1976 Carver Mariner 3396 - Bad V-Drive?

[BoatinginFL]

When I recently purchased the boat I cleaned the points on both engines and both ran strong. I was told the V-drive on the port side was bad and only the starboard screw was turning. The previous owner told me the v-drive is bad and the port wasn't turning. This made for an interesting passage from Venice, FL to her new home St. Petersburg, FL. The port propeller turned during the passage so I know it's not stuck below. My question is this a typical item that breaks? I've been told these v-drives are pretty rock solid. My question is will this be a fairly costly repair? Do you think it could be the transmission and not the v-drive? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[waybomb]

Simple to determine which component is bad. Be lashed into the dock. Have somebody up top. You be down by the engine. Have topsides start the engine and put the tranny in forward or reverse. If the shaft engages and spins between tranny and vdrive, but the output of the vdrive does not, you have a vdrive issue. If the tranny shaft does not turn you have a tranny issue. Could just be an adjustment.

[BoatinginFL]

Thank you I will have a look. Starboard side looked good on vdrive oil, but when I went to check the port side the dip stick would not pull all the way out and it looked like something had calcified inside and was preventing the dipstick from being removed. Just another thing that has me leaning towards the vdrive, but I will check the shafts asap.