Is OMC really to be avoided???

[SS194]

Here's what I'm looking at...
http://charlotte.craigslist.org/boa/1141270053.html

It looks like a great boat, except that it has an OMC. I know it's getting hard to find parts, but is it worth walking away from a great boat? (assuming it is a great boat).

Is it the outdrive or the engine that's the problem? Could I put a Mercruiser outdrive on it someday?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[45Auto]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

I think the 94' Cobra is basically a Volvo SX, and a lot of the parts will interchange if i remember correctly (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong .... ). Quick history of OMC drives here:

http://www.glmmarine.com/30yearsomc.html

Marine Parts Express has a conversion from Cobra to Volvo SX here, around $4000 or so I think:

http://www.marinepartsexpress.com/cobraconversion.htm#OMCSX

You can put anything you want on it, how much mechanical ability and tools do you have, or how much are you willing to spend?

I think the 5.0L is a Ford, might be about time for manifolds also, especially if it's been used in salt. Can you still get those?

Might be a nice boat, but be prepared for a bunch of extra hassle and cost on basic maintenance items. How much work are you willing to do yourself? How much work on changing drives or engines can you do yourself? If you have to pay someone to do it, run away fast!!!! You'll be much better off getting something still made. Wouldn't bother me any, but none of my cars or boats have been to a shop in the last 35 years .... (my wife's daily driver is a Triumph Spitfire!!).

 

[SS194]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

I work on all my cars and trucks myself. When I had an old ski boat (1977), I did everything myself. And to be honest, I order all my parts online anyway. But, I don't want to buy a boat that's going to need a new engine or outdrive. If it's in good shape, and I take care of it, is there any reason to think that it's going to need a lot of work?

Is the only problem the lack of parts? Or that they aren't as reliable?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[180shabah]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

Parts, prices, etc has been covered many many times, both positive and negative.

Reliabilty of the Cobras was no better or worse than a Merc, except for one thing. They are very, very sensitive to shift cable adjustment. If it is correct, and kept that way, they will last years. If it is out of adjustment, they tend to destroy the upper gear set.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

Is it the outdrive or the engine that's the problem? Could I put a Mercruiser outdrive on it someday?

On that boat, it's both. That is the worst of both worlds, a Ford engine attached to a Cobra drive.

Someday you might be able to put a Mercruiser on it, cause SEI is working on a conversion kit. But you'll have the extra problem of the Ford motor.

So, is it a good buy to purchase a 15 year old boat with an obsolete engine and sterndrive? You have to figure that out yourself.

Good luck.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

Nice looking boat but at 7k thats too much being it has the Ford motor and Cobra drive.
I do believe the 94 drives were the Volvo cross breed..( good question for Don) but the Ford motor would kill it for me.

 

[SS194]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

Well, I had a 17' 1976 ski boat with a Ford 302 with a Merc and I loved it. The thing would leap out of the hole, it would do just over 50 with 4 people or just myself, sounded great and was great on gas. For 2 seasons it never missed a beat, didn't use any oil at all, and it never let me down.

I don't know, maybe I just got lucky. I sure did like that engine though!

Steve

 

[180shabah]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

Go shopping for exhaust manifolds for a ford, might make you think twice about another one.

Just wasn't as common as the chevies, and no one is currently using them, makes prices higher. Sometimes WAY higher.

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

The 94 should be the OMC/Volvo "joint adventure" drive and that's a good unit. I've also run into 94 where the boat manufacturer used up their old stock of "clutch dog cobras" so it could be either. For $7K it needs to be pretty much perfect.
James

 

[SS194]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

We'll talk price when I see it. I'm going to check out a 2001 larson with a V6 Merc tomorrow. It's in great shape, but it's a V6. I love 8's. I'll have to see how this Chris Craft is when I get a hold of the guy and get a chance to take a look at it.

