Do you repair MerCruiser and Volvo Penta outdrives?

Yes, we specialize in MerCruiser Alpha/Bravo and Volvo Penta SX/DPH outdrives. We handle everything from seal replacement and gear lube leaks to complete overhauls and resealing jobs.

What are signs that my outdrive needs repair?

Watch for water in the gear oil, excessive vibration, shifting issues, grinding noises, or visible oil leaks near the bellows or prop. These are warning signs that your outdrive needs service ASAP.

Do you offer on-site outdrive removal and repair?

Yes, wherever the boat is out of the water: on a trailer, a lift or at a boatyard. An outdrive must never come off while the boat is afloat, so a boat in a slip is hauled out first, and the yard's charge is listed on your estimate. Most seal kits and gear lube changes are done on-site, and major rebuilds may go to our shop.

How much does it cost to repair an outdrive?

Labor is $150 an hour, plus the trip fee for work at your boat ($30 in San Pedro up to $110 in Newport Beach). An annual drive service or a minor seal job usually takes 2-4 hours; bellows, gimbal bearing and rebuild jobs take longer. You get a written estimate for labor, parts and the trip fee before any work starts, and any haul-out or yard charge is listed on it too.

Do you replace bellows and U-joints on stern drives?

Yes. With the boat out of the water, we replace the bellows, U-joints, gimbal bearings, shift cables, trim senders and seals that keep water out and the drive working.

Can you pressure test my outdrive for leaks?

Yes – we perform pressure and vacuum testing to check for internal seal failure. It's a crucial step before refilling with gear oil or reinstalling the drive.

Do you offer a warranty on outdrive repairs?

Yes. Our workmanship is warranted for 90 days from the invoice date; new parts carry their manufacturer's warranty. Your dated invoice lists the work and the parts, a useful record for maintenance and resale.

Stern Drive Outdrive Repair & Service

The most abused part of your boat sits underwater. We provide expert service for MerCruiser and Volvo Penta outdrives, from annual gear lube changes to bellows replacement and complete unit rebuilds.

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$150 /hr

Labor estimate About 1 hour to diagnose, then a quote

Book sends us a ticket; nothing is charged online. Before any work you get a written estimate for labor, parts and the trip fee, and nothing is done without your OK.

Trip fee By distance, one way: $30 in San Pedro, $50 in Long Beach

San Pedro$30
Wilmington, Terminal Island$40
Long Beach: Shoreline, Rainbow Harbor$50
Long Beach Marina, Alamitos Bay$60
Redondo Beach$60
Seal Beach, Huntington Harbour$75
Marina del Rey$85
Newport Beach$110

Farther away: $25 plus $2.50 a mile, one way from our San Pedro shop. No trip fee when the boat comes to our shop, or for plan members. The work of a visit is at least $150; the trip fee is on top.

Registered in California: Breeze Marine Boat Service LLC, San Pedro
Where we work: At your slip from Marina del Rey to Newport Beach, or in our San Pedro shop
Questions first: (213) 693-0224 or submit a ticket

About this service

The Underwater Engine

Protect Your Investment.
Below the Waterline.

Your stern drive lives in the harshest environment imaginable. Neglect leads to catastrophic gear failure, corrosion and a costly marine outdrive repair. We provide expert stern drive repair and maintenance for MerCruiser and Volvo Penta units to keep you moving.

Annual Lube & Service

The most critical service. We drain the gear lube and inspect it for water intrusion (milky appearance) or metal shavings. We refill with the marine gear lube the drive maker specifies.

Corrosion Control

Saltwater eats aluminum. We inspect and replace sacrificial zinc/aluminum anodes. On MerCruiser drives we also test the MerCathode system, and on every drive we check the continuity of the ground (bonding) wires to prevent galvanic corrosion from dissolving your drive housing.

Bellows & Seals

Rubber bellows seal the U-joints, exhaust and shift cable where they pass through the transom. If the U-joint bellows cracks, water gets into the boat and can sink it at the slip. We inspect these critical rubber boots and, with the boat out of the water, replace worn bellows and prop shaft seals that leak gear lube.

The Inspection Protocol.

Catching problems early costs less than a failed drive.

Pressure & Vacuum Test

Before adding oil, we pressure and vacuum test the empty drive to the maker's specification to make sure all seals (prop shaft, drive shaft, shift shaft) are holding. A drive that won't hold air won't hold oil.

U-Joint Inspection

With the boat out of the water, we pull the drive to inspect the U-joints, bellows and gimbal bearing. Rust here indicates a bellows leak. We grease the fittings to ensure smooth operation.

Engine Alignment

Crucial for longevity. With an alignment tool passed through the gimbal bearing, we make sure the engine coupler lines up with it, preventing premature wear of the coupler, gimbal bearing and U-joints.

Prop & Skeg Check

We remove the propeller to check for fishing line behind the thrust washer (which destroys seals) and inspect the skeg for impact damage.

Built Tough.

Expert care for heavy machinery.

Stern drive with dual counter-rotating propellers during prop service

Inspecting the gimbal bearing and bellows on a boat transom

New zinc anode installed on a stern drive lower unit

Units We Service.

Specializing in the market leaders.

Mercury MerCruiser Alpha One Gen I/II, Bravo 1, 2, 3

Volvo Penta SX, DPS (DuoProp), OceanX

Service Interval Gear Lube: Every 100 Hours or Annually

Common Questions

Why does my gear lube look milky?

Milky lube means water has gotten inside, usually past a leaking prop shaft, drive shaft or shift shaft seal, or a worn drain or vent plug seal. If ignored, the water rusts the bearings and gears and can ruin the whole drive.

How often should bellows be replaced?

Follow your drive maker's schedule. We check the bellows at every annual service, and in salt water they often need replacing sooner than the schedule says. If they feel stiff or show cracks, have them replaced right away, with the boat out of the water.

Prevent Failure.

Book your annual outdrive service.

Service My Drive

Stern drive service in Long Beach and nearby harbors

Drives kept in the water at Long Beach, San Pedro, Alamitos Bay or Huntington Harbour sit in saltwater year-round, where anodes, bellows and seals wear fastest. Plan a gear lube change at least once a year or every 100 hours. If the lube looks milky (water is getting in) or the bellows feel stiff, book a check right away.