When I got the boat 4 years ago I did the bellows, the transom seal, new hoses at the rear, trim sensors and seal, new bilge pump, hose and stainless port, gimbal pin and seals, exhaust flapper, the whole shebang (except the gasket for the trim hoses at the bottom of the gimbal housing). I have the boot and not an exhaust bellow (seems to turn the drive white after w weekend of cruising). My driveway is angled nose down so I put the boat nose high on jack stands and have to leave drive in trailer position.
Had to replace my bilge pump a few weeks ago because the float in my all-in-one amazon brand pump failed (also had a leaky trim hose at the drive, so replaced all 4). Only had manual operation - and to me, that's not enough. Replaced with a rule 500 GPH auto (runs every 2.5 minutes). Thank goodness I did.
Went to the lower Colorado river last weekend (Yuma), was parked at a sand bar with the drive up. Noticed every 30 minutes or so, bilge would pump. Pushed on bellows, tried to look in bilge to see leak, figured it was doing its job, I would check it out later. After sand bar time, went cruising, floating down the river, grandkids jumping off the boat, sunsets, good times, etc... bilge ran once in those 3 hours.
Hmm
I had a slip, but put it on the trailer for the night and let it be. Figured, I wasn't fixing it over the weekend in the 116 degree heat... id pull it out each night. Deal with it later.
Next day, instead of raising drive at the sand bar, lets just park farther off and leave it down. Well, no water, no bilge pump running, nothing. All day, no water, nothing. Decided to leave in slip for the evening while we had dinner (could see boat and bilge port from where we sat in the restaurant), no bilge operation at all. Left overnight, no water, nothing.
I guess its one of the 2 bellows? I mean, what else would bring water in with the drive up?
I had the drive off about a month before to get resealed and there was no signs of water intrusion in the gimbal bellows, I checked and poked around.
Ill do both bellows for the shift cable and gimbal of course, gimbal is smooth as snot (at least last month it was) and I grease before I leave and when I get home after washing.
Any additional insight? And enjoy the pictures. I love this boat.