Possible new boat opinion...

[Oshkosh1]

Hi all...

I'm considering a new(used) boat to keep at my place up north. I want an open bow around 18-19'. Smaller lakes and launches are a bit much for my 23' cuddy.

Anyhow...I contacted a gentleman about his 84 SeaSprite with a 3.8LOMC. I have no experience with OMC and no idea of their quality/build/similarity to the Mercruisers of similar vintage.

The boat is in good condition and has been owned by the same family since new. Everything works, has "low hours", it's "water ready", has a trailer but it needs a new upper driveshaft bearing. Don't know if that's code for "gimbal" or what. Owner's out of town but I'll look at it personally next week. He did send me pics of the engine. Needs a little cleaning but looks original. It's Grey in color...

Thumbs up...or run away for $1k...

http://appleton.craigslist.org/boa/5741562756.html

 

[Scott Danforth]

There is no gimbal bearing on a stringer, however if the upper needs a bearing, it will also need a shim pack and a bunch of specialty tools.

The vertical drive shafts are an issue ( it will need to be replaced if it already hasn't been)
If it's in great shape, and you love it....go for it.

I myself would pass

 

[GA_Boater]

i think southkogs changed some of the vertical shafts and ended up finding a good condition replacement.

 

[southkogs]

I did ... you could potentially (and probably reasonably easy) find a replacement upper gear case for it. But honestly, Scott's right ... probably a move on.

OMC isn't awful, but it's obsolete and no one really works on 'em anymore. That one has been sitting for 10 years, and you have no way to know what's wrong beyond the upper gear case. At that ... it's not worth $1,000.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Gotcha...

Yeah...I wasn't really stoked about it but rather fit my bill. I'm more comfortable with Mercruiser as that's all I've owned. I just want a "cheap" boat to use a couple of times per summer up there. I'll keep looking...it's "that" time of year almost.

 

[Scott Danforth]

There is no such thing as a cheap boat.

 

[Oshkosh1]

There is no such thing as a cheap boat.

Touche'!lol!

How about "Inexpensive initial purchase"??

Like I said; I have a place up in the northwoods of Wisconsin. I also now have a grandson. I want something to go out on the flowage with a few times per summer. It'll sit more than not. I don't mind "older" boats up here due to the relatively low hours they can be used during our "summer" season. I also don't want a maintenance burden either.

I'll stick to my original plan which is to find an older Merc powered ride.

Much more comfortable(and also have a lot of manuals) with them.

 

[Scott Danforth]

My suggestion for a northwoods boat to use only a few times of year with the grandkids is an aluminum boat with a 2-stroke outboard.

 

[Oshkosh1]

My suggestion for a northwoods boat to use only a few times of year with the grandkids is an aluminum boat with a 2-stroke outboard.

I already have one of those up there...my fishing boat. I would like a bowrider to pull tubes, cruise the chain and such. Nothing over 18' though. What I'd really like is about a mid 90's Wellcraft with a 4.3l. A friend had one and it was just about perfect for the lakes and rivers up there.