Steve

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

The 94 should be the OMC/Volvo "joint adventure" drive and that's a good unit. I've also run into 94 where the boat manufacturer used up their old stock of "clutch dog cobras" so it could be either. For $7K it needs to be pretty much perfect.
James

That drive is not the "joint venture" drive. It would be best described as the OMC Cone Clutch drive (pre-joint venture) They are more dinosaur than the Dog-clutch drives because they didn't sell as many. (they weren't all that "bad" they just didn't make a lot of them between the "Dogs" and the Volvo SX's. (Wait a min.....aren't all the Cobras Dogs?)

The joint venture drive IS a Volvo SX drive.

Also, that engine being a carbed engine luckily is NOT a spitfire ignition....

The seller is living in dreamland though.

This is a real DOWN market for boats....And there's plenty of boats out there with REAL Volvo SX, Mercury drives etc and GM engines for less money.

Why buy a veritable dinosaur if you don't have to?

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

YES

Cheers,


Rick

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

That drive is not the "joint venture" drive. It would be best described as the OMC Cone Clutch drive (pre-joint venture) They are more dinosaur than the Dog-clutch drives because they didn't sell as many. (they weren't all that "bad" they just didn't make a lot of them between the "Dogs" and the Volvo SX's. (Wait a min.....aren't all the Cobras Dogs?)

The joint venture drive IS a Volvo SX drive.

Also, that engine being a carbed engine luckily is NOT a spitfire ignition....

The seller is living in dreamland though.

This is a real DOWN market for boats....And there's plenty of boats out there with REAL Volvo SX, Mercury drives etc and GM engines for less money.

Why buy a veritable dinosaur if you don't have to?


YES

Cheers,


Rick

Are you sure that isn't the beginning of the joint adventure? The omc history mentioned above seems to disgree with you. Are you thinking of the "Queen cobra"? Again I've seen boats as late as 94 with regular cobras so it wouldn't surprise me if this is one.

James

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

Quick check of the Doug Russle marine parts catalog shows the 94 5.0L OMC having the volvo style shift mechanism in the upper unit. Unless I'm missing something this is the first year "joint adventure".

James

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

Are you sure that isn't the beginning of the joint adventure? The omc history mentioned above seems to disgree with you. Are you thinking of the "Queen cobra"? Again I've seen boats as late as 94 with regular cobras so it wouldn't surprise me if this is one.

James

OMC had a Cone clutch drive that was a sort of a interim drive (before the SX) that was called "King" they ran it concurrently with the "Dogs" for a few years. When the "joint" SX drive was rolled out it was really a Volvo Penta SX drive. (With Mercury Roots too!!! ) An excellent drive by the way.

I think Stuart Hastings talks about it in his article

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

I'm familiar with the King and it's smaller cousin the "queen" cobras. The parts book on the Doug Russle site confirms that the 94 omc is the SX/volvo drive. I'm at home now so I can't double check on the Bombardier dealer site to confirm the DR site has the right parts book for 94, but it is what I expected to see.

James

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

http://www.dougrussell.com/partscat...,1323,1324,1325,1326,1327,1328,1329,1330,1332

This is the link for the 94 omc 5.0L upper. Isn't that an SX?

James

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

Just because the boat is a 94 does not mean the engine and drive is...
It could very well be a 93 engine and drive...

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

Just because the boat is a 94 does not mean the engine and drive is...
It could very well be a 93 engine and drive...

I did mention that in above posts. I never saw a picture of the drive. Now that I look at the engine compartment better I see a shift plate assy on the stbd exhaust manifold. A joint adventure drive would not have this as it is one cable from the remote to the drive.

I stand corrected !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

my appologies,

James

PS that makes this no where near a $7k boat

 

[td8]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

I wish my boat had a Ford motor in instead of the Chevy. I have been working on and racing cars for years and that 302 Ford will out last any Chevy motor around. No matter if the manifolds cost more you will save more on that 302 in the long run.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Is OMC really to be avoided???

the cobra drives are just as good as any other available at the time they were built as long as they are taken care of. check nada there is no deduct for omc drives last time I checked. I ran a 5.7 omc cobra for about 350hrs in 2 years never had a problem with the drive.