Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

[Mullin]

Hey, I'm looking at buying a used boat and wanted to know if there is any info I should know about before pulling the trigger.

It is a 1994 Seaswirl 201 LE bowrider with an OMC V8 and Cobra outdrive. The seller says the V8 is a chevy with fuel injection. I don't have any other numbers or even a pic of the motor for better identification, I'm going to look at it this weekend.

I have heard about the OMC/Volvo sx drive that came out right then, so I know to make sure it is the SX drive with the hump on top and the pump mounted at the motor. But what about this FI v8?

Thanks for any info.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

With all of the other product out there, I would not recommend getting anything with an OMC in it, especially when there is so much other stuff out there that is still supported. If your getting this boat for free, or next to free, that's one thing. But there is so much more better stuff out there.

And double check the engine, there were a lot for fords back then. Nothing wrong with it because it says ford on it... But there is a whole lot wrong with it because there are no parts for them any longer. Especially if its an EFI ford.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

That was the transition year between Cobra dog clutch and Volvo SX cone clutch. You need to post the model number to be sure.

 

[Mullin]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

With all of the other product out there, I would not recommend getting anything with an OMC in it, especially when there is so much other stuff out there that is still supported. If your getting this boat for free, or next to free, that's one thing. But there is so much more better stuff out there.

No not free, it's seems like a good solid deal though at a few thousand less than most equivalents. It's a friend of a friend that owns the boat now, I don't think he knows much about motors or boats honestly. The boat, trailer and interior all look really really good. I was thinking this would be a nice upgrade from by bayliner in my sig. 10 years newer and a v8.

And double check the engine, there were a lot for fords back then. Nothing wrong with it because it says ford on it... But there is a whole lot wrong with it because there are no parts for them any longer. Especially if its an EFI ford.

Is getting an OMC really that bad?! I figured it is just a chevy v8 mated to an OMC cobra drive that is really a volvo sx anyway. I did see something about the ford FI models having no parts, same deal with the chevy FI models?

 

[vipertech]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

OMC went out of business so parts are harder to come by. There are a couple companies that make parts now and with that drive I doubt you will have a hard time finding parts. My brother has that drive and he has not had any problems with it. If it's in good shape and the price is right then I would go for it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

Is getting an OMC really that bad?! I figured it is just a chevy v8 mated to an OMC cobra drive that is really a volvo sx anyway. I did see something about the ford FI models having no parts, same deal with the chevy FI models?

It is if it isn't the Volvo joint venture drive. Get the model number.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

+1^^^ if it is in fact a cobra/volvo sx drive then you have no problem. But as Bruce said get the model number to be sure. Also no worries with a GM Fuel injection, they still make them and they run great. The problem is if it is a ford because they haven't made them in about 20 years parts can be hard to get and expensive. A ford fuel injection engine just ads to the problem. Depending on what you're spending you might want to spend a few hundred bucks and have a professional marine survey done if you don't know your way around a boat real well. That way you'll know the engine compression (basic indicator of what's left in the motor) along with the rest of the motor is good, the boat is structurally sound (no rot), the electrical system is safe and the drive is good. Also take it out for a sea trial before you buy. Each boat handles differently and you want to be sure you like the way this one feels.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

A Chevy motor has the Distributor in the back, a Ford motor has it right upfront, check it out.

 

[Walt T]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

20 year old boat, not worth more than 4K in perfect condition. I might offer 2K, but wouldn't even look at it if it's not cone clutch, or if it has a Ford. Any repairs to interior or exterior will cost you big, so like the first answer said, free or next to free. He can always sell it to someone who hasn't a clue and isn't smart enough to come here and be made fun of.

 

[Tnstratofam]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

He can always sell it to someone who hasn't a clue and isn't smart enough to come here and be made fun of.

That's not very good. Then we'll end up with another newbie here trying to get advice on a bad purchase they've made. Kind of like me a year ago.:facepalm:

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

or if it has a Ford.

A ford fuel injection engine just ads to the problem.

If you get the boat at a good enough price and the Ford FI gives you problems, you can always yank it all off, install a new intake manifold, carb and the correct fuel pump and you now have a reliable fuel system that you can maintain yourself.

 

[Mullin]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

+1^^^ if it is in fact a cobra/volvo sx drive then you have no problem. But as Bruce said get the model number to be sure. Also no worries with a GM Fuel injection, they still make them and they run great.

That's the good news I was fishing for. the volvo sx and GM FI combo sounds like a go then.

A Chevy motor has the Distributor in the back, a Ford motor has it right upfront, check it out.

Yup. I'll check when I see it tomorrow. And I'll get all the numbers for the motor and leg.

20 year old boat, not worth more than 4K in perfect condition.

