Another newbie for full restore.

[powerhouse109]

Recently got a Sunbird 175 BR with 1985 OMC 3.0 that needs a transom and a new deck, etc. From what I've researched (thank you iBoats forums) people tend to stay away from OMC outdrives. Since I already have one (not a big loss) I'd like to know how terrible it is to work on these. This one is not a cobra. I think it's a Stringer 400. I am a certified automotive tech with a few years experience. I've done some in house "manufacturing" for cars. I have a little experience welding and woodworking, but never fiberglass work. I've got the tools, time, and a little bit of money. I'm just concerned about the outdrive. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

since you need to replace the transom, stringers, stringer mounts and deck, you have a perfect opportunity to replace the OMC stringer with something else

you need special tools to work on stringers, and the shift cable is about $800 these days so be careful with it. the vertical 3-piece drive shaft is prone to failure and the ball gears get replaced every 500 hours. its not terrible to work on, just some aspects of the design leave you wondering....WTH often. get a factory service manual.

Since your at the starting point, is the boat one that you love enough to dump $5k into? your looking at $3k on the hull and at least another $1k on the interior and about $1k on the motor and drive.

suggest you read the DIY stickies in the hull restoration forum.

 

[powerhouse109]

Thanks for the reply.
My question wasn't really to change drives as much as it was to scrap the boat entirely. If crucial parts aren't available at all, why bother? Unless another drive could be changed without requiring a "donor" boat.

As far as dumping $5K into it...
Isn't that the point? I'd spend at least 3x that on one right now (plus financing). I wouldn't say that I love this particular boat enough to make a call if that was going overboard though. I picked it up for cheap, and assumed that a rebuild would save me money.

I guess it's just hard to find peace of mind before starting a big project.

 

[kcon]

As far as dumping $5K into it...
Isn't that the point? I'd spend at least 3x that on one right now (plus financing). I wouldn't say that I love this particular boat enough to make a call if that was going overboard though. I picked it up for cheap, and assumed that a rebuild would save me money.

Wager what ~$5k and another 80-200 (give or take lol) hours of your time is worth, sometimes the 3x on financing a new boat may be more appropriate for some folk, the process is a labor of love for sure, if you're not gonna enjoy working on it you may be wasting your time - in that you may save money but how much is your time worth to you. Anyway I say go for it! Good luck!

 

[powerhouse109]

Let me start by saying that my time is worthless! lol.
Seriously though, I can find 10+ hrs a week to work on this. And as long as the money is spread out enough it shouldn't be a problem. All of my 4 cars in my driveway have been a labor of... well let's be honest. I'm cheap. I have skills. I don't have a car payment. My wife gets a car. I get a car. We have a back-up car. I'm selling a car. I bought broken cars for cheap and fixed them. Now I want a boat. I hope my skills are transferable. Lot's of info here and I'm sure I'll be pestering you guys plenty.
Thanks again for the replies, as I am sure they are almost key in swaying my wife's opinion for the go-ahead.

 

[kcon]

Hell yeah man! Get at it. Folks here are pretty prompt with helping out and giving all varieties of the best advice, so it's great to be jumping into it eager and with an open mind. Good luck, eager to see some pictures.

Here's where I got started with learning about various fiberglass repairs, Boatworks Today on YouTube, these are the most useful videos he's got:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jHUI0CiYbs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zka0i0SOGd8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=339W-ZNC1_0

 

[JASinIL2006]

Go for it! Still, I gotta agree with Scott Danforth: ditch the OMC and replace it with a powerplant from a donor boat. Why do all that work only to have a dead-end drive system? If you're already doing the transom and deck (and maybe stringers?), it wouldn't be much more work to switch over to a Mercruiser powperplant. That way, it wouldn't cost you $800 the next time you need a shift cable. I can't imagine parts for the OMCs are going to get any easier to find, nor will they be getting cheaper...

 

[AShipShow]

Agree with Scot and Jas... If you look hard enough, you can find a donor boat for less than that shift cable...

Other than that, I say go for it! Your definitely not going to make money flipping boats like cars, so don't expect to come out ahead, but if its a boat you plan on keeping for a long time and enjoy the work, then all signs point to yes!

 

[powerhouse109]

OK. Let's do it then.
I've already checked out the engine a bit. I'm curious about this stringer drive though.
joined a Facebook group and it seems that a lot of parts aren't terribly hard to find/afford, with the exception of the shift cable. And people are saying things like, "Keep an OMC an OMC and a Merc a Merc." Furthermore, I don't think the missus is ready for another useless heap of fiberglass in the yard. But, for now, I'll just tear-down and inspect. Then go from there.

Can/Should I post pics of my progress on this thread?
I'd like to show what I'm starting with.

 

[zool]

You should be able to post pics now,the more the merrier, the issue ppl are trying to convey to u is there is no going back from a stringer cutout on a new transom....it consumes the most meat, so to speak.....

standardized cutouts came later, so back then, Merc was the smallest, Volvo in between......The best thing about a Mercruiser back then was, its easy to convert to a superior Volvo :laugh:

 

[powerhouse109]

Here she is when I first pulled into the driveway last year.

 

[kcon]

Looks a lot like my restoration project! (link in signature) - good luck!

 

[BevoHoward]

Here she is when I first pulled into the driveway last year.

I knew a guy several years ago that had that very same boat. It's a very nice looking boat and rides just as nice as it looks. Well worth saving! I say jump in with both feet and enjoy. You'll be glad ya did.

 

[powerhouse109]

Looks a lot like my restoration project! (link in signature) - good luck!

My main concern is popping my cap. I might kidnap you when it's time for me to pull mine. It really is a relief to see someone with a similar situation. I'm guessing you're not done? Good luck.

 

[Woodonglass]

Its not always necessasary to pop the cap on an I/O boat.

 

[Grub54891]

I left the cap in place till the transom and stringers and deck were done to just up to the helm area. That helped the boat keep its shape, then pulled the cap and finished the forward area. I sistered the stringers together by notching them and epoxy with screws before glassing them down. Worked well.

 

[powerhouse109]

Its not always necessasary to pop the cap on an I/O boat.

The foam under the bow seats is water-logged bad. So, stringers are probably toast.

I left the cap in place till the transom and stringers and deck were done to just up to the helm area. That helped the boat keep its shape, then pulled the cap and finished the forward area. I sistered the stringers together by notching them and epoxy with screws before glassing them down. Worked well.

Thanks, this sounds like a good idea. I'm worried about doing my stringers on the trailer if I don't/can't take it off.

 

[Woodonglass]

Yeah but...you don't have to pop the cap to get to the stringers OR the transom on an I/O boat

 

[Grub54891]

Yeah but...you don't have to pop the cap to get to the stringers OR the transom on an I/O boat

Yes I had to, the stringers run under the helm area, up to under the front seating area. In order to do the job properly with new deck and all, it had to come off.

 

[powerhouse109]

It's been a few days.
I got these two whirly-ma-bobs out. And here is a hole in the deck.
Next, I'll take some measurements and draw up some plans. Then I get to chop-chop grind.