Buying used boat - what to look for

[FUNCAMPIN]

Hi newbie here!<br /><br />Looking to purchase 16 - 17 ft runabout I/O late 1980's to early 1990's.<br /><br />Is there any way to tell if the lower unit needs repairs? We will be looking seriously at a boat next weekend, with OMC 175h[ V6 I/O. It is on consignment at a dealership. We won't be able to test drive, but the dealership has a large tank in which they can drop the boat and run the motor.<br /><br />What should we look for or look out for? We're not very mechanical.<br /><br />Thanks in advance to all replies.

 

[tommays]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

if you dont no much you really need a marine surveyor who knows what to look for it will save you a lot of problems<br /><br /> http://www.acms-usa.com/ <br /><br /><br />buying and OMC would be a big thing to stay away from<br /><br />they are out of Business and while parts can be found service is very hit and miss <br /><br /><br />running a boat ON THE WATER is the only way to know it works correctly<br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[GrandLarsony]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you buy without a sea trial. The dealer should be able to make arrangements - usually, you'd sign a purchase offer which is contingent on a successful survey and sea trial (definitely get the survey, too, for both the boat and engines which are usually separate guys). Contract will state that you agree to buy at a price if everything checks out, and that dealer has option to fix anything (and you pay that same price).

 

[javsam]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

well look at the shift cable where it goes into outdrive to see if cable is bad.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

Welcome!<br /><br />Here's my advice...as already mentioned, stay away from an OMC of that vintage. They're out of business. It'll be sort of like buying a Daewoo. It may run good now, but when it breaks, it'll be very hard to get parts and service. Look for a Mercruiser (common) or Volvo (not so common). Both are fully supported and mechanics will fix 'em.<br /><br />To be thorough, you'll want to inspect the motor including compression and leakdown test and engine alignment. The outdrive including gimbal bearing, hinge pins, steering linkage, bellows, and u-Joints, and the structure of the boat. Fiberglass boats of those years are actually made of wood covered in fiberglass...if the wood rots (and it does...a LOT), you may be buying a very large unsafe Titanic that is held together with all the structural integrity of woodmulch. The lowest stringers, the bottom of the transom, and the engine mounts are the places to check. And then there's the trailer, brakes (if equipped) and tires/bearings and structural rust or damage should be looked for.<br /><br />If much of what I just wrote makes much sense to you, then you need to arrange to have any prospective boat towed to a local marina for a thorough checkout by a mechanic BEFORE you commit to the purchase. Ask the mechanic to check all of the above. That way you're only risking $100 to $150 instead of thousands.<br /><br />There are an awful lot of $3,000 to $5,000 boats out there that need $3,000 to $5,000 worth of work...and they look like new and run OK.<br /><br />Be VERY careful. Since you're not very mechanical, definitely pay someone to check it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

We will be looking seriously at a boat next weekend, with OMC 175h[ V6 I/O. It is on consignment at a dealership. We won't be able to test drive, but the dealership has a large tank in which they can drop the boat and run the motor.<br />

Don't Do It,..............<br />For the reasons stated above,...........<br /><br />Run,.... Run Just as Fast as you Can,....... Get Away from That Boat..................<br />

What should we look for or look out for?

Avoid Any boat that has the words "OMC", or "Bayliner" written AnyWhere on it,..........<br /><br /> Especially in the sizes,+ vintages you're looking at................

 

[Solittle]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

To read all the news on OMC I/Os go to the red search at the top of the page and enter "OMC I/O" as a search arguement. Change the forum to the Mercruiser, Volvo & OMC I/O section and enter. There are nearly 250 posts on OMCs.

 

[KRS]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

Originally posted by GrandLarsony:<br /> Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you buy without a sea trial. The dealer should be able to make arrangements - usually, you'd sign a purchase offer which is contingent on a successful survey and sea trial (definitely get the survey, too, for both the boat and engines which are usually separate guys). Contract will state that you agree to buy at a price if everything checks out, and that dealer has option to fix anything (and you pay that same price).

