Sterndrive & Outdrive Repair
Mobile sterndrive and outdrive repair for MerCruiser and Volvo Penta boats: bellows, gimbal bearings, trim, shifting, corrosion, and the engine behind it, at your dock or marina.
Ethan, the owner and mechanic, answers the phone · Open 7 days a week
- MerCruiser and Volvo Penta
- Haul-outs in Sunny Isles
Sterndrive Repair at Your Dock
A sterndrive boat has two halves: a gas engine inside the hull and an outdrive hanging off the transom. Most problems start in one and show up in the other, so we look at both. We work on MerCruiser and Volvo Penta sterndrives every week. For MerCruiser engines and Alpha and Bravo drives, see MerCruiser repair.
Trusted by boat owners across South Florida
Read our Google reviewsNo call center. No front desk.
When You Call, the Owner Picks Up
Every call goes straight to Ethan, the owner of EG Marine Services and the mechanic who does the work. There’s no receptionist taking a message and no waiting on a callback from someone who’s never seen your boat.
Tell him what’s going on: the alarm on the display, the noise at idle, the engine that won’t turn over. Ethan knows Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury, and the rest of what runs in South Florida inside and out, so you’ll usually get a straight answer on the first call, whether that’s something you can check yourself or a visit to your dock.
- Straight answers, not a script
- Diagnostic questions answered on the phone
- Honest advice, even when the fix is simple
- The person you talk to is the one who shows up
Ethan
Marine mechanic
Describe what the boat is doing and get a real answer from the mechanic, not a message taker.
Call Ethan: 786-351-5363Open 7 days a week
Sterndrive or outdrive trouble? Call Ethan and tell him what the drive is doing.
Call 786-351-5363Boat Outdrive Repair
The drive takes the abuse of salt water. Service the outdrive once a year or every 100 hours.
Bellows
Cracked bellows let water into the boat. A failed bellows can sink a boat at the dock, so we treat a leak as urgent.
Gimbal bearings
A grinding or knocking noise from the transom, especially in sharp turns, usually means a worn gimbal bearing. See gimbal bearing and bellows replacement.
Trim and shifting
Trim senders, trim motors, and shift cables.
Outdrive corrosion
Peeling paint and white powder on the drive mean it’s corroding. We check the anodes and the drive’s bonding, and catch corrosion before it eats through a housing or the transom plate.
Sterndrive Engine Repair
No-starts
Ignition, sensors, starters, and relays. On Volvo Penta engines, a failed relay box is a common cause.
Overheating
Burnt impellers, clogged water inlets, and corroded exhaust manifolds and risers. See water pump impeller replacement.
Fuel problems
Water in the fuel, clogged fuel pumps and injectors, and bad pressure regulators.
Signs Your Sterndrive Needs Service
- Grinding or knocking from the transom
- Water in the bilge
- Temperature alarm or a weak water stream
- Hard to start or won't start
- Hard shifting or a drive that won't trim
Real Sterndrive Jobs
Leaking bellows
An emergency haul-out for leaking bellows before water could do more damage.
Knocking in sharp turns
A loud knock in sharp turns on an Alpha One, traced to a bad gimbal bearing.
Volvo Penta no-start
A bad relay box was keeping the engine from starting.
Sterndrives We Work On
- MerCruiser Alpha One, Alpha Gen II, and Bravo One, Two, and Three
- Volvo Penta gas V6 and V8 sterndrives
From the Job Log
Failed sterndrive gimbal bearing 
Corroded sterndrive bellows area on a MerCruiser drive 
Corroded sterndrive transom plate with the drive removed
Schedule Sterndrive Service
Call with your engine and drive model. We work on most gas inboards and sterndrives.
Call Ethan directly786-351-5363Open 7 days a week · No call center or front desk, you talk to the person doing the work
- Outdrive service and repair
- Bellows and gimbal bearings
- Trim, shifting, and corrosion
- Engine cooling, fuel, and no-starts
Prefer a free quote?
Leave your number and we’ll call you back.
Sterndrive & Outdrive Repair FAQs
How much does outdrive repair cost?
It depends on the drive and the problem. A yearly outdrive service with gear lube and anodes is routine; bellows, gimbal bearings, and gear damage are bigger jobs because the drive comes off. We diagnose first and give you a quote before any repair starts.
Can you fix a sterndrive without hauling the boat?
Most engine work, like no-starts, overheating, cooling service, and fuel problems, is done in the water at your dock. Bellows and gimbal bearing jobs need the drive off, so the boat comes out of the water. We can haul it at our Sunny Isles location.
How often should sterndrive bellows be replaced?
Inspect them at every service and replace them every few years or at the first sign of cracking. A leaking bellows lets water into the boat and can sink it at the dock.
How often should an outdrive be serviced?
Once a year or every 100 hours, whichever comes first: gear lube, anodes, U-joint grease, and a check of the bellows and gimbal bearing.
Do you work on Volvo Penta sterndrives?
Yes. We work on Volvo Penta gas V6 and V8 sterndrives, including no-starts, cooling, and drive service.
Areas We Serve
Our mobile marine mechanics travel to marinas, private docks, and waterfront homes from Boca Raton to Islamorada. Nearby but not listed? Reach out to confirm availability in your area.