Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

[Miroash]

I am looking for another boat, most likely some type of bowrider. I have never owned an inboard/outboard, so I know nothing about them except that there are more of them on bowriders than outboards. I have heard there are some set-ups I should stay away from, but don't know which ones they are. Is there a set-up that has fewer problems than others? other than the normal, what else should I look at when inspecting a boat with an I/O? Thanks

 

[sparticus]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

From what I understand folks recommend staying away from OMC. Mainly because they aren't in production anymore and parts are getting scarce.

 

[Miroash]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

is that the only bad one?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

Ayuh,... Avoid Anything that's says OMC,... And Mercruiser 470 motors...

 

[brisboats]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

Omc.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

It might be better to suggest what to look for...

You're pretty much Ok if you find a boat (depending on size) with a fairly late model (95+) 3.0L, 4.3L, 5.7L, 7.4L, 8.1L, 8.2L--- Volvo Penta or Mercruiser engine/drive.

Stay away from anything OMC.

Cheers,

Rick

 

[Miroash]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

It might be better to suggest what to look for...

You're pretty much Ok if you find a boat (depending on size) with a fairly late model (95+) 3.0L, 4.3L, 5.7L, 7.4L, 8.1L, 8.2L--- Volvo Penta or Mercruiser engine/drive.

Stay away from anything OMC.

Cheers,

Rick

Thank you, that was the kind of answer I was looking for.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

OMCs aren't all bad. The stringer mounts do have a set of problems one has to learn to live with. The Cobras are fine bullet proof drives and have low drag in the water and extremely easy to change impellers. MC Alpha I gen IIs (the latest of the MC outdrives) have potential internal seal issues that can cause the upper to lose oil and burn up.

What I would stay away from (17 as a marine service tech) is ANYTHING that has not been properly maintained.

Mercruisers are good, Volvo's are good especially with an American engine i.e. 5.0, 5.7, 4.3. In fact the new Volvo drives are a hybrid of the OMC Cobra design and the bullet proof Volvo internals.

The one drive we see very few of is the Bravo, which is found in larger boat packages, 23 ft+ with 7.4 engines.

The Bravo is what they tried to redesign the Alpha I Gen II after (with limited success, in my opinion).

I said I would never own an OMC stringer but have had one (1984) for 3 years now. A reseal of the lower and new impeller and it works fine.

The Drive is half of the package. A good drive with a unreliable or problematic engine is little different then a good engine with an unreliable drive.

Owning a good Volvo or MC is not as good of an asset in an area where the only parts and service is OMC.

There are so many other things that can be problems it's hard to narrow it to one is best.

Best bet is to take whatever boat you are serious about to a good MARINE mechanic and pay a few bucks (usually $50 to 150) to have it checked out completely. This will let you know what condition it is in and will give you a list of items that may be a good bargaining point with the seller.

And YES stay away from the MC 470 period. There is a reason they only made a few of them.

 

[mylesm260]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

A Alpha-1 with a vortec 4.3 is a pretty good all round package for a 17-21' boat.


Best "bang for you're buck" (performance vs cost of ownership)
Plenty of power
Fantastic fuel consumption
Plenty of parts available
Extremely reliable, if you change all you're parts on time (water pump, bellows, oil, oil filter, fuel filter, etc)

5.7's are great too... little more power, little worse fuel consumption.

3.0's are under-powered, unless you're in a 14' boat, in which case, you might as well have an outboard (IMO)

3.7's are problematic, avoid them

Once you get start getting into the 7.4's (big block) you need to go with bravo legs: You're cost immediately goes up drastically, as well as you're fuel consumption. For this reason, you typically only see bravo's in larger boats, which weigh more.


Volvo's are also fantastic drives, however, they are typically a little more pricey, both initially and parts wise. They do also come with more optional bells and whistles that the mercruisers (with the exception of certain bravo's) don't have.

for example:

Dual Props
The ability for the drive to "pop up" if it strikes something while moving forward.

 

[GiMLit]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

Stay away from
1. anything that will break
2 a) that your local marine supply place doesn't have on the shelf
2 b) for no money
3. anything you may have to buy tools for
4. anything that you have to look for more than 1 hr for a mechanic who
a) can fix it now and for nothing
b) doesn't have the special tools for
5. that 97% of the boating public doesn't have
6. is not painted black Start in M or V

get the point ???

