New boat with questions and pics!!!

[Deegee]

well me and the ol man picked up this boat a week ago. I have a few questions.
first its registered as a 1986 thundercraft but the last four digits of hin are K485 which tells me its and 85 right?
Can anyone tell me what model this boat might be??
it has a 3.0 liter OMC with a OMC outdrive. Im pretty sure its electronic shift. BUT electronic shift stopped in 77?? So its not the stock outdrive is it the stock motor? Is it even a 85 thundercraft?? Im not sure.
Anyway like i said we just bought this boat its pretty solid floors are good transoms solid. The hull doesn't have ONE stress crack couldn't beleive it,all electrical works except tach just started acting up a bit. Not sure what it could be
We changed all fluids on it. No leaks in outdrive pressure tested it. Compression tested the motor got 135-140 all 4 cylinders. Took it out for first voyage today still had gas in it from last year or even longer who knows. Ran it for about 45mins all went well except boat stuttered st twice once while planning and once gassing it pretty sure just from old gas, draining tank and re-filling tommorow test again.
O we picked it up for 3000 canadian good or bad deal??
Heres the pics enjoy!!!!

 

[Deegee]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!











feed back welcome

 

[Pokertrampp]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

Nice looking boat, not sure if the price is good or bad, I havent heard many good things about OMC, I have heard they can be troublesome and parts are hard to find. Good luck with it.

 

[Deegee]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

51 views and 1 reply?? lol
what ya think worth it or not?

What model you think it could be?

 

[ziggy]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

it's only worth it if your happy. which it sounds like you are, so, yep. worth it.

solid wood is a real plus.

sure is a cute boat. no idea what model though. i would agree an '85 if thems the last to digits in the hin.

lots of folks with omc. myself, i have a old mercruiser.

don't know if ya've had a roller trailer before, but my last boat came with one and it sure does make for easy loading and unloading. mine launches shallow. all ya do to launch is unhook it and give it a push... make sure ya unhook the bow strap and chain after the boats in the water though. you could roll a boat right off a roller trailer if ya unhook then go down the steep boat ramp to launch unsecured.

congrats on your new boat...

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

Not sure where in Canada you got this, but price wise is in the expected range for that year of boat/size/condition with trailer.

Don't know the specifics, but the knock will be getting OMC parts (some places they're more available than others) but with OMC out of business, its will continue to be more difficult.

 

[nuboat2me]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

Took it out for first voyage today still had gas in it from last year or even longer who knows Ran it for about 45mins all went well except boat stuttered st twice once while planning and once gassing it pretty sure just from old gas, draining tank and re-filling tommorow test again.
O we picked it up for 3000 canadian good or bad deal??
Heres the pics enjoy!!!!
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Could it be the Accelorator pump??? My SIL's Sea Ray had the same problem. Rebuilt the carb and replaced the Acc. Pump...
Great throttle reponse now...

My $.02...

YMMV

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

Looks like a good looking ride to me, good luck with it. All a matter of maintenance with boats. If it was cared for prob should be no problems.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

Im pretty sure its electronic shift. BUT electronic shift stopped in 77?? So its not the stock outdrive is it the stock motor? Is it even a 85 thundercraft?? Im not sure.

The outdrive pictured is an 85 and there's nothing electronic about the shifting, it's mechanical with a cable to dog clutches that engage the gears mechanically.

why were you so sure it was electric?

 

[Deegee]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

The outdrive pictured is an 85 and there's nothing electronic about the shifting, it's mechanical with a cable to dog clutches that engage the gears mechanically.

why were you so sure it was electric?

