84 Thundercraft 230

[Gar & Teako]

Hi everybody, I'm brand new here. I just put a down payment on 84 Thundercraft 230 or at least that's what the size on motor are and length of the boat is. I bought it pending sea trial.
Can any body let me know what to watch out for?
I have a life time with sail boats.
I just wonder if there should be something to watch our for.
Thanks for your replies.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,......

Bein' a 1984, I'd be lookin' for Rot in the transom, 'n stringers,.....

230 hp, What,..??
Mercuriser,..??
Volvo,..??
If it's an OMC,..?? Run..!!,,!!

 

[Gar & Teako]

It is an OMC 5.0 ltr The engine wont be the problem as much as the out drive. Can you tell me about the OMC out drive.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... The OMC Stringer drive had many inhert oddities that were not loved, 'n it went obsolete in 1985,......
Very few parts are available for it, as well as the marine hardware for the motor,....
If that's a 5.0l Ford, it's even worse,....

 

[Gar & Teako]

This is the only response I've gotten, kinda wish others would help out a little.
Failing that
, the main thing I have going for myself is that I'm a retired mechanic and millwright with a degree in electronics. I know all the different sounds to listen for. If I fin d anything wrong then I'm protected by the written agreement we have about the sea trail.
Thank's for you help!

 

[jbcurt00]

Its a 36yr old fiberglass boat w an OMC/Ford driveline.

Problem is parts for an OMC and how well or neglected it was for the last 36 yrs.

At 36, theres a laundry list of potential problems, not including the scarcity of OMC parts.

Ford marinized parts are different then what your mechanic experience tells you about working on an older Ford motor in this boat. Nothing to do w your ability as a mechanic.

Didnt see you reply to Bondos Stringer & transom statement. Thats always a concern for a 36yr old boat.

The 1 attached pix doesnt help much.

Perhaps its the 1 in 100,000 (or more) survivor that will perform as you expect on sea trail and poking around the bilge, motor and outdrive...

Dig in and inspect every nook & cranny you can get your hand, head, camera and/or awl into ..

Often hard to find damage hidden below deaks on a fiberglass boat. Dead blow sound tapping is inherently unreliable.

 

[Gar & Teako]

I'm wondering how hard it would be to put a Mercruiser behind that motor. Maybe a GM 305 block.
Any ideas?

 

[Gar & Teako]

Just had a second thought, what about putting a newer OMC outdrive?
How about that idea guys?

 

[Bondo]

I'm wondering how hard it would be to put a Mercruiser behind that motor. Maybe a GM 305 block.
Any ideas?

Ayuh,..... 1st, you strip out Everything OMC, 'n get rid of it,.....
Then ya rebuild the transom, 'n stringers to make a Merc transom cut-out, 'n motor bed,.....
Buy a donor boat, with the driveline ya want, strip it all out, 'n install it into the hull yer gonna keep,.....
Nothing in there now is reusable to the swap,....

 

[Bondo]

Just had a second thought, what about putting a newer OMC outdrive?
How about that idea guys?

OMC is obsolete, they went outa business back in the '90s,....
Still few parts, 'n nearly no support available,......
Mercruiser, 'n Volvo, with Chevy power, are yer choices,.....

 

[Gar & Teako]

Sounds like a head ache, I think I should keep looking.