.<br />.<br />Honestly... what good is a sea trial for an inexperienced boater? Someone who is inexperienced probably shouldn't even be piloting the boat until they have some safety classes.<br />.<br />I'll say... UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you go out in a boat that you are unfamiliar with in waters you are unfamiliar with and try to shake it down.... that's just asking for trouble.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

To this I'll add, I actually own one of these OMCs and my experience has been as long as you can find a shop that knows how to adjust them and can get the parts they are fine, mine has been quite reliable over the past 4 seasons I've used it. <br />It is an original 4.3/Cobra package--the engine is original (never rebuilt), and so it the drive. What I've had to do to it over and above regular maintenance:<br />replaced bellows this spring, replaced bearing retainer in drive, replaced various seals. <br />Last spring replaced manifolds and had carb rebuilt. <br />every season, replace impeller and thermostat (salt water use) and replace anodes.<br />That's it, that is all a 17 year old OMC required to be reliable and shift properly.<br />So if you can't get good service walk away, but if you can you may be able to get it for a lower price since OMC boats have less resale than Merc or Volvo.<br />My mechanic who I respect, likes the Cobra drives and has no problem with working on them. <br />I am going to run this one as long as I can get parts, when I can't any longer I am going to convert it to a Volvo SX by changing the pivot housing and shift cables. <br />BTW, Cobra was years 86-93, then redesigned and sold as the joint venture Cobra 94-96 which was the SAME as a Volvo SX. Which by the way is far superior to a Merc Alpha, built more like a Bravo I. Cone clutch, very smooth shifting.<br />See:<br />www.funkopolis.com:8080/~stuart/cobra/<br />for all you need to know about the dog clutch 86-93 models.

 

[FUNCAMPIN]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

Originally posted by azfyrfyter63:<br />

Originally posted by GrandLarsony:<br /> Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you buy without a sea trial. The dealer should be able to make arrangements - usually, you'd sign a purchase offer which is contingent on a successful survey and sea trial (definitely get the survey, too, for both the boat and engines which are usually separate guys). Contract will state that you agree to buy at a price if everything checks out, and that dealer has option to fix anything (and you pay that same price).

.<br />.<br />Honestly... what good is a sea trial for an inexperienced boater? Someone who is inexperienced probably shouldn't even be piloting the boat until they have some safety classes.<br />.<br />I'll say... UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you go out in a boat that you are unfamiliar with in waters you are unfamiliar with and try to shake it down.... that's just asking for trouble.

Who said anything about being an inexperienced boater? We owned a boat for 12 years - one with the OMC V6 - it never needed repairs for as long as we owned it (purchased new) And yes, we took safety classes -

 

[Belchy]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

Your best bet would be to have someone go with you who is expereinced in piloting boats, that way they can give your their honest opinion. As for the whole OMC ordeal, I have ran a 1991 Cadorette with a 4.3 OMC Cobra and we put over 1500 hours on the motor with out a problem. And I just bought my second boat that has a 5.7L Cobra, and it runs great as well. I know that I am taking a risk, but every boat and motor have risks just as well.<br /><br />And don't forget to get a survey, will finds things you didn't even know existed<br /><br />Belchy

 

[KRS]

Re: Buying used boat - what to look for

Originally posted by FUNCAMPIN:<br />

Originally posted by azfyrfyter63:<br />

Originally posted by GrandLarsony:<br /> Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you buy without a sea trial. The dealer should be able to make arrangements - usually, you'd sign a purchase offer which is contingent on a successful survey and sea trial (definitely get the survey, too, for both the boat and engines which are usually separate guys). Contract will state that you agree to buy at a price if everything checks out, and that dealer has option to fix anything (and you pay that same price).

.<br />.<br />Honestly... what good is a sea trial for an inexperienced boater? Someone who is inexperienced probably shouldn't even be piloting the boat until they have some safety classes.<br />.<br />I'll say... UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you go out in a boat that you are unfamiliar with in waters you are unfamiliar with and try to shake it down.... that's just asking for trouble.

Who said anything about being an inexperienced boater? We owned a boat for 12 years - one with the OMC V6 - it never needed repairs for as long as we owned it (purchased new) And yes, we took safety classes -

Great to hear. Why would a boat owner of 12 years need advice on what to look for?<br /><br />I made an assumption, given your question, that since you were looking for advice that you were new to boating. My apologies for that assumption. Someone who owned that unit for 12 years should get advice before buying another one