Shift Cables $2100 JOB!!! in 2002 3300 SCR Maxum

[maxumino]

Hello fellow boaters,

Here I am, first time boat owner ever, as of September 2020.

2002 Maxum SCR 3300 w/152 hours on both engines, with factory original Genset, clean, 1 owner....factory AC/Heat....etc.

I need your help people:

Boat drives nice, both engines start right up, it handles really well.....everything works on the boat the way it should, temp ok, oil pressure ok, no strange noises...... however shift cables are bit rough. As I am new boater, I can not tell HOW ROUGH these things are and If cables truly need replacement.

They do switch between gears properly but not as smooth. When I pulled the boat out of the water 3 weeks ago, I asked service/dealer to do service on both engines and to only check shift cables. They did check and they said all 6 cables, shift and throttle, need replacement due to all cables being stretched out too much and that 2 of them are letting water inside stern drives. This got me puzzled??!!!

The thing about it is the pricing they quoted me for this kind of job:
Whopping 10 hours of labor @ $140 per hour + $650 in parts + tax. It came out @ 2100!!! this seems to me like rip off.......I checked on-line and it looks like it's fairly simple 2 to 3 hour job, if that.

Questions I have is this:

When and how often should cables be replaced on any boat?

Can these cables be adjusted instead of replaced?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Love to all Maxum owners out there!

[mmwjr]

If the cables have too much drag they need to be replaced. Do you have a part break down of the estimate? If they are doing the lower shift cables they should be replacing the shift bellows as well. 2-3 hours per engine is what I would expect as the drive needs to be removed as well. Fishing cables from the engine compartment to helm is never easy.

[maxumino]

Thanks for quick input.....Both drives are already out since they did service on both, they are waiting for my decision as we speak. Yes, there is a slight delay/drag when you want to shift from N to R or from N to F....If this is what you meant by drag.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by maxumino

Thanks for quick input.....Both drives are already out since they did service on both, they are waiting for my decision as we speak. Yes, there is a slight delay/drag when you want to shift from N to R or from N to F....If this is what you meant by drag.

Yup drag is resistance which you are calling rough or delay. The job should include adjustment which requires the drives to be on.

[Phillbo]

Have them replaced. Water is coming in from a torn shift bellow. Not something you want to ignore.

It's a boat, nothing is cheap.

[shrew]

There might only be 152 hours on the engine, but everything is still 18 years old. I replaced cables at around 14 or 15 years and they needed it. $2,000 for twins doesn't sound out of line.

[maxumino]

Thank you so much!