Sorry I didn't mean to make a mockery of your thread.

What should you stay away from?? It all depends on your budget, ability to repair, your needs/wants etc........
May I suggest reading lots on this forum (as it is one of the best around) and make yourself familiar with what to look out for and base your decision accordingly. This is the only way you will be satisfied in the end IMHO. Anything you buy could be a gold mine or anything you buy could be a money pit makes no diff who makes it.
You have a budget, anyone who reads here does as well as 98.99999% of the population you will ever meet, stick to it! Be patient and find something that is what you had in mind.
Making a silk purse of a sows ear is no easy task. Doing on a budget is impossible.
As well as expect it to cost you a bit more than what you think. By the time you buy all the little odds and ends it all adds up.

Have fun!

Later
GiMLit

 

[danond]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

How on EARTH has anyone skipped telling this guy about Yamaha by now????



Do NOT buy a Yamaha I/O. If you do, you are screwed. No parts.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

OK, rather than going into a bunch of negatives, I would recommend that you get an I/O with a chevy motor, and a Mercruiser outdrive. When you find your boat hire a qualified mechanic to thoroughly check out the boat, motor, outdrive and hull. Good luck.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

I have a Mercruiser 185 (GM 3.8 liter not OMC 3.8) and it has been a terrific motor. My alpha I lower unit is pretty much the standard outdrive for this HP range and it's been fine too. Someone on this site will be for or against pretty much and combo but Mercruisers are a pretty safe bet as long as they are maintained. From what I've read on this site the 3.0 or 4.7 are the most popular motors for people who do there own work.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

stay away from force 125, I got one and it sucks,

 

[Don S]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

I have a Mercruiser 185 (GM 3.8 liter not OMC 3.8) and it has been a terrific motor.

I hate to be the one to tell you this scipper, but a Mercruiser 185 is a glorified 470, not a 3.8 (V6) OMC Chevy engine. It is a 4 cylinder, it's an aluminum block built by Mercruiser, with a Ford 460 head and all Merc intake and exhaust system. Including the stupid charging system designed like an outboard that is NLA.
It is not Chevy, or a Ford. It's a ........................ never mind.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

Don, you are the last guy I want to argue with but I have the 229 cubic inch chevy block not the buick based block. I understand that this is a chevy 305 minus two cylinders much the same way as the 4.3 liter is based on the chevy 350.

Are you sure that I have 470 based engine? I honestly thought that the 262 cubic inch version of the mercruiser 185 was the one th stay away from.

I just reread the post above and my motor is not even a 4 cylinder. It's a 6.

 

[Don S]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

My mistake, sorry bout that. I was thinking of the 180, which is a 3.7L (aka 470) when I seen your 3.8

 

[scipper77]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

My mistake, sorry bout that. I was thinking of the 180, which is a 3.7L (aka 470) when I seen your 3.8

No sweat, you had me a little nervous because I'm always wondering why I never hear question about my motor. I think it's because the 3.8 liter was replaced by the 4.3 liter quickly and there just aren't many 3.8's out there.

 

[Robj]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

I guess it depends on what vintage you are thinking about. Some of the older Volvo's are hard to get parts for and if you find them they are expensive. The AQ170 comes to mind. There are other 4 banger Volvos that fall into the same category. These are 1970 and 1980's vintage.

I agree with what others have said and will add the Force L Drive as one to stay away from.

When you do decide to buy, consider it an investment in having a mechanic go over the boat before you close the deal. You will be glad you did.

Have a great day

Rob.

 

[greasemonkey1985]

Re: Which Motor/Drive Set-Up should I stay away from?

I just had a 1989 bayliner with the horrible L drive, the boat looks sweet but trust me it was far from it, with the 4 cylinder in board that we had to premix and nearly impossible to find any parts and anything we could find was more than the boat. I think its only in a couple of years of production but definitly stay away!!
I would suggest the merc, We just picked up a 3.0l OMC I hope they arent as bad as some of the people have posted, the previous owner took really good care of this boat, and other than some old gas I hope it is gonna be good.
NO L DRIVE!!!!1