Re: have you noticed?
I see many of you are fresh water boaters. <br /><br />It makes sense that, since many of the modern outboard manufacturers didn't make outboards long ago, and the one's you're seeing are in fresh water, and probably used only occasionally, that they'd still be around.<br /><br />Any older OMC that was used extensively in saltwater is dead. I suppose there could be a few exceptions, but I don't know how. <br /><br />From the 1960's through the early 1980's OMC was all I used guiding and commercial fishing. Their kickers literally fell apart....handles, levers, bolts/nuts, horrible corrosion, etc. Their bigger models seemed to be plagued with electrical problems. When oil injection came out the OMC's really went to hell, IMO. If I remember, my favorites were the late 1970's 70 HP's. Their 115 wasn't bad either. In general I suppose you could say the OMC's engines themselves were tough, but the rest of the outboard was junk. Merc made a tougher outbord in general, but the engines and lowers never lasted as long. I get at least double the life out of my modern 4-strokes compared to the older OMC's.<br /><br />My first 4-stroke was about 1978. A Honda. Then Yamaha came in. After that, I never looked back (But like an idiot, I did try a pair of FICHTS in the late 90's - big mistake).<br /><br />Anyway, nothing but Yamaha and a few Honda's up here. Most dealers here hardly stock 2-strokes or HPDI's. They're generally special order. I can't remember the last time I saw an older OMC on a boat. But my neighbor still runs the heck out of that old 1978 Honda.
