Vessel Service Review

Sea Ray 325 “Megisti” Twin Mercruiser 4.3L V6 petrol engines · Twin Mercruiser Bravo 3 sterndrives · D’Albora Marina, The Spit

Comparing what was actually done in the 2025 overhaul against the 2026 annual-service quote — clearly separating work that was replaced / rebuilt from items now simply being inspected or checked.

The three documents

Done — 2025

Major service & repairs

Xtreme Mobile Marine · INV-0293
$24,428.53
Invoiced 27 Aug 2025 · actually completed Dec 2025
Full engine + sterndrive overhaul
Done — 2025

Additional works (“extras”)

Xtreme Mobile Marine · INV-0313
$3,532.24
22 Dec 2025 · found during the main job
Sump gasket, bilge pump, leaks
Quote — 2026

Annual service (proposed)

Onboard Marine Services · QU-0361
$6,995.46
Quoted 22 May 2026 · expires 21 Jun 2026
Routine annual service
The key point: A major overhaul was carried out in late 2025 — exhaust manifolds & risers, sterndrive internals, bellows, circulation pumps, spark plugs and distributor caps were all replaced with new parts. So the 2026 quote is a routine annual service: it replaces the usual consumables (oils, filters, impellers, anodes, thermostats) and otherwise inspects and checks parts that are barely six months old. Very little of the 2026 work is “new” — most of it is confirming the recent work is holding up.

2025 spend (both invoices): $27,960.77  ·  2026 annual quote: $6,995.46

System-by-system: done vs. being checked

Replaced / rebuilt new Inspected / checked only New consumable this service Outstanding / watch
System / component Done in 2025 overhaul 2026 quote action Notes
Exhaust manifolds, risers & spacers Replaced 4 manifolds, 4 risers, 2 spacer kits, 4 shutters, T-fittings & gaskets Not in quote cooling hoses/housings checked New in 2025 — no action needed.
Sterndrive bellows (universal / shift) Replaced 2 uni + 2 shift bellows & clamps (a failed clamp caused the damage) Inspect condition only ~6 months old — inspect only is correct.
Sterndrive internals (gimble bearing, input shaft, pivot pins) Rebuilt stbd gimble bearing, input shaft assembly, seal & o-ring, front/rear pivot pins, bushes, washers, caps Grease & check bearings, input shafts, tensions Rebuilt 2025 — service/grease only.
Gear cases & gear oil Serviced annual service, new gear oil Replace oil split cases, clean galleries, new HP gear oil Annual consumable — appropriate.
Anodes not separately itemised Replace 2 anode kits + drain plug seals Routine annual replacement.
Engine oil & filters Replaced engine oil + 2 oil filters Replace engine oil + 2 oil filters Routine consumable.
Fuel filters Replaced fuel filters Replace disc + cartridge + primary filters Routine consumable.
Raw-water pump impellers Replaced 2 impellers Replace 2 impellers (pumps checked) Routine annual.
Thermostats not itemised in 2025 Replace 2 thermostat kits Sensible preventive replacement.
Spark plugs Replaced 16 new plugs Inspect & reuse remove, compression-test, grease & refit New in 2025 — reused, not replaced. Good.
Distributor caps & rotors Replaced 2 caps + 2 rotors Inspect cap & rotor New in 2025 — check only.
Circulation pumps Replaced 2 circulation pumps Check cooling system for leaks New in 2025 — check only.
Timing cover & harmonic balancer Replaced port timing cover + harmonic balancer Check belts & pulleys New in 2025 — check only.
Sump gasket Repaired engine removed, leaking gasket replaced (INV-0313) Check for leaks Fixed Dec 2025 — monitor.
Bilge pump & float switch Replaced pump + float switch (batteries were draining from a leak) Not in quote New Dec 2025.
Transducer housing & drain bungs Replaced/resealed leaking transducer housing + drain bungs (INV-0313) Not in quote Fixed Dec 2025.
Batteries Charged/checked after leak repaired Load test start + house batteries Test only.
Trim system & senders Replaced trim sender kit, reservoir cap Check operation & leaks New in 2025 — check only.
Hot-water service Bypassed not done — corroded fitting at the unit Not in quote Outstanding — still needs attention.
Diagnostics & sea trial Done as part of service Included computer scan, clear fault codes, sea trial Standard verification.

What the 2026 quote actually is

Breaking the $6,995 annual-service quote into what’s genuinely replaced vs. what’s just being looked at:

Actually replaced

  • Gear oils (both drives)
  • Anodes + drain-plug seals
  • Engine oil & oil filters
  • Fuel filters (disc, cartridge, primary)
  • Raw-water pump impellers
  • Thermostats
  • Fuel treatment

Only inspected / checked

  • Bellows (uni & shift)
  • Gimble & input-shaft internals
  • Spark plugs (reused)
  • Distributor caps & rotors
  • Circulation pumps / cooling
  • Belts, pulleys, mounts, hoses
  • Trim system & senders

Tested / cleaned

  • Compression test (both engines)
  • Battery load test
  • Diagnostic scan + clear codes
  • Flame arrestors / throttle bodies cleaned
  • Engine-room degrease & detail
  • Corrosion inhibitor applied
  • Sea trial + report

Recommended service to carry out

Proceed with the Onboard Marine annual service (QU-0361) — the scope is appropriate. Because the heavy work was done in late 2025, this service is correctly a light-touch annual: it renews the consumables that should be renewed every year, and inspects rather than replaces the recently-fitted parts. You are not paying twice for the 2025 work.

  1. Approve the annual service — oils, filters, impellers, anodes, thermostats and the full inspection/sea-trial. This is money well spent to protect the 2025 investment.
  2. Raise the bypassed hot-water service before the job — the corroded fitting flagged in 2025 was never resolved and is not in this quote. Ask Onboard to inspect and quote it separately.
  3. Ask them to pay special attention to the 2025 repair points while inspecting — bellows/clamps, sump gasket, and the transducer/bung seals — to confirm the recent work is holding up.
  4. Confirm anode condition — anodes weren’t separately itemised in 2025, so a fresh set now is sensible.
One outstanding item to watch: the hot-water service was bypassed in 2025 due to a corroded fitting at the unit, and it does not appear in the 2026 quote. It remains the one genuinely unfinished job — worth getting inspected and quoted.