'84 OMC 3.8.liter motor, thoughts? comments? ideas?

[joetheis]

Always on the hunt for my next boat, ("This boat is all fixed up, what am I to do? SELL it and start over with a new "project")!!
Looking through "Craigslist" over coffee a boat jumped up and yelled at me.
1984 Penn Yan 21' with a 3.8 liter inboard.
What are your thoughts about this motor?
What type of outdrive is usually hooked to this drive?
What should I be aware of IF I contact this guy other than the obvious items??
Any parts for this, "rare" ?
Thanks!
Joe

 

[southkogs]

'84 should be a full mechanical Stringer (800). Depending on the deal and your willingness to be a mechanic, it's not a total deal killer to me - but for many a Stringer is the kiss of death for a purchase. Engine is a Chevy based engine, but I don't know much about 'em.

Some of the parts for the drive are not only rare, but even NLA. That said, I never had too much trouble keeping my Stringer runnin'. Shift cable on that drive is (as I understand it) expensive and difficult to locate.

I'd say the boat has to be in good condition and a pretty AMAZING deal in order to go for it.

 

[joetheis]

Thank you!
I had looked at a boat last season and it had the Stringer and was advised, (I'm pretty sure here on thisite to, "Run! Run very fast"!
It was a very pretty almn boat, electric shift to boot.
I only can see 2 pics of the boat, both bow on.
I wouldn't say it was a GREAT! deal, but................
Maybe if she sits and cools for a while, she may be!
Thanks!
Joe
So many boats, so few $$!

 

[Bondo]

electric shift to boot.

Ayuh,.... If it's an Electric Shift, ya Don't want it at any price,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

1984 would be mechanical shift. If it has an electric shift, then someone swapped the drive. The 3.8 is a difficult motor to get parts for

 

[joetheis]

Thanks!
I'll let her sit and the "lust" cool on it for a while.
I have a hard time letting "orphan boats" go to the great boat yard in the sky!
One thought that keeps popping into my head, (the "stupid brain cells" are always try to overpower the 2 "smart cells" I have left),
"It IS a fiberglass transom, you can cut the transom open, fill the hole and find a donor drive of current stature and poof! Problem solved"!
I KNOW this isn't a smart idea unless the boat is cherry, or I get it for free, or I HAVE a donor drive and my pockets are pretty deep and I can get paid to stay at home and do it!
Those 2 "smart cells" are SCREAMING, "Wake up and smell the fiberglass Joe"!
Who will win..............................
Joe
Sometimes I wake at night in a cold sweat and whisper, "WTF was I thinking"?!

 

[southkogs]

Too many boats out there with good transoms and the right hole for a non-Stringer drive. Keeping a Stringer going is not too crazy in my book - in fact, they can be pretty reliable drives. Resurrecting a boat to run a Stringer or trying to rehab a boat and convert it from a Stringer is too expensive considering the wide assortment of homeless boats out there.

 

[bruceb58]

No way would I buy that boat.

 

[joetheis]

Yeah, I guess it is better to pass.
This is why I ask here before looking at them in person!
Another thing that has me scratching my head, was in the add, "Starter need to be rebuilt, it's out".
So I can't even start or run the motor or drive.
I can hear those 2 "smart brain cells" SCREAMING, "NO! NO! NO!"
Seems to me IF I were selling a boat, I'd make sure at least it ran??!!
Joe
So many boats, so few $$

 

[bruceb58]

LOL....yeah! The motor won't turn over so he pulled the starter assuming it was the culprit. Who knows if the drive or the engine is actually the issue.