Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

[otterby]

I recently found a 1990 Chris Craft 247 LTD with a 460 OMC Cobra (340 HP). I have no experience with this boat or engine and was wondering what you all could teach me. Everything looks great in the pictures and I was just wanting some input before I drove 300 miles for a closer inspection.

 

[xltier]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

they have been out of business for many years.a swap kit has been invented to change over to mercruiser but its costly. ru n run run

 

[otterby]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

It looks like parts are still easily to get for the OMC. Are they dependable?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

I recently found a 1990 Chris Craft 247 LTD with a 460 OMC Cobra (340 HP). I have no experience with this boat or engine and was wondering what you all could teach me. Everything looks great in the pictures and I was just wanting some input before I drove 300 miles for a closer inspection.

Howdy,


I'll say from experience, DO NOT BUY ANY BOAT WITH AN OMC KING COBRA 460 INSTALLED!


OMC is completely out of business. The 460 was only offered for 87/88/89/90 model years. The coupler and manifolds are show stopper parts and are not available anymore. The After-Market almost completely abandoned the OMC 460. If it really is a 1990 model and has electronic ignition, there'll be no parts for it. The module is no longer available. If it breaