Replacement of S-Drive/Hull rubber seal

[Bob Baynton]

Volvo state that the seal should be replaced every 7 years. Is it really necessary at that time, and if not, when should Bavaria owners consider this expensive preventative maintenance item? As a Bavaria owner, what has been your experience?

[Odysseus]

Lots of advice already given on this subject, look up on the search box at the top of this forum.

If you want more come back.

Good luck
Odysseus

[Bob Baynton]

Yes, I have read the exchange of info on this topic, but curious to see, collectively, what our colleagues have actually done.
 :)Bob

[livefats]

Hi Bob,

I know it's a thread that's been "silent" for a couple of months, but I do think it's an interesting poll nonetheless and worth bumping. We took the surveyor's advice on our new-to-us Bav 30 2006 and replaced the seal on purchase. (Well, I say "we replaced the seal" - actually, we filled  DDZ's hands with gold!) It looked fine, but what would I know? So live data like this is at least food for thought.

Best wishes,

Chris

[MarkTheBike]

hi all

just bought a B34 (2001) with original diaphragm. Surveyor reckoned it was OK but I changed it anyway (I can just imagine what the insurance company would have said if anything happened and I hadn't!). The upshot, according to the Volvo agent who did it, was that at 13+ years old it was in extremely good nick and would have lasted much longer. Good to know that something they produce is of high quality.

ATB

Mark

[peterwgibbs]

The gaitor is clearly visible and open to close inspection.  When I last replaced mine I noticed the construction was very robust - fabric and neoprene or suchlike. I would guess a sudden catastrophic failure is highly unlikely - the absence of reports of this risk seems to vindicate a careful but not paranoic attitiude to replacing at 7 or more years.

However, I wonder how many owners consider their timing belts - much harder to inspect - at least on my Ocean 38 - failure here is an engine rebuild!

PWG

[Salty]

Hi All,
I had the seal replaced on my boat during its first winter haul out in 2011, and at that time the seal was by then nine years old and looking almost like new. If I'd realised just how good condition it was in, despite the boat having spent all of its life up to that point in the charter market, I would not have changed it other than to side step any insurance issues. I've still got the seal and will keep it by in case of any issues with the new one.
From my experience and the remarks from the previous feedback, it appears that changing the seals every seven years is extreme overkill.

[saltash182]

Just replaced the seal in my 2006 Bav 30 and not sure why i did as it still looks new. Anyway it will keep the insurance company happy

[Jeffatoms]

We replaced ours at 19 years without knowing if the previous owner had done so.  It appears the mechanic sabotaged/ruined our saildrive by not reinstalling it correctly so we had to replace the saildrive and related diaphram gasket this past summer.  I have a 120SE with a new gasket sitting in my shop as it has cost me about $20,000 in the past three years and I just cant pitch it in the dumpster.