I'm looking at a boat to buy.

[mark mcj]

Hello to all.
This forum is really nice.
It's helped me rebuild a "68" Mec 200 for my 14' Mirrocraft and clued me into Smart Tabs.

Anyways, reading this forum has really lit a fire to get another bigger boat. I live 40 minutes from Lake Erie.

I'm currently looking to get a "78" 20' Winner with a 5.0 Mercruiser and an OMC800 outdrive.
I'm really going to go over the engine good and check compression, oil, have the owner start it up. I'm not going to be able to take it for a test run, which I know is a big no no but for $650 I'm planning on doing some work to it anyways.
Living in Ohio the boating season is going to close in a month anyways so I'll have all winter to put it right if something is screwed up.

My main concern is the outdrive, I see parts and lowers for the OMC Cobra, is this the same as the 800 but just a model number?

With this boat having a Merc 5.0 is a Alpha 1 or 2 outdrive swap something that can be done without a conversion kit?

I'm planning to have to redo the deck, interior, and most likely some wiring. I'll meet up with the owner in the morning to check it out.

Thanks for looking and any insight you may have.

Thanks
Mark

 

[david_r]

Re: I'm looking at a boat to buy.

why are you planning on redoing the deck?

i am not familiar with the type of boat but im assuming since its inboard it is fiberglass.

before you buy it check out the floor if it is weak and spongy feeling it is probably not what you are looking for... also look closely at the floor to see if has had another layer of plywood already laid over it.

you need to go and read some of the threads in the boat restoration forum....... it may scare you a little though, most older boats unless garage kept are rotten.

i wished i had read some of it before i bought the last boat i paid $1000 for only to find out it was in worse shape than the one i was trying to upgrade from.

you can take a ballpeen hammer and tap around on the decking and transom and see if it all sounds solid or sounds like its hollow like a thud.

its gonna cost me around $1000 dollars to rebuild just one of my little bassboats. the one in my avatar is gonna be more around $1300-1500....... those prices are just what i came up with while measuring and doing research in the restoration forum, ive read many times take what you think you will spend and double it

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: I'm looking at a boat to buy.

with a 5.0 Mercruiser and an OMC800 outdrive.
Mark

I may be way off here, but if its an OMC outdrive then inst it an OMC motor also?

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: I'm looking at a boat to buy.

My main concern is the outdrive, I see parts and lowers for the OMC Cobra, is this the same as the 800 but just a model number?

With this boat having a Merc 5.0 is a Alpha 1 or 2 outdrive swap something that can be done without a conversion kit?

The answer to both of those questions is NO. If it is a 1978 OMC it will be what is referred to as a stringer drive. They do not have what has now become the norm for trim. The whole motor actually tilts to adjust trim and there is a rubber boot around the outdrive to seal out water. The design has its pro and cons. The biggest con is limited service support.

Due to the very different mounting arrangement of the outdrive there is no way to convert it to a Mercruiser drive without redoing the entire transom and cutting a new hole that is correct for a Mercruiser. You would also likely need to redo the motor mounts as they will be different. This is all probably more work than the boat is worth.

When you look at it, it will be obvious that this isn't a Mercruiser if it is truly an OMC...they were very, very different back then.

 

[mark mcj]

Re: I'm looking at a boat to buy.

You guys have a couple of good questions.
During my phone conversation with the current owner he stated there's a soft spot in the deck, so I plan to check it out pretty good but at the same time I like to bring the old stuff I buy up to "new" condition so I know where it stands, if you know what I mean.

As far as the engine and drive are concerned, I'm not sure. I would think the guy knows what is in the boat but as we know that is asking alot.

I'll be looking this over in the morning and looking to bring the guy down from the current asking price anyways.
As long as the motor runs, has good compression and the fiberglass hull isn't spiderwebed with cracks I'll be pretty tempted to move on it.

At the same time $400 to $700 dollar boats pop up in craiglist fairly often so I'm not in a huge hurry either.

edited to add: Thanks RR that's what I'm looking for, I don't mind working on something and bring it back to life but the parts have to be readily available. I do not want to get into something that is hard to source equpiment for.

Thanks
Mark

 

[grahamh]

Re: I'm looking at a boat to buy.

Honestly, given the price range and condition of boats you're looking to buy, I'd probably steer clear of the OMC drive. Something with a Merc or Volvo will have lots more parts availability.

I'm being hypocritical here, since I have one, but I feel like it's a bit of a ticking time bomb, and when it goes, that's the end of the boat.

I feel like with a soft spot in the deck, and a less than desirable drive, it might be better too keep looking, but then again, both these things give you some bargaining power too.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

 

[nitsuj]

Re: I'm looking at a boat to buy.

I don't know, I think the OMC drives are solid older drives. Do they offer all the bells and whistles of a modern drive? No. But as was mentioned, they do offer some cons. And there is a surprising amount of people still running them. There is a network of people who all help each other find parts. There isn't too many things that I'd be worried I can't get for my OMC Stringer drive. Besides, in the $600 price range the OP is looking at, it's not like the world is wide open. $600 is a pretty narrow price range, options may be limited.

To the OP, if it DOES have the OMC drive, run it and enjoy it. If it's a $600 boat, the cost of installing a new lower unit, if even possible, could easily buy you a boat in similar condition with the out drive already mounted. As was mentioned, taking off an OMC and fitting a Merc or Volvo isn't a straight swap. It would be time consuming and costly. If you want a Merc drive, buy a boat that has one.