Looking for a boat

[docspenc]

HI. I?m planing on buying another boat. I bought a used boat this winter to fix up for next summer, But I think I?ve made a big mistake . The boat is a 1977 20' Sea Ray with a ford 351 / omc 235 stern drive. The boat is in good condition , (I thought) seems it had some soft spots in the floor , so I checked for dry rot in the stringers and transom. It seems they are OK. The problem is with the omc out drive. Cant find parts! To old......
So my question is what should I be looking for, Outdrive (that you can buy parts for), power, Ford or GM. And anything else you can think would be helpful.
I live in Utah and would be using the boat for fishing, and day trips with the family. Id like to stay under $10.000.00. Any suggestions?

 

[sam60]

Re: Looking for a boat

I have a 25' Seaswirl 250SWL that you can have for $9,999.99. OMC King Cobra.....wait, wife says no selling that black hole in the water until we are ready for the 2nd happiest day in the boat owner's life....Just kidding, a few issues but we love it.

 

[Monterey10]

Re: Looking for a boat

The question is WHAT are you planning on doing with the boat. Water Skiing will take one kind of boat. Cruising and or fishing, another.

I like boats with fiberglass insoles, plug in seats. A boat made with plywood decks and furniture won't last to long. Most of the value is in the motor, so make sure it's right. Mercruiser, Volvo I/Os are popular. Yamaha, Suzuki Honda OBs are popular. I like a cuddy cabin with a Head. Women will be much happier with the inclosed head.

Prices are all over the map. Junk will sell high. Quality boats for cheap. SO, be willing to walk away if it's not perfect.

Look at the efficiency of the boat. Some boats can burn 400 gallons in an afternoon. Some burn 40 all month. So, Be very aware of this.

 

[docspenc]

Re: Looking for a boat

Thanks. I'm going to use the boat for fishing, some water skiing, and a trip or two to Lake Powell.. It looks to me thier are more parts on line for Mercruiser than omc.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Looking for a boat

OMC is out of business and parts are only available used.... look for Mercruiser with a GM engine

 

[southkogs]

Re: Looking for a boat

If you don't have a lot of money into the '77 - but wanna' keep it alive for the fun of it, look for another drive in a donor boat. Depending on what parts you actually need, it may be cheaper to find a donor boat with a working drive and make it go.

If you don't have a lot of money into the '77 - and don't really care about keeping it: let it go. For fishing, a little skiing and cruising on inland lakes I'd suggest looking for a 20' walk-around with an outboard (or a Merc I/O).

You can make the OMC go ... but it requires patience and persistence.

 

[maproy99]

Re: Looking for a boat

The question is WHAT are you planning on doing with the boat. Water Skiing will take one kind of boat. Cruising and or fishing, another.

I like boats with fiberglass insoles, plug in seats. A boat made with plywood decks and furniture won't last to long. Most of the value is in the motor, so make sure it's right. Mercruiser, Volvo I/Os are popular. Yamaha, Suzuki Honda OBs are popular. I like a cuddy cabin with a Head. Women will be much happier with the inclosed head.

Prices are all over the map. Junk will sell high. Quality boats for cheap. SO, be willing to walk away if it's not perfect.

Look at the efficiency of the boat. Some boats can burn 400 gallons in an afternoon. Some burn 40 all month. So, Be very aware of this.

I have plywood deck on my 19' from 1975 and the only soft stop in the floor is a piece of plaster board that is 90% covered by the engine cover. I could always cut it out and replace it with a piece of plywood, but it's easier to tell people not to sit or stand next to my engine cover. And sure, I have to get new seats soon, but they are a lot nicer to sit on then the seats they make now.

 

[docspenc]

Re: Looking for a boat

thanks every one good help... If I was to look for donor boat, what outdrives ? my outdrive is a stringer sterndrive hooked to a 351 ford. Will others bolt up to what I have... say cobra,800,model14,or what?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Looking for a boat

Would need to be the same drive (I don't know if you can go from a Electric shift - if that's what you have - to a 400 or 800). Going to anything else (Merc, Cobra, Penta) is going to require you to re-power and deal with that big ole' "stringer" hole in the back of your boat. Probably not worth the time, money or headache.

 

[docspenc]

Re: Looking for a boat

Thanks thats what I thought.... the 400 would be to small.... 800 would be good though. But like you don't know if it would work or not. Yes it's a electric shift..

 

[drrpm]

Re: Looking for a boat

Check on the OMC drive page. Maybe someone there will have some useful advise. If you can get it into working shape you can use it for a season or sell it and find something better. The choice in I/O drives now is between Mercruiser and Volvo.

 

[docspenc]

Re: Looking for a boat

Ok will do. Thanks for all your help.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Looking for a boat

Might be able to sell your outdrive for parts if it isnt usable the way it is. Never had an OMC, so I'm clueless about any of the desirable parts on it. Guess it depend on how broken it is.

 

[docspenc]

Re: Looking for a boat

The outdrive is in good running order other than the ball gear needs to be replaced. the 351 ford runs like top. I could part it out I guess, But the boat is in good shape for it's age... anyone know how much it would part out for?

 

[southkogs]

Re: Looking for a boat

Just need to replace the ball gear? Not easy, but not a killer either from what I hear. I think you can still buy 'em from shop.evinrude.com. May or may not be financially wise, but they are available.

 

[docspenc]

Re: Looking for a boat

Well I think I know what to do.... let's have an auction. The item up for bid is a 1977 20' Sea Ray with trailer, 351 ford/ 235 OMC stringer. with bad ball gears! What will ya bid start her along, I.m bid 500.00 now give me 5 an 1/2 do you want her now bida 6 hundred any body bid 6 bida 6 bida 6 do you want her dida 6 bida 6 ..........HA HA

 

[southkogs]

Re: Looking for a boat

That ain't a completely bad idea either. I got rid of an OB that was in pieces last year on CL. Got $100 back out of it ... was surprised that it went for that.

 

[docspenc]

Re: Looking for a boat

What is CL? Don't know that one.

 

[SteveMcD]

Re: Looking for a boat

CL= www.craigslist dot com. It is an online equivalent to the classified ads in your newspaper, except you can look for something nationally and worldwide.