First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

[Seight311]

Hey everyone,

Found this boat and got it for a price I couldnt refuse. First off if anyone knows anything about this boat, please let me know, every bit of information I can get is appreciated.

It's a 1977 Sea Ray SRV 220. Got told by the person I bought it from that the motor seems to be waterlocked. I have a family friend that used to build motors for his pro-stock mustang back in the early 90's. He's built countless 351's and 460's, going to talk to him about tearing it apart and rebuilding it for me. Another family friend worked at a couple marinas and boat shops in the area (although it was almost 20 years ago) he said the OMC's on this boat weren't as good as the Mercruiser outdrives... Not sure if it was an option or just something people were known to switch to. He also told me the gaskets on the outdrives were known to leak, and of course sink the boat. Finding a new one of those sounds like a very good idea.

So what i've done so far is pull all the seats and cuddy bedding. Going to start pulling all the carpet, and all the wood trim. Once I know the story on the motor I will start putting the man hours into reconditioning the wood and putting in new carpet. The original engine cover/compartment was not in the boat so I plan to just build something how I want it.

My first question is, is there a way I can look over the drive system to see if its in working order? if it's something a boat shop would need to do, can they and is there any ballpark range I should be looking to spend to have this checked out?

The trailer it came with is actually a pretty heavy duty homemade one, needs sandblasted and repainted cause its ugly, but nothing some paint, carpet and new tires cant fix.

A fridge, stereo, new interior, depth finder things like that are all in the plan. but I need to make sure the motor and outdrive are operable before i start on the "fun" stuff. the hull seems to be in decent shape, a couple cracks have been patched, but i believe the only way to prove that is dip it in the water and check for leaks.

Again im a complete novice to boats, the engine is about the only thing I know much about. Any help and advice is appreciated everyone!

 

[Bondo]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

It's a 1977 Sea Ray SRV 220.

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,....
With Ford power,+ an OMC Stringer drive,....
I don't see alotta Good news in your future.... Sorry...
Looks like a Nice hull though....

I sure wish you'd found iboats, Before you found that craft,.... Good Luck with it....

 

[Seight311]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

And by that i assume whats on your mind is the same as my guy that used to work at the boat shops...

So with that being said, is there a outdrive system I should be looking into that would fit and work out alot better than the OMC one thats currently on it?

Im not overly concerned with the motor, i trust the guy i'll be having working on it, he likes making everything perfect so it would most likely be running awesome by the time he's done with it.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

Like Bondo said Old OMC are costly junk.It will take a lot anyway you go.J

 

[mattb1974]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

......and then there is the deck, stringer, transom ROT possibility with a lot of wet foam to top it off. But every issue you may have with that boat, you can fix it yourself with all of the valuable info in these forums.

 

[Dave1251]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

Even if you do all the work yourself, you will have far more money in this boat than the value. OMC went out of business in 1996 and parts are very hard to fine for these old drives. If you do find the parts, it's hard to find some one with the spiecialize tools to work on the drives. As for the Ford engine, again parts will be your problem when auto parts will not work.

You would be far better off in the long run to save your time and money by not getting too deep in this boat.

Sorry to be too negitive, but I have seen too many people waste thousand of $$$ only to give up.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

is there a outdrive system I should be looking into that would fit and work out alot better than the OMC one thats currently on it?

The problem you will run into is the big cut out for the OMC stringer drive. You will need to fill it in for any other drive system. If you are in love with the hull, then you have a few options...

1. Keep the current drive. The problem is not so much that the OMC drives are inherently bad, as that it is becoming more and more difficult to find anyone who is competent and willing to work on them. You might ask around and see if there are any marinas knowledgeable on those old drives. (Don't just find one that says they would work on it - find out if they KNOW about them and are ABLE to work on them).

2. Rebuild the transom and install a drive system from a donor boat. In other words, find a boat with a junk hull with a mercruiser or volvo drive system and completely transfer everything over.

Either way - lot of money and work. Good luck!

 

[Seight311]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

I understand when people tell me that it's a better idea to get rid of it and invest in something else before I get into deep, money and labor. If that is the case, im willing to do that, i'd rather get rid of it and be done with it now, rather than next spring when i've got a fair amount of time and money into it.

The problem you will run into is the big cut out for the OMC stringer drive. You will need to fill it in for any other drive system. If you are in love with the hull, then you have a few options...

1. Keep the current drive. The problem is not so much that the OMC drives are inherently bad, as that it is becoming more and more difficult to find anyone who is competent and willing to work on them. You might ask around and see if there are any marinas knowledgeable on those old drives. (Don't just find one that says they would work on it - find out if they KNOW about them and are ABLE to work on them).

2. Rebuild the transom and install a drive system from a donor boat. In other words, find a boat with a junk hull with a mercruiser or volvo drive system and completely transfer everything over.

Either way - lot of money and work. Good luck!

I wouldn't say im in love with the hull. I just seen what i believed would be a decent deal on a good sized boat, because as far as I know, its just the motor thats bad. Previous owner said the motor stopped working one day and that its been sitting since basically. I understand that if the OMC drives are known to not be the quality as a Merc.. But i'd like to think the outdrive is functioning, but i'd rather assume it's not so im not shocked when I find out if it does or not.

