1981 OMC Powered Bowrider

[25thmustang]

My friend informed me this weekend he recently picked up a boat. I knew a long while back he was looking, but it never amounted to anything. Low and behold he bit the bullet and I'm sure made some errors. I was hoping to guide him along the purchasing process, but he grabbed something before I had the chance. In my group of friends, I would probably be considered the most boat knowledgable, so I started asking some questions.

"Whats the boat"

- 1981 20' Renken Bowrider.

"What Kind of Power"

- 120 OMC.

"What Sterndrive Unit, Stringer?"

- OMC, Not sure what kind.

"Transom, Floors, Stringers in good shape"

- Needs carpet and seats, gonna check the floor, not sure what stringers are, and no idea on transom.

So I come to you guys. I know about transom rot, stringers, checking the boat out structurally. Does anyone have more specifics? Am I looking at a Stringer outdrive, or possibly something else? Is this foam filled, or not? a 20'er with a 120, seems way under powered, but could very well be fine, opinions?

Thanks for the input. I don't plan to tell him to scrap it, I would much rather reassure him even with a so so motor/outdrive and some rot, he could spend a little time and get her safely floating and having fun shortly.

 

[superbenk]

Re: 1981 OMC Powered Bowrider

I don't know if all boats of that era are foam filled, I know my 1980 Century is. You definitely have a Stringer in that boat. It'd be a Stringer 400 with the 120 HP motor.

I agree that sounds really underpowered (my 18' has a 140 HP & it's no speed deamon), but not implausable.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 1981 OMC Powered Bowrider

I will try and pry info out of the owner, and possibly have a look at the boat sometime soon. I'm unfamiliar with OMC stuff, and have only heard people cringe at the thought of having a Stringer outdrive.

 

[superbenk]

Re: 1981 OMC Powered Bowrider

I will try and pry info out of the owner, and possibly have a look at the boat sometime soon. I'm unfamiliar with OMC stuff, and have only heard people cringe at the thought of having a Stringer outdrive.

Are you mechanically inclined & have money to spend? If you are both of those things (include creative in that mix), I'd say you could do ok with an obsolete OMC. If you're not all of those things, you'll curse the day you bought it.

I have yet to find a mechanic that won't laugh at me when I say I have an OMC Stringer & then just walk away... just sayin'

 

[25thmustang]

Re: 1981 OMC Powered Bowrider

I'm actually all of the above, but I own a boat with Twin Crusader 350s... probably the complete opposite of what my friend bought. My set up is easy as can be, and parts are everywhere.



Personally I hope he can get a couple years out of it without any severe issues and then sell it off. I'm sure that won't be the case, and thats why I'm here prying for the info needed to keep it going for some time.