GEAR-CASE REPLACEMENT

 I'm no wrench head when it comes to the inner workings of outboard motors, so when I learned that the ad for the used 130 hp Evinrude E-Tec I recently purchased neglected to mention its close encounter with Lake Erie limestone and related gear-case damage, I feared the worst financially.

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After discussing the situation with my trusted marine mechanic, Bob Hanko, he offered me a welcome alternative to a dealer-installed OEM replacement: an affordable aftermarket lower unit from Sterndrive Engineering Incorporated-better known as SEI Marine Products (sterndrive.cc)-that I could install myself.

Hanko offered me a workbench, supervision, help with the heavy lifting, and modeling duties for photos. But after completing the DIY job, I realized it didn't require anything I couldn't tackle in my own garage. Read on and I think you'll agree that many boaters can handle this task.