which one do I have???

[Dphelps43]

does anyone know much about Cobias? I have recently acquired what I thought to be an 18' 1981 Cobia Sportster bowrider with a Mercruiser 120. The boat needs some repair to the motor and outdrive and while doing research, I found info that suggests this may be a 1982 or newer. only info i can find on sportsers with I/O setup are 1982 and newer. Any info would be greatly appreciated and maybe someone can help with the repair questions that follow.

Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: which one do I have???

The engine and drive could be anything, Cobias may have used several different power packages and drives.
Best thing you could do is post some pictures of the outdrive and the engine.
Look for any model or serial numbers on the engine.
If it's the original engine in the boat, you should be able to find a metal tag just above the starter rivited to the back of the block. It will have the engine info on it.

 

[fourwinnsdook]

Re: which one do I have???

TIP: Often when i am leary about what year or model i have of something i look on ebay. Ther's usually a picture of everything on there, and it usually describes there item. If you have exaxtly the same thing and it's changed in the years in quesion then theres your answer.

 

[Dphelps43]

Re: which one do I have???

Thanks fourwinnsdook and Don S. 1 other question, is it possible for someone to have converted this thing from an outboard to an I/O? everything looks factory installed but I only question because I had trouble finding info on I/O cobias for that year.

 

[Don S]

Re: which one do I have???

Anything is possible, but I doubt they did. Outboard transoms are too thick for an IO to be mounted in.

 

[fourwinnsdook]

Re: which one do I have???

If they changed it the next year you could have one of the first ones. The title may still call it an 81 even though it's the 82 style. I've seen stranger things. I used to have a dodge dakota V6 that took an oil filtr that no one had ever seen on a v6 before. The auto parts store told me sometimes if the factory has old things laying around they do that to get rid of them. Maybe you got a prototype or something.