1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

[erikgreen]

Hey - I'm meeting a guy tonight to look at a cheap boat with a cracked engine block. Not a problem, since I have a ford 302 available, which is the same as the engine that's dead.

He's unavailable till then so I can't ask him, but all of a sudden I started wondering if it's got an OMC drive on it, which would explain the price.

Anyone know if Sea Ray made a 21 foot boat in 1983 with a ford engine and OMC outdrive? I may buy it regardless if it's in good shape, but I want to think about it beforehand... he says the sterndrive is working, but a working OMC has a diff. value than a working Alpha I.

Thanks,
Erik

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I think it is possible......
Merc quit using Ford in '77.....
OMC used them into the 90's......​

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I would select a boat that does not have an OMC drive on it if I could turn back the clock!

Hey - I'm meeting a guy tonight to look at a cheap boat with a cracked engine block. Not a problem, since I have a ford 302 available, which is the same as the engine that's dead.

He's unavailable till then so I can't ask him, but all of a sudden I started wondering if it's got an OMC drive on it, which would explain the price.

Anyone know if Sea Ray made a 21 foot boat in 1983 with a ford engine and OMC outdrive? I may buy it regardless if it's in good shape, but I want to think about it beforehand... he says the sterndrive is working, but a working OMC has a diff. value than a working Alpha I.

Thanks,
Erik

 

[erikgreen]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I think it is possible......
Merc quit using Ford in '77.....
OMC used them into the 90's......​

Sounds like it has to be an OMC, then.

Well, if it's running and the rest of the boat (except the engine, of course) is in good shape the asking price may still be worth it.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere here that the OMC and Mercruiser drives use the same shape transom hole? So I could maybe swap in a mercruiser for the OMC.

On the other hand, if the OMC is in really good shape, it should be ok to use. Anything in particular I should watch out for? Bad models?

Erik

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I'm not an OMC guy, but if it is a stringer drive, a Merc. will not fit in the hole......
In fact, if it were me, I'd run......
There are too many other boats out there to be wasting brain power on learning how to fix a boat with a an obsolete drive made by an out of biz manufacturer.....
If he is giving the boat to you & you can get the 302 cheap, then maybe....
I still say, RUN!!!!!......​

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I was an OMC guy.

I say RUN in the opposite direction either way...

Even if it's free...... RUN AWAY.




Regards,


Rick

I'm not an OMC guy, but if it is a stringer drive, a Merc. will not fit in the hole......
In fact, if it were me, I'd run......
There are too many other boats out there to be wasting brain power on learning how to fix a boat with a an obsolete drive made by an out of biz manufacturer.....
If he is giving the boat to you & you can get the 302 cheap, then maybe....
I still say, RUN!!!!!......​

 

[erikgreen]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I'm not an OMC guy, but if it is a stringer drive, a Merc. will not fit in the hole......
In fact, if it were me, I'd run......
There are too many other boats out there to be wasting brain power on learning how to fix a boat with a an obsolete drive made by an out of biz manufacturer.....
If he is giving the boat to you & you can get the 302 cheap, then maybe....
I still say, RUN!!!!!......​

Welllll....

I already have the 302 (and a pre-alpha drive) from my other boat project... I'm still working on the other boat, but I want to be on the water, and I've probably got 1-2 months of work left to get it to where I want it.

If all this boat needs is my 302 engine in it, then it's a quick drop in and go thing. I'd be happier if I could put my merc in it, considering what I've heard here about OMC, but I guess the worst case if it breaks is a transom replacement, re-cut the hole, and install the mercruiser. My other boat I've already put in a new transom, stringers, and the floor is next, then I still have the interior, new doghouse, and new console to go...

I guess I'm thinking if it's in good shape other than the engine, I could see paying a few hundred for it...

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I agree, if you all ready have the 302, then it is worth a shot....
That said, I'd run it for the season & dump it while it is still running....
If it has a stringer drive the hole will be way too big for a Merc....​

 

[Coors]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I dunno, but I was told, OMC ain't got no soul.
The parts are cheap; new drives availiable for good prices.
This will stir it up; You can lean over the transom, and replace an impeller on an OMC.
Try that an a Merc
I now go hide..

 

[SteveDavis]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

Well, I have to say I love my OMC, but I am new at owning a boat. I have a '86 Crest with 175hp Chev. This boat has been in the family ever since it was new and the outdrive has never had a problem. I do hear alot about shift cables and that seems to be minor. Seeing that this boat made it through 4 teens and I can assure you a lot of abuse, I think that it has done a great job.

What has he said about this boat? Is there anything wrong with the outdrive?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I would select a boat that does not have an OMC drive on it if I could turn back the clock!

Ayuh,........

I'd take up Swimming before I bought a boat with an OMC drive........

The Only part you can use from the other boat is the Bare Long Block,........
Not the Whole Motor,..... It Won't Fit........

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

You can lean over the transom, and replace an impeller on an OMC.

Not on an 83 you can't.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

I don't even have to get wet when I replace the impeller on mine.....All I have to do is turn off the seacock and remove a few bolts.....I don't even have to get into an uncomfortable position.


MAN! I'm glad that King Cobra can't bite me anymore!!

I dunno, but I was told, OMC ain't got no soul.
The parts are cheap; new drives availiable for good prices.
This will stir it up; You can lean over the transom, and replace an impeller on an OMC.
Try that an a Merc
I now go hide..

 

[erikgreen]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc? HAPPY ENDING!

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc? HAPPY ENDING!

Well, after all that I went and took a look at the boat. It had been repowered at some point with an older, more powerful engine than normally came in that year of boat. I don't see any signs of the transom being worked on, so it probably originally had a mercruiser of some sort.

Anyway, the motor in it now is a mercruiser 233 with 750 or so hours on it. It has a pre-alpha Mercruiser sterndrive on it. The sterndrive works, and the motor starts but has milky oil.

The boat is in very good condition for its age, and I stole it for only $500! No trailer, but I can use my other one.

I'm probably going to spend time working on this boat instead of the SRV220 now, which means I have an unfinished project. I'll have to give the hull away or something.

But, I now have a nice neat boat that just needs an engine fix, and I happen to have a complete replacement drivetrain on hand that's almost the same model. Things are looking up

Pictures soon, as well as requests for clues when I start working on the engine.

Erik

 

[erikgreen]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

Correction - it's an alpha 1 drive, not a pre-alpha. Even better

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 1983 Sea Ray - OMC or Merc?

Well Well now.......that's a whole lot different!

You might have yourself a pretty good deal then!