Is OMC good??

[maxum_man]

Hey! I just sold a 1992 Maxum 2100 LDC with a force 120 L Drive motor in it. I have now found a 1987 Bayliner Cierra 2150 with OMC 305 and OMC Stern Drive. They guy says it is a nice boat, runs good and taken care of. He is asking $3500 for it cash price. I can't seem to find anything bad about OMC except for my Mechanic telling me they stopped making them in 1997, and it may be difficult to find parts for if something happens. I guess what I am asking is if anyone can tell me Yay or Nay on OMC.

BTW, my mechanic said he likes them, just kinda hard to find parts for though. I don't want to run into trying to find Dinosaur parts again!

Thanks!

Bryan

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Is OMC good??

nay

 

[Don S]

Re: Is OMC good??

OMC went out of buisness in 1998. Just sayin'

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Is OMC good??

and if the OMC is a stringer and not a cobra OMC quit them about 88.
sure ya dont wanna buy another L drive?

 

[thumpar]

Re: Is OMC good??

BTW, my mechanic said he likes them, just kinda hard to find parts for though. I don't want to run into trying to find Dinosaur parts again!

Thanks!

Bryan

Your mechanic likes them because he charges an arm and a leg to work on them and get parts for them.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Is OMC good??

I can't seem to find anything bad about OMC

That may be the most surprising thing I've read here on Iboats in a long time.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Is OMC good??

Is OMC good??

Not any more......

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Is OMC good??

Is that because nobody knows how to work on them? I am going through mine
(first outdrive) and it all seams pretty straight forward. yeah it 1960's tech, but it seems to work, is easy to understand How it works. and really easy to see what is really wrong if there is a problem.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Is OMC good??

Is that because nobody knows how to work on them?

no, it's because there are way better options

If someone already owns an OMC, they can deal...

If they are shopping for 1980's boats- it makes little sense to buy anything but a Merc Alpha behind a Chevy.

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Is OMC good??

no, it's because there are way better options

If someone already owns an OMC, they can deal...

If they are shopping for 1980's boats- it makes little sense to buy anything but a Merc Alpha behind a Chevy.

Good Points..

 

[superbenk]

Re: Is OMC good??

I don't think there's anything inherrently bad about any of the OMC stuff that I've seen. At least no more so than any other drive out there. The problem is that they aren't made anymore so finding parts and labor will be both difficult and expensive. After reading about a lot of the maint/repair issues for any other drive on here, I don't see anything particularly worse or more problematic about even my crusty old Stringer. It's just getting hard to find some of the bigger parts.

Btw, pretty sure the Stringer was officially killed off in the middle of 1985, not 1988 as mentioned earlier.

Oh, and so as not to be confused, that's a very definite nay from me on purchasing an OMC. Especially if you have to ask your mechanic

 

[john744]

Re: Is OMC good??

I happen to be quite fond of my Cobra (5.7). Sure I've had a few problems with it, but there are plenty of posts here regarding Merc/Alpha's too. I will agree that if it's not a Cobra, pass. The stringers are just too old. Do yourself & your mechanic a favor and read what Stuart Hastings has to say about Cobras. Here's a link to his website

http://hastings.org/~stuart/cobra/index.html

This is pretty interesting too: The Invention of the Stern Drive
http://www.rbbi.com/folders/pat/isd.htm

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Is OMC good??

Is that because nobody knows how to work on them? I am going through mine
(first outdrive) and it all seams pretty straight forward. yeah it 1960's tech, but it seems to work, is easy to understand How it works. and really easy to see what is really wrong if there is a problem.

No, they're pretty simple.

But if you have a part break that there's no replacement for, then no amount of expertise will fix it (unless you have your own machine shop, heat treating equipment and time to build the part)


There's a LOT of us here that have "been there, done that" when some parts were simply no longer available.


The only choice then is perusing the wrecking yards or "Midnight Drive Supply"......nether of which is desirable, and the latter can be pretty bad for you!!


Most people want to go boating......not obsolete parts hunting.....

 

[CobiaXL]

Re: Is OMC good??

I got a stringer 400 from 85 cobia and havent had any issues at all.Replaced water pump and replaced seals on lower.Easy to work on.Only parts or part I should say that is hard to find is the mechanical shift cable,other then that parts are still quite abundant.Just a quick search of google will find many parts for omc stringers.

 

[maxum_man]

Re: Is OMC good??

Thanks for all the replies!! The owner told me that it is not a Cobra so...that gives me a Final Answer!!

ABSOLUTELY NEVER AGIAN WILL I HAVE AN L DRIVE!! I didnt have to look too hard for parts, but then again I was looking for basic ignition parts too. Luckily, I sold it off before I got to have the lovely experiance of having lower unit problems or U joint problems!

I'm not too fond of the midnight drive supply either!

Thanks to everyone!!

Bryan

 

[superbenk]

Re: Is OMC good??

I got a stringer 400 from 85 cobia and havent had any issues at all.Replaced water pump and replaced seals on lower.Easy to work on.Only parts or part I should say that is hard to find is the mechanical shift cable,other then that parts are still quite abundant.Just a quick search of google will find many parts for omc stringers.

Maintenance parts are one thing, but if something major breaks you are gambling with availability. Shift cables are a good example as you said. Also, gears, shafts, housings, specialty tools, etc. are what's getting expensive and difficult to find (especially new - much of it is used & of questionable quality). That's only going to get worse.

Also, like I said, if you're asking a mechanic, it inferrs you aren't entirely mechanically inclined & will depend on a mechanic for some repairs. I've not found a single shop in my area willing to even look at an OMC product anymore.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Is OMC good??

Ok, I'm ignorant - what's "midnight drive supply"?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Is OMC good??

I sold my boat which was the exact same boat in 2002 for $2500 in very good shape. Now granted I sold it on the low side but $3500 seems high to me. I would personally skip any boat with an OMC in it. Was one of the reasons I sold mine.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Is OMC good??

Ok, I'm ignorant - what's "midnight drive supply"?

You know midnight auto ?? late night thieves stealing your outdrive or engine..

 

[metalwizard]

Re: Is OMC good??

No, they're pretty simple.

But if you have a part break that there's no replacement for, then no amount of expertise will fix it (unless you have your own machine shop, heat treating equipment and time to build the part)


There's a LOT of us here that have "been there, done that" when some parts were simply no longer available.


The only choice then is perusing the wrecking yards or "Midnight Drive Supply"......nether of which is desirable, and the latter can be pretty bad for you!!


Most people want to go boating......not obsolete parts hunting.....

Very True...

and for who asked midnight supply means go steal it off another boat in your neighborhood at midnight....

My plan replace the one that needs work, put the boat on the water. while I have time fix the one i took off to have as a backup.