OMC Stringer

[Mr Tig]

Based on what I read, Merc is better. Not knowing anything about them, what makes the stringer so bad if its taken care of? Boat I just bought has one.

 

[QC]

Re: OMC Stringer

Parts availability, trim motors, trim solenoids . . . See below vvvvv

There are a few positives . . . higher and faster tilt, turns sharper, nothing hanging on the transom.

 

[Mr Tig]

Re: OMC Stringer

So the solenoids and motors are the problem. In good condition, is this a reliable unit? I will have my wife and kids with me.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC Stringer

Maintainance history will make all the difference no matter what type of drive. A well maintained stringer will be just as reliable overall as a well maintained merc of the same age. Each type has thier + & -'s With a few exeptions, almost all parts are still available for the stringers, and IMHO they are a simpler drive to work on. I have a 1975 175hp stinger I revived after sitting for 12yrs, and have been able to find all the parts I've needed so far. I've never worked on the outdrive itself (gears etc.) but everything else wasn't too difficult.

Alot of people will say run away, but if it's in fairly good overall condition I'd say stick with it. If you post some more info (year, mod & serial #'s) there's some 'white anchor' gurus on the board that I'm sure can give you more details.

Happy boating and welcome to the board!

 

[QC]

Re: OMC Stringer

BTW, I am actually a stringer fan and generally agree with NW Redneck. It is, however, getting harder and harder to get parts although you can find most stuff on eBay etc. The tilt motor is expensive and failure prone, but it will not strand you, especially if it fails down. The fact is you can get the drive down anyway, but you might get a little wet if it is stuck up while in the water . . .

 

[Mr Tig]

Re: OMC Stringer

I have a 1984 Celebrity 188V BR. I just bought the boat. I knew it needed a motor when I bought it. The boat was easy to buy. The hull and all the teak were in good condition. No soft spots in the floor, etc. I have since cleaned and oiled the teak and sent a few seat cushions to the local apolsterer. I just really liked all the wood on the boat. As for model numbers on the drive, I don't know. I do know the motor is a 5.7L rated at 260HP. I only gave 900.00 for the boat and trailor, which had 4 brand knew tires on it. The guy I bought it from took good care of it. He said he just screwed up when he winterized it last year. My mechanic has it now. Told me the drive was in good shape. Also told me that he was going to service it. New impeller, oil, etc. I will put pictures on when I get it back. It really is a clean boat. Would like to attempt the work myself but don't have the facilities. It has a 14 1/2x19 prop. To much....not enough?

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC Stringer

Sounds like you'll be fine, and got a good deal too! If your mechanic is familiar with OMC's and gives it the OK after the impeller/oil change you're laughing.

As to the prop size, you'll have to do some testing once she's in the water. Find out your current WOT (wide open throttle) RPM's and see if they are within specs. (Around 42-4600 IIRC) If you are too high/low you may need to change pitch. The guys in the prop forum can help you better there. My 302/175hp in an 18' Cal glass v-hull runs 42-4300 RPM with a 14X18P prop, so you may be close. Only the water will tell.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Stringer

My 302/175hp in an 18' Cal glass v-hull runs 41-4200 RPM with a 14X19P prop, so you may be close. Only the water will tell.

Yer luggin it RN. You should be able to get that thing up to 46/4700 rpm at WOT. I'd try a 14 x 17, expecially if you are pulling or have a boatload. My '75 190 hp(w/later hydro Mechanical drive @ 1.50:1), pushing a 20 ftr with a full boat load would pull 4900 rpm using a 15 x 17 prop (B4 5.0 liter roller cam engine). You might have an electric shift and 14" props were usual.

 

[Mr Tig]

Re: OMC Stringer

Thanks for all the information guys, I feel quite a bit better now. That and the fact that I trust the mech. doing the work. I'm glad I found this sight. Look forward to putting on some pictures asap and also talking about other problems that come up. Any more info would be appreciated.


Thanks, Tig

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC Stringer

Yer luggin it RN. You should be able to get that thing up to 46/4700 rpm at WOT. I'd try a 14 x 17, expecially if you are pulling or have a boatload. My '75 190 hp(w/later hydro Mechanical drive @ 1.50:1), pushing a 20 ftr with a full boat load would pull 4900 rpm using a 15 x 17 prop (B4 5.0 liter roller cam engine). You might have an electric shift and 14" props were usual.

First, I was off on my last post. Just looked up my notes and I'm 42-4300 with full load with 14X18P prop. I'll go edit that.

46-4700? My manual gives 38-4200 rpm for the Ford 302/175hp. I had a thread in the prop forum last summer and tried different props and was advised I was good. I started with a 14X16P and was at 4800rpm. Given the age (75), tho in good condition, I didn't want to push it too much from the book #'s.