That being said, it's there a way I could "test" to see if the outdrive system is functional? Only thing I know to do was put it in neutral and spin the prop, put it in gear and try to spin the prop (obviously it shouldnt)

Finding a new motor/drive system i'd be willing to do... I'd just search and search until I found one that would work well and something I could get at a good price at the same time. Im a novice to boats so this may sound like a stupid question but, what can I generally look for? I mean just any boat with a merc/volvo v-8 in it, then work out the details of everything mounting correctly? Or am I going to have to search for specific years of boats with specific motors? Now I know it's not going to be an off then on install like an outboard motor would be but...

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

Did you check the oil in the drive? There is a couple of places to check.
If it's good then lift the drive,There should be a set of gears(ballgears)turn them in neutral, put in forward gear, and turn again, put in reverse, turn again.It shoud turn without too much trouble.Good luck,J

 

[Seight311]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

With the reputation of the OMC components, I have decided to look for other outdrives or a completely different strendrive/outdrive all together.

With that being said, I have found a 4.3L 185 Mercruiser setup, comes with bilge, blower and everything. It's out of a mid 80's boat with a bad strutural hull.

I know I will have some patching to do where the current outdrive leaves the stern, but engine mounting appears similiar to where/how my current OMC engine mounts to the hull. Other than patching/new gasket for the different/smaller outdrive, is there alot im getting myself into or is this a decent plan?

 

[Bondo]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

I know I will have some patching to do where the current outdrive leaves the stern, but engine mounting appears similiar to where/how my current OMC engine mounts to the hull. Other than patching/new gasket for the different/smaller outdrive, is there alot im getting myself into or is this a decent plan?

Ayuh,... Other than it's Awhole lot more work than you think,...
Yes, it's a decent plan...

I have,+ am still refitting Classic hulls that way...

 

[Seight311]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

The amount of work, im ready for it. I've got alot of help lined up for this whole project.

Is it safe to say the 4.3L merc will push this boat as well as the 351? I know it's a bit newer but I think they're both rated around 185 hp. Also on a side note, what ways if any are the to squeeze a few more ponies out of a marine motor?

 

[Bondo]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

Also on a side note, what ways if any are the to squeeze a few more ponies out of a marine motor?

Ayuh,... There's No replacement for Displacement.....
Torque moves a Boat....
Horsepower is just about dockside Braggin'...

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

Ayuh,... There's No replacement for Displacement.....
Torque moves a Boat....
Horsepower is just about dockside Braggin'...

That"s the truth, I'm a firm believer in going with the bigger hammer to get the job done.
If you decide to refit with another drive system just make sure you get everything, controls, wiring, anything and everything that touches the engine.

 

[superpop]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

before I went any further on this boat I would check for rot in the floor and sub floor. If you have any then you want to know that before spending time and money on a transom replacement. You will also need a dry space to work that is preferably heated so you can work with fiberglass. The whole transom will need to be replaced and new gel coat applied to the outside of the transom and then a new hole will have to be cut. I would guess materials alone will run you around 3 grand if you need a new floor and a new motor and drive will probably be another 4K if you are lucky, then you have all the fun stuff like interior and electronics. Plus the trailer. Yes, there is a reason you got a deal on the boat, someone already figured all that out. The v-6 is going to be a dog in that boat, Sea Ray makes a heavy boat and that one is just too big for a v6. On the upside you can probably part out the OMC parts on Ebay and make some good money there.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

I would at least check everything out, there are stringers out there going still going strong, If the hull and transom are good, and the drive is good, than it would be in my opinion definately worth digging into the motor.

 

[grahamh]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

What does you mean the motor is "waterlocked?"

If you mean that there's water in the cylinders, you might be able to fire it by pulling the plugs out and turning it over to clear all the water, then cleaning and reinstalling the plugs. If you could get the motor to run, you'll be able to check out the drive better.

Besides, something as simple as a blown head gasket could cause hydrolocking, I think it's definitely worth at least a quick check of the motor before you begin the painful process of swapping out a Stringer. In my opinion, it's not worth the work for such an old boat, it'd be easier and cheaper to find one with a Merc already if the Stringer's blown up.

Plus, I have a Stringer, and it's not that bad, just harder to get parts for. Can't beat the turning radius though!

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

Besides, something as simple as a blown head gasket could cause hydrolocking, I think it's definitely worth at least a quick check of the motor before you begin the painful process of swapping out a Stringer.

Yep. That's exactly what happened to mine. Head gasket blew and I was getting water in one cylinder. You could easily see which cylinder by the "cleanliness" of it.

 

[Lou C]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

Well I have an OMC but it's a later model Cobra so I can still get most parts...but a stringer...they are tough to find people who know how to work on them...I would not invest any money in this powr package....instead...assess the whole project...I'd start with inspecting the boat structurally...does it need new decking...stringers...transom....if the deck and stringers are OK...you can go foward...if not...I'd part it out...
as far as what do do...for one thing....you will need to rebuild the transom most likely even if its not rotten because the OMC stringer drive system used the engine stringers for support...not the transom like the Merc and Volvo drives....so transoms on OMC stringer boats were often thinner and too thin for a Merc style drive....beyond that...a 4.3 will be under powered in that boat...I have one in my 88 Four Winns 20' and it's a much lighter boat...it's fine in the lighter old style FW (4-bbl carb helps) but not in that heavy Sea Ray.
If the OMC drive stuff is in good shape...you might get some good money for it....

 

[fat fanny]

Re: First time boat owner, tips and a couple questions

I would suggest you PM ooops or search the resto forum for info besides what you have already recieved here. He loves these old Searays and could most likely put you in the right direction quicker and if your still sted fast on resoting this boat read his Thread on hull extension it might take a week or two but I think it will change your mind real quick.