Well i noticed the electronic shift control module on the side, and was told one cable coming from the throttle/hand control box it was electric shift? I also brought it out to the boat dealer he jumped in it and even said it was electric.
Either way i put premium gear lube in it for electric shift, if it is mechanical like your sayin should i get that oil out asap?
Maybe i could take some closer pics of areas for you if need be, unless your 100 percent its mechanical.
O took boat out today for more then 20mins. Been thinking about changing the belt but figured it would last, well i tightened it up to specs and to find out belts slipping bad so causing boat to overheat there for shutting boat down. whats optimal running temps for boats? I do notice it drops down to 120-140 when not on plane this normal?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

Well i noticed the electronic shift control module on the side,

that's called the ESA- Electronic shift Assist
It stumbles the ignition on the engine to help disengage the mechanical dogs when you shift out of gear

and was told one cable coming from the throttle/hand control box it was electric shift?

nah, you have two cables from the helm. 1 for throttle (look in your pic of the exhaust manifold - see it bolted there- the cable is vertical)

and 1 for shift -attached to your shift converter at the left side of this pic:

to familiarize yourself with how it is all connected, watch the stuff moving in the engine bay while someone else works the shifter.

Either way i put premium gear lube in it for electric shift, if it is mechanical like your sayin should i get that oil out asap?

no, you just spent some extra money you didn't need to... that lube is fine in there

belts slipping bad so causing boat to overheat there for shutting boat down.

1. that belt slipping won't generally cause an overheat, although it's possible
2. your impeller in the outdrive probably needs changing and is the likely cause of the overheat. you will probably find the impeller housing broken from ice so buy the complete w/p service kit.
3. there is nothing on a 1985 OMC that shuts it down when hot, if it shut down from overheating, you seized the engine and likely damaged it.
Do a compression test before proceeding.

 

[Deegee]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

boat still stars runs fine compression is good.
as soon as the temp climbed jus pass 180 the motor stuttered and almost shutdown stayed running wouldnt go past idle soon as it happened i idled back home with the temp staying in the 120 area any ideas?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

as soon as the temp climbed jus pass 180 the motor stuttered and almost shutdown

sounds like the 2 things would be coincidence then

180 isn't anywhere close to overheating, and will do no harm, but it is an indicator that the drive impeller needs changed and/or risers, thermostat etc should be checked/serviced (all the typical new-to-me-used boat stuff)

160-180 is normal operating temp
with electric senders, many boat temp gauges can read 10 or 20 degrees higher and all is ok- they aren't super accurate, especially when 25 years old

230-240F and higher starts to damage stuff.

 

[Deegee]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

OK well new belt and impeller kit is on the way!!
hope this fixes my problem. Hoping i dont have to order anything else when i pull this outdrive off lol.
B.O.A.T reall stands up to its name eh BREAK OUT ANOTHER THOUSAND!!!!

Thanks again for everyones input, ill keep ya posted on what happens next lol

 

[saaabe]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

OK well new belt and impeller kit is on the way!!
hope this fixes my problem. Hoping i dont have to order anything else when i pull this outdrive off lol.
B.O.A.T reall stands up to its name eh BREAK OUT ANOTHER THOUSAND!!!!

Thanks again for everyones input, ill keep ya posted on what happens next lol

your boat looks great dont worry about the year so much my is a 2007 3.L mercruiser and am getting a new engine from the dealer my the pistons melted inside the block Good look and Great times with your boat!!

 

[cr2k]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

One thing you will need to be mindful of on that drive is the tilt clutch. It is the little square round box on the port side that has the gear that drives the quadrant that jack built, no wait I got carried away, that raises the drive. This box is notorious for leaking. When that happens it can push any oil or even water up and in to the motor inside the boat. As you can imagine this is not good for the $300 motor. (which is a real total big PITA to change)

Just drain and refill every time or 2 you go out and you should be ok. Just has to be a regular part of maintaining the drive. Stringer mount drives are not the first choice of many but can be a workable drive. Knowing what I know about the gen II I would almost take a stringer if it was my only other choice.

Also agree you need an impeller. Kind of a hassle to change but they last for a long time.

Just enjoy the boat. Looks clean!

 

[Deegee]

Re: New boat with questions and pics!!!

ya the boat dealer told me its almost impossible to get that tilt box to stop leaking!. So where in the motor does the oil go from that box?? kinda weird.

Also were taking to outdrive right off to do the impeller. i just ordered the impellar kit is there any other seals or kits i should by. i wanna replace as much as i can to make this boat 100 percent!