GiMLit
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2007
- Messages
- 194
Being a happy OMC Stringer owner I think I can seriously comment on this topic with no bias or maybe a less critical view.
If I was looking for a boat and found 2 boats that fit my price range and needs with boat
a) with Mercruiser power
and boat
b) with ???? power
I would choose Mercruiser.
Reason 1 being the fact that it is the most popular unit around and assistance with repairs being self administered or worked on by others it is very well known and therefore should be easier.
Reason 2 being the parts availability and price of the parts.
The units are certainly not without problems / or more appropriately 'maintenance items needed to keep reliable' (as with any thing in this world) but are often neglected as they are thought to be bullet proof, this is not fact but my opinion.
Going hand in hand with this is the fact that they are thought to be 'easier' to work on so more inexperienced people, taking less care learning about the work they are about to attack, touch them.
Now going with that is the fact these people often are unaware of what they may have done 'wrong or 'incorrectly' which comes to haunt someone, be it them or the next owner at some point and the problem can be compounded on and on from there.
The bonus of OMC equipment as a possible other option is the fact most anyone who touches them will end up with one of the following 3 scenarios
1) screw it up so bad you are likely able to see problems at first glance and after replacing often expensive parts. ZGood on both counts
2) make certain it is done very well with good used or new parts
3) not touch it at all and sell it for very little giving you the ability to either walk away knowing it needs alot of work or go into it with little invested and a clear picture of what went wrong and a good clean slate to repair it.
I am an automechanic for the past 20 + years which gives me an advantage over many as I am able to look at it from a 'informed/knowledgeable' perspective. I also am cheap as hell and consider myself to be a shrewd buyer. I will spend $ if it is what I want but not after very closely eliminating other possibilities. ie I will try many trim, drive heights, performance options getting the absolute most out of what I am working with for little $ investment before I spend $ on a prop.
All in all you need to be knowledgeable of what your needs/wants are as well as price range and do what is considered to be the hardest part, think with your head not your heart.
Explore the boat to the point you may annoy the seller take your time making a decision, if you loose this deal another will come along. If the seller has nothing to hide (now that is providing he has a clue) asking many questions will likely get you a known product.
All in all I will likely have my OMC for as long as I want a boat for the purpose I have it now. After that I would likely have a boat as a tinkering project and it may still be the same OMC I have really ZERO against it.
If it is another hull I am guessing I will be choosing Mercruiser power.
No idea if this will be considered BS, rubbish, already stated 100 time info or whatever. If it helps one person that has OMC or Mercruiser see the choice as just that a choice! Then it is worth it.
Good luck and have fun. Thanks for all who post as many of this info will help someone at somepoint.
GiMLit
If I was looking for a boat and found 2 boats that fit my price range and needs with boat
a) with Mercruiser power
and boat
b) with ???? power
I would choose Mercruiser.
Reason 1 being the fact that it is the most popular unit around and assistance with repairs being self administered or worked on by others it is very well known and therefore should be easier.
Reason 2 being the parts availability and price of the parts.
The units are certainly not without problems / or more appropriately 'maintenance items needed to keep reliable' (as with any thing in this world) but are often neglected as they are thought to be bullet proof, this is not fact but my opinion.
Going hand in hand with this is the fact that they are thought to be 'easier' to work on so more inexperienced people, taking less care learning about the work they are about to attack, touch them.
Now going with that is the fact these people often are unaware of what they may have done 'wrong or 'incorrectly' which comes to haunt someone, be it them or the next owner at some point and the problem can be compounded on and on from there.
The bonus of OMC equipment as a possible other option is the fact most anyone who touches them will end up with one of the following 3 scenarios
1) screw it up so bad you are likely able to see problems at first glance and after replacing often expensive parts. ZGood on both counts
2) make certain it is done very well with good used or new parts
3) not touch it at all and sell it for very little giving you the ability to either walk away knowing it needs alot of work or go into it with little invested and a clear picture of what went wrong and a good clean slate to repair it.
I am an automechanic for the past 20 + years which gives me an advantage over many as I am able to look at it from a 'informed/knowledgeable' perspective. I also am cheap as hell and consider myself to be a shrewd buyer. I will spend $ if it is what I want but not after very closely eliminating other possibilities. ie I will try many trim, drive heights, performance options getting the absolute most out of what I am working with for little $ investment before I spend $ on a prop.
All in all you need to be knowledgeable of what your needs/wants are as well as price range and do what is considered to be the hardest part, think with your head not your heart.
Explore the boat to the point you may annoy the seller take your time making a decision, if you loose this deal another will come along. If the seller has nothing to hide (now that is providing he has a clue) asking many questions will likely get you a known product.
All in all I will likely have my OMC for as long as I want a boat for the purpose I have it now. After that I would likely have a boat as a tinkering project and it may still be the same OMC I have really ZERO against it.
If it is another hull I am guessing I will be choosing Mercruiser power.
No idea if this will be considered BS, rubbish, already stated 100 time info or whatever. If it helps one person that has OMC or Mercruiser see the choice as just that a choice! Then it is worth it.
Good luck and have fun. Thanks for all who post as many of this info will help someone at somepoint.
GiMLit
