288 Mercruiser??

[oldsub86]

I have been looking at an advertisement for a boat and asking questions of the owner by email but he does not appear to be knowledgeable.

He describes it as an early 80's 288 HP Mercruiser but has not answered questions about the motor or outdrive.

So, anyone got good guesses about what this is?

Ford or Chevy? How big? 350CID or thereabouts?

What outdrive is it likely to have?

I might find the info in the service manuals on the sticky but I have them downloaded at home and I am at the office.

Randy

 

[cooter2506]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

I dont know what you have. But if he cant tell you tell you much about the engine and drive, thats not good. Chances are he didnt do too much maintenence on it.

 

[oldsub86]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

I have had another response to some further questions. The boat is a Mark Twain.
Unfortunately, the boat does not have an hour meter so no real clue on how much time is behind it.

He "thinks' it is a Ford engine.

He has advised of work that has been done on the boat. He says it has had the stringers replaced and has had some work done on the outdrive etc. New bellows, tilt motor etc. So, sounds like he is a take it to the dealer sort rather than a do it yourself type.

Randy

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

Are you sure it wasn't a 233? I have a 76 Mark Twain with the Ford 351. It has 233HP and what they call a "233" drive, which is nothing more than a pre-alpha/alpha I style outdrive with engine mounts made for the 302 or 351 (same engine block).

 

[arty007]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

a 228 is basicaly a chevy 305, thats what i had on my boat 1978 runabout
also shot big time...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

Well if the sterndrive/transom is in good shape along with new stringers, then you have a good boat. The Mark Twains were built pretty solid and are comprable to the Cobalts of the same vintage.

 

[picklenjim]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

If you want to find out if it's a Ford or Chevy ask him if the distributor is on the front of the engine or the rear.Ford front-Chevy rear

 

[Bondo]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

Ayuh,... If it's the 351 Ford,... It's a Dead Horse,... Fords are no longer used in boats...
By Merc or anybodyelse...
If it's the 228,... It's a SBC, 305 to be exact...

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

An egine from that era should have the HP right on the sticker on the valve cover......
It might be a misprint of "188" which is a 302 Ford & are still rather plentiful as the old Ford engines tend to outlive the boats they came in...
Nothing wrong with the old Fords, they are strong motors.....
My '73 Sea Ray that has the 188 & it is still the original engine, & I have a 351 waiting in the wings when it dies.....
The best thing to do would be to hear it run & check the vacuum & compression numbers....
That will give you the true condition of the engine....
Tell the guy to clean his glasses & look to see what it really is.....

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

I agree. My 351 has 750+ hours on it and purrs like a kitten. Plenty of power to get out of the hole, and parts are as abundant for them as they are for the Chevy's. The drive unit is the same as far as I know, it's just the exhaust y-tube and the engine mounts that differ. I have a full composite transom now, so my engine better not outlive my boat!

 

[oldsub86]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

I may get an opportunity to see it tomorrow. I am sort of doubting the 288 HP claim.

I am really thinking of it more as a donor for the Slickcraft with the OMC stringer so who knows. If it is decent, I might run it for a summer while I fill in the hole on the transom etc.

Don't really want to go to a Ford though. Nothing against Fords but if I am going to go to the trouble of swapping out the OMC, I might as well try to go to something they still make and use.

Randy

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

This is the first mention of OMC I have seen in this thread....
If it is an OMC stringer drive, now you are truly talking obsolete....
RUN AWAY!..........

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

I may get an opportunity to see it tomorrow. I am sort of doubting the 288 HP claim.

I am really thinking of it more as a donor for the Slickcraft with the OMC stringer so who knows. If it is decent, I might run it for a summer while I fill in the hole on the transom etc.

Don't really want to go to a Ford though. Nothing against Fords but if I am going to go to the trouble of swapping out the OMC, I might as well try to go to something they still make and use.

Randy

What difference does it make whether they still make or use it? Plenty of boats out there have the Chevy 305, which they don't make or use anymore. Would that stop you from buying a boat with one in it? I hope not. I happen to dislike the 305 engine in general because it is/was always a dog, but they are reliable. Same thing if it happens to be a 302 or 351, they are time-tested and proven in the auto industry and I don't know a whole lot of people with anything negative to say about them. Parts are plentiful everywhere, so it really doesn't matter.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

Why is he assuming the 288 means the H.P? Are you certain he is not talking abotu the Alpha 288 out drive? (It came mated to the 3.0L. 4 banger.)

Yeah, a lot of this discussion is over the possibility of different engine options. He said he thought it was a 288HP, but it could have been 233, which is the 233 Drive as well as the HP. Also would have been the 228, which is the Chevy combo. He didn't mention the year of the MT either, that may help narrow down the results, too; as they only put the 233 combo in the MT's for 4 or 5 years during the mid-70's.

 

[oldsub86]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

OK, so we went and looked at the boat this afternoon. The boat is a 1984 Mark Twain bow rider and the Mercruiser setup is an 898.

It appears to be a 305 Chevy engine. Engine and outdrive appear intact. Couldn't start or run it. Still cold here with ice in the lake and snow on the ground. Had to untarp it just to have a look. There is nothing obviously missing or damaged. The outdrive could use cleaning and painting but apart from that looks alright. Intact skeg and a stainless prop with no dings. He says all of the bellows have been changed recently.

Would you pay $2500 US for it as a donor?

The rest of the boat is not wonderful but not really horrible either. I could throw it in the water and run it for the summer pretty much as it is. That might at least tell me how good the drive train is.

Randy

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

Well 2,500 isn't a bad deal on an 84 I wouldn't think. If it runs and drives, go ahead and use it for a summer or two while you get the other boat fixed up on the transom-end. I haven't ridden in the newer MT's like the 80's models, but the 70's models have a very smooth ride and lots of space in the bow unlike many of today's boats. Sounds like a good deal, you may even be able to get him down to 2K on it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 288 Mercruiser??

Would you pay $2500 US for it as a donor? Mercruiser setup is an 898

Ayuh,... That's Top Dollar for a 305, Pre-Alpha....
But,....
I've paid up to $3500. for a 350, Alpha 1, but the boat had Alota toys,+ stuff to grab outa the hull...
I see them from $1000. on up to $3500. for the 350, Alpha 1s quite regularly...