 

[KaGee]

Re: OMC Stringer

The tilt motors can go bad and are expensive. However, majority of problems solved here were not motor related. Most are poor/corroded electrical contacts on the solenoids, binding in the tilt gear box do to lack of lubrication, or hardened grease on the pivots binding the drive there.

One word of caution... DO NOT run the engine with the drive in any position other than all the way down. Run otherwise and you would wear out your ball gears.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Stringer

First, I was off on my last post. Just looked up my notes and I'm 42-4300 with full load with 14X18P prop. I'll go edit that.

46-4700? My manual gives 38-4200 rpm for the Ford 302/175hp. I had a thread in the prop forum last summer and tried different props and was advised I was good. I started with a 14X16P and was at 4800rpm. Given the age (75), tho in good condition, I didn't want to push it too much from the book #'s.

I'd be inclined to use that 14 x 16 for any med/heavy skiers, expecially with a boat full of people. Just 'cause you can turn 4700 doesn't mean you hold it up there for any length of time. I know the 175 is a detuned 190, (cam being the only difference) but still you'll be in a better sweet spot, at lower speeds, under load, with that sweet 16.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC Stringer

Just found my old thread here:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=175460

It was Walleyehead who recomended sticking with the 18P. I haven't tried pulling any skiers or tubes yet, but would it be better to use the 16P for this and use the 18P for general use?


Not meaning to hijack Mr Tig's thread here (sorry!) but he may find this stuff usefull when he is choosing his prop.

 

[Mr Tig]

Re: OMC Stringer

Doesn't bother me, I'm after knoledge. I know nothing about drives. I have however been told not to start it in any position but down.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Stringer

Just found my old thread here:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=175460

I haven't tried pulling any skiers or tubes yet, but would it be better to use the 16P for this and use the 18P for general use?

Yep NWR, that's what I would, at minimum, try out. I can almost guarantee that you will notice a big difference when pulling skiers out. For tubers, they don't take as much power to pull but if your tubin' you might thro in a ski or so for the next person so I would try it for both activities. I know that 302 motor and it will love you for it.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: OMC Stringer

Of all the stringers, a 1984 is one of the best versions, it's full mechanical shift and exhaust through the prop like a modern drive.
Some OMC Stringers facts
no u-joints
no gimbal bearing
no hydraulic cylinders under water
no shift cable bellows
no exhaust bellows
no u-joint bellows
800 series Props 15 spline exchange with V6/V8 Johnson and Evinrude outboards
400 series props 13 spline exchange with V4 Johnson and Evinrude outboards
driveline axis stays straight when turning (alas, no ujoints)
larger water pump impeller moves more water than competitors
no alignment tool required
no stress on transom

 

[Boomyal]

Re: OMC Stringer

Of all the stringers, a 1984 is one of the best versions, it's full mechanical shift and exhaust through the prop like a modern drive.
Some OMC Stringers facts
no u-joints
no gimbal bearing
no hydraulic cylinders under water
no shift cable bellows
no exhaust bellows
no u-joint bellows
800 series Props 15 spline exchange with V6/V8 Johnson and Evinrude outboards
400 series props 13 spline exchange with V4 Johnson and Evinrude outboards
driveline axis stays straight when turning (alas, no ujoints)
larger water pump impeller moves more water than competitors
no alignment tool required
no stress on transom

Yeah, I keep telling them all that kjdkjd. But they are married to their Rube Goldberg Black anchors, so naturally they come to love pulling their hair out over all that complex stuff.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: OMC Stringer

Boomyal: I keep the 16P in the boat as my spare, so when I get to do some skiing this summer I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the tip!

Mr Tig: see, don't listen to those black anchor nay-sayers. All their anti-OMC ranting is just jealousy. Keep that leg ALL the way down and your ball gears will last a good long time. Don't forget to let us know whe you get her in the water!

To paraphrase: there's nothing in this world half as much worth doing as messing around in boats!

 

[Mr Tig]

Re: OMC Stringer

Thanks for the info RN. I will deffinately let yall know when shes done.

 

[wil7483]

Re: OMC Stringer

The last boat I had was a 1975 Mark Twain BR that I basically rebuilt from scratch. When I got it off eBay it was just a hull. I put an OMC Ford 351W in it simply because that was the transom cutout it had. I had no idea what an OMC was before then. That boat served me well. I never had any problems with the drive other than the tilt spindle that connects to the worm gear broke on me and I had to get wet to get the outdrive back up. Found the part on eBay for $12.00 and I was fine after that.

I loved that system. The simplicity was great. The Wellcraft I am in the process of restoring and converted from an OMC Cobra to a Mercruiser is the most complicated thing I have ever had to do. Given the choice, I'd take the OMC over the Merc any day in terms of ease of use. In terms of finding parts and people willing to work on your boat I'd have to say the Merc wins hands down. I was able to find a mechanic who was willing to work on the stringer but he offered no warranty on any work done to the OMC drives.