It is in damn near factory condition, just from the pics I've seen. 5k firm beats what I've seen on craigslist and iboats around here.

That's not very good. Then we'll end up with another newbie here trying to get advice on a bad purchase they've made. Kind of like me a year ago.:facepalm:

lol :facepalm:

If you get the boat at a good enough price and the Ford FI gives you problems, you can always yank it all off, install a new intake manifold, carb and the correct fuel pump and you now have a reliable fuel system that you can maintain yourself.

Yeah I figured that might be some sort of an option. I heard the ford ecm in a 1000 bucks if you can even find it. I'm really not looking for that big of a project, my little bayliner runs pretty good anyway.

I'm looking at it tomorrow so I'll post back with what I find. Thanks for the help. :tea:

 

[matt167]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

Yea, the Ford system used basically truck parts with a special ECM and a couple other things special to the Marine engines. Everything Auto is off the shelf still, but everything marine is NLA.. IIRC it still operates with EEC-IV

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

I have heard about the OMC/Volvo sx drive that came out right then, so I know to make sure it is the SX drive with the hump on top and the pump mounted at the motor. But what about this FI v8?

Thanks for any info.

As others said above, you NEED to check the actual model number.

THEN, go to BRP -- Parts Catalogs (you do not need to enter your email)

Find the model and determine if it IS in fact, a 1994 or 1993 model. (it could easily be a 93 in a "94" boat.........)

If it's a 1994 OR a 1993 and it's a 5.8L (or 7.4L/8.2L ) engine RUN AWAY! (OR consider pricing the boat as a repower project)

The above is the "interim" cone-clutch drive with the pump on the back of the drive (NOT an SX!)

If it's a 5.7, 5.0, 4.3, or 3.0, it *might* be an SX (equivalent) ...............but you could STILL have a JUNK EFI SYSTEM! (that you could "fix" with a carb and a marine dist)

If it's a 1993 5.0L, 4.3L, 3.0L (and/or the drive itself is correct for those year engines, it will be a DOG-clutch drive which are still for the most part supportable)

NOW, if it is an interim (cone-clutch) drive, (pump on the back)
THEN (if EFI) you have both a JUNK EFI system (many N/A parts) AND a "junk" drive (with *some* N/A parts.....)


EVEN IF YOU GET THE MODEL NUMBER FROM THE ENGINE, someone in the last 20 years could have changed EVERYTHING and you could either have the "GOOD" stuff OR the "BAD" stuff under the hood and hanging off the back!


Good luck.:facepalm:


Regards,



Rick

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

I seem to recall a thread a couple years back where someone was trying to source a replacement ECM for a ford 5.8 OMC, looking at ebay junk for $2000 and up, trying to get truck ECMs to work but despite having the same part numbers no go. Paying someone to reflash the truck ECM to no avail.

All sounds like a lot of potential headache to me.
I like a carburetor on an old boat.

 

[Mullin]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

As others said above, you NEED to check the actual model number.

THEN, go to BRP -- Parts Catalogs (you do not need to enter your email)

Find the model and determine if it IS in fact, a 1994 or 1993 model.
Good luck.:facepalm:

Regards,
Rick

I just took a look through the parts catalog you linked. It looks like from 1993 to 1995 only a few chevy v8 motors were used and none with efi in that list, only carbs. The only EFI systems seemed to be mated to fords. Hmmm, not sounding too good.

Seller says its a '94 with a chevy v8 and fuel injection. Nada guides doesn't show that boat model came out till 1995. BRP says no chevys with fuel injection. Guess I'll just go and see for myself.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

Seller says its a '94 with a chevy v8 and fuel injection.

A LOT of people make statements concerning OMC Cobras without knowing what they're talking about......... ESPECIALLY about which models were "the same" as Volvo etc.

You have to determine for yourself which is correct! The BRP parts site is pretty good. I don't think anyone has found many (or any) errors there.

 

[Mullin]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

So to be prepared for tomorrow... where do you normally find the numbers on an OMC v8 and outdrive?

How can I tell what the outdrive is from BRP or otherwise? I have heard of the difference between the flat top and the hump top of the leg and the motor mounted sea pump, but this now doesn't sound so definitive.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

Nada guides doesn't show that boat model came out till 1995.

I saw that too. It's probably a Ford EFI. Run it until the EFI breaks and switch to a Carb.

 

[Mullin]

Re: Looking at buying a boat with an OMC, ok?

I saw that too. It's probably a Ford EFI. Run it until the EFI breaks and switch to a Carb.

Really? That's opposite of the normal RUN RUN RUN posts I see regarding the ford EFI setup.

But, it does look super nice, no idea how many hours on it yet. No real reason the EFI would go out anytime soon anyway right?