markmonkey1
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sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
Does anyone have any experience with this brand of outdrive? I'm wondering if the SEI outdrive is decent or pieces of crap. website: http://www.sterndrive.cc/ (revised link)
post edited by markmonkey1 - 2008/02/06 18:41:06
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pghmarty
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/06 18:22:47
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Carpet Bagger 
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/06 18:58:28
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Nothing wrong with them...Generally a full overhaul is gonna cost you about a grand anyways....
CB I never thought I'd say this, but I love my Sport-Craft!
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MuskyMastr
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/06 19:01:22
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I was gonna buy one from them later this month, hoping that I will have this boat sold and upgraded before the 3 year warranty is up. ................ Whoops, that one is out of fl, there is one in NC and one in eastern PA that look like they sell the same one...... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130193058935 I will probably order this one, but there is no advantage for pick up, as they are drop shipped. There is a company in cleveland also that carries them....
Better too far back, than too far forward.
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MuskyMastr
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/06 20:36:24
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CB did you ever buy one or know someone who did?
Better too far back, than too far forward.
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markmonkey1
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/06 20:40:23
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☄ Helpfulby Richie Diaz 2016/05/29 08:28:01
Carpetbagger, do you have one or know someone that does?
The SEI's are SIGNIFICANTLY less in cost than a new or remanufactured Mercruiser...I don't want to end up with a problem, but the price is tempting.
Musky, yes is from FL but I think they have free shipping.
Mark
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pudge1970
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/07 18:54:15
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A friend of mine bought one last year(2007). We installed it and it would not go into forward only would shift into reverse. Could not adjust the cables to make it work. We took it on and off 3 x's. He took it to a boat shop and they told him he needed new shift cables. $ 450.00 later he had new shift cables and a drive that still would not shift into forward. he ended up having to pull the drive and send it back. drive is not back on the boat yet. The warranty covers repair at no cost, not exchange replacement or shipping. Outdrives are not exactly light. He originnally had a bent prop shaft and got a repair estimate for drive rebuild of $1700. He has over that with shipping, time out of the water and cables he didn't need. Go OEM the summer boating season is too short to try to save $500.
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Carpet Bagger
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/07 20:34:57
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Mark Jump on the thehulltruth.com guys on there be happy to tell you their experience...much better for boating stuff...
If you are going to go OEM just have your drive rebuild by a Merc Dealer...Probaly wont cost any more to do that...Im willing to bet the above post had alot more problems involved than the outdrive...and shift cables arent $450 unless you are paying some1 to do it for you...
Pull your outdrive with your boat in forward. That is the proper way to do this without throwing the shift adjustment out of wack....I pull my OMC every few years to check the Bearings, grease the U Joint, and replace the seals
CB I never thought I'd say this, but I love my Sport-Craft!
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pudge1970
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/07 21:22:46
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I have removed and replaced many outdrives and replaced bellows and gimbal bearings. My buddy took it to have a Merc dealer look at the drive and the " Qualified Merc" mechanic told him he needed the cables replaced. No Mr. know it all cables do not cost $450 the cables and job cost $450. The cables I believe were a bit over $100. Not that it matters. I was trying to help a guy out by filling him in on my experience. Which I would have done if the drive bolted right on and my friend had no problems with it. In the end you get what you pay for I guess. $1200 for aftermarket or $1700 for the "Merc" mechanic to rebuild the OEM drive with OEM parts. I believe Markmonkey posted the question " Does anyone have any experience with this brand of outdrive?
I'm wondering if the SEI outdrive is decent or pieces of crap." I posted my experience.
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Carpet Bagger
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/08 00:52:43
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I dont believe i ever meant to insult your knowledge on boats or boating repairs....Point being i may have assumed that because you were paying $450 for a set of shift cables that your experience in the matter of outdrive repair may have not been 1st hand and done through a dealer...
