Logo
FULL SITE MENU

Bravo III Service Life

W

wickeral

Regular Contributor
"I'd like to determine a r

"I'd like to determine a reasonable life span for a B-III. Please tell us your boat, engine and how many hours you have on it with no repairs or what you needed done and when. Thanks, Al W."
 
"I have a 2001 Rinker 342 with

"I have a 2001 Rinker 342 with twin 5.7 EFI (not mags) B-III, about 700 hours.

You have to be paranoid about corrosion on the B-III. I replace my zincs mid-season. I keep the boat on fresh water with a current (Hudson River in Catskill), and spend about 3 weeks of the season in Brackish water (New York Harbor).

My gimbals had alot of play so I replaced them this season. Once they get noticeable play they start to degrade quickly. While they were in there I had them change the steering shaft seals.

I expect the lighter the boat the longer the gimbals will last. Rinker 342 is 14,000 lbs dry.

It cost $6500.00 to have a marine mechanic do both drives. (Originals are labor intensive to change, replacement kit is modified design. Took 27 hours for a trained mechanic.)

If you don't keep on top of the corrosion, then you have to watch the steering shaft seals. The housing corrodes around the seal and prevents it from sealing. If this happens it is a MAJOR repair. Bare hull, pull the engine and drive.

Something caused drive oil to leak out quickly from starbord drive last season. The alarm in the reservoir did not go off, and by the time I smelled it, it was too late... So I have a re-furbished drive on the starbord side now."
 
Back
Top