Holy crap I just bought a boat!

[bruceb58]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Well I took ol' whiskey dent out for her first major test after getting all of her fluids and filters changed (damn drought).

You had the drive oil changed? What did it look like? Was it filled properly? OMC Cobra's get filled differently than other drives and if not filled properly can fail rather quickly.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Wow that sucks. Just saw this thread. I've owned quite a few old boats and did all of the maintenance. I finally bought a new boat four years ago. First winter I did all of the maintenance including the lower unit oil. Apparently there was an air bubble because I didn't get enough oil in there. Long story short, I melted the lower unit on a 1 year old motor. It was $1500 to get it fixed, but just like you, that's cheaper than buying a new boat.

If you like the boat and experience of ownership, start putting your nickels in a jar and save up for that new lower unit. While you're back in dry dock, you can work on all of those cosmetic and aesthetic issues that you pointed out. . .and you can still get some tang down below when she's parked on dry land. Double win.

 

[ABatt2006]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Yes I did have all the fluids changed including the lower unit oil, it was done by a mechanic, so I have no clue if it was done right. Good news is that I found a complete upper/lower unit for 1k here in town. I had my mechanic call the guy and verify a few things and apparently it all checks out. I'm probably going to end up getting it and try to sell the busted unit for a couple of hundred to offset a few costs. If things work out as planned (which they usually dont) I'll get out of this for around 1k total, which isnt nearly as bad as what I thought it would be.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Yes I did have all the fluids changed including the lower unit oil, it was done by a mechanic, so I have no clue if it was done right.

Ask him if he put the fluid in the middle hole or the bottom hole. If he says bottom hole, get a new mechanic.

 

[ABatt2006]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Bruce, do you have any maintenance manuals or something in writing that specifies how to change that oil. I was there for a part of the time he switched that oil, but I dont ever remember him filling up anywhere other than from the bottom screw. (i know i'm probably asking for too much). Bottom line is that I am not a mechanic, and this guy came recommended to me, so I am at the mercy of this guy. But lets be honest here, I bought a 20 something year old boat with an OMC outdrive... where would you put your money on whats responsible on the failure? Mine would be one the boat being old as hell.

I apologize for the poor grammar, I have, in fact, been drinking.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

you could almost buy a new SEI conversion drive for a little more than your paying for a used OMC drive.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

Bruce, do you have any maintenance manuals or something in writing that specifies how to change that oil. I was there for a part of the time he switched that oil, but I dont ever remember him filling up anywhere other than from the bottom screw. (i know i'm probably asking for too much). Bottom line is that I am not a mechanic, and this guy came recommended to me, so I am at the mercy of this guy. But lets be honest here, I bought a 20 something year old boat with an OMC outdrive... where would you put your money on whats responsible on the failure? Mine would be one the boat being old as hell.

I apologize for the poor grammar, I have, in fact, been drinking.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

If he filled it from the bottom and it was working fine before you had the oil changed, the improper fill could easily have caused the drive to fail. Then again, it could have been its time!

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: Holy crap I just bought a boat!

I just found your thread the other day (after you posted the update with your lower unit fail) and was captivated the whole way thru and heartbroken for you at the end. Having said that I still think you got a good deal even with the cost of replacing the lower unit and after all the time and money you've spent on her it would be a shame to let her go. Just get her going again keep up on the maintainence and chock it up to a learning experience. I guess the occasional heart break is all part of boat ownership. Good luck with her.