I probaly would look into just rebuilding the internals of your exhisting housing. Most of the time the components as a whole arent bad..I would search online to try to buy the parts cheaper than your mechanic (who is going to want to mark them up some) then just pay him for the labor...If the boat is used and isnt beautiful haning that shiny new outdrive there isnt exactly making it a better buy or whatever.....May even want to pull a mechanic aside and see if he would be interested in a side job they arent exactly making what you are payin for the labor...
I redid the upper of my OMC Cobra myself about 6 years ago. Requires a few extra tools, a press for the bearings, and your time...but it was $600 in parts. Hardest part is the tolerences on the gears.
Ill do some quick digging for you Mark see what the general opinion of this company is...Personally i dont think any company would be able to survive in the marine business providing boaters of anything but over satisfactory quality. Boat mechanics are not going to waste their time on a product that they do not believe in and are going to have clients coming back to them with problems.....
CB I never thought I'd say this, but I love my Sport-Craft!
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MuskyMastr
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/08 03:52:11
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I would almost bet that the one from your experience Pudge had the upper and lower units put together with the outdrive in reverse instead of forward or vice versa (the opposite of what the boat was in or the boat was in neutral and the outdrive engaged) when I rebuilt mine last summer I had the upper and lower apart twice before I had realized (stupid yes.....) that the direction that the prop stops is opposite the direction of thrust when you are checking it.
Markmonkey I was wanting to buy off the company selling that unit in cleveland ( am almost certain it is the same manufacturer) because then I might be able to save on shipping on a warranty repair. That would be a good thing to check, where you have to ship them to for repair...
Better too far back, than too far forward.
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markmonkey1
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/08 13:09:41
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I was told that the housing is messed up, so a rebuild of what I have was not an option; I need a replacement. The remanufactured OEM Merc. was about 2500 (+install), while the new SEI was about 1400 (w/ install kit/anode kit & shipping). I'm considering 2 options: 1) doing the SEI myself (but I've never done this before & don't want to waste the summer trying to get the thing to work!); or 2) ordering a reman. OEM from a shop and just having them do the work. I think I do need new shift cables & bellows too. I'd get piece of mind with the OEM, especially when I'm 10-20 miles out w/ the family...if the SEI is also a good, reliable product, why spend the extra 1500? BTW, the boat is an '84.
Pudge, thanks for sharing your experience.
CB, I'll check the other website you mentioned.
Musky, what was the name of the OH shop, i'll check into them if I end up choosing the SEI. Shipping from FL was not free and good point on return shipping if repairs are needed.
Thanks. --markmonkey
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Carpet Bagger
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/08 13:30:06
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Mark look for an Outdrive on EBAY or something....they are out there...i think you could find one off a salvaged boat and get it on as well...
Friend of mine might even have a used alpha in stock....is that what you need?
CB I never thought I'd say this, but I love my Sport-Craft!
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Carpet Bagger
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/08 13:42:47
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CB I never thought I'd say this, but I love my Sport-Craft!
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MuskyMastr
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/08 16:06:34
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Better too far back, than too far forward.
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Carpet Bagger
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/08 18:40:52
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That is the same brand as above Musky...SEI
CB I never thought I'd say this, but I love my Sport-Craft!
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markmonkey1
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RE: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2008/02/08 22:24:51
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Thanks for the link Musky. CB, yes, that is the SEI brand, I can see the tag on one of the photos (SE106).
I'd prefer not to get a used outdrive, either reman. or new aftermarket. And yes it is an alpha one (gen. I). The ebay link w/ the new merc. is about the same price as what I'm seeing the remans. for!
mark
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Richie Diaz
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Re: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2016/05/29 09:06:56
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Yes, Highly recommended, Anyone who EVER needs a new outdrive, lower unit should buy it from this company. It comes with a 3 year warranty that covers just about anything including high speed impact with a rock. You can buy genuine products by SEI at www.marinerswarehouse.com
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Pie
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Re: sterndrive engineering outdrives (SEI)
2016/05/31 09:01:13
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I put a SEI Alpha 1 on my Searay over 3 years ago and it is running great.
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