.

of course test was done with drinking water.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by arsenelupiga

this is what i have done:

tested that engine room is watertight. it wasnt so i had to make it that way.

then simulated water ingress, like seal failure or saildrive ripped out. basicalyy just filled water to match height in saildrive intake.

water in but did not manage to go all the way to engine.

so, the reward is i can afford to wait to fail and feel safe and protected even is some disaster scenarios.

Yes, Ive seen charter boats with damage due to really hard groundings and it only partially floods the engine compartment if compartment is water tight.

By contrast, those silly "escape hatches" are WAY more dangerous. Ive seen sevaral boats badly swamped by them.

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Yes, Ive seen charter boats with damage due to really hard groundings and it only partially floods the engine compartment if compartment is water tight.

By contrast, those silly "escape hatches" are WAY more dangerous. Ive seen sevaral boats badly swamped by them.

What is the failure mode with the “escape hatches”???

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by DotDun

What is the failure mode with the “escape hatches”???

Often its guests leaving open.

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Often its guests leaving open.

Hmm, which is "silly", the hatches or the guests??

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by DotDun

Hmm, which is "silly", the hatches or the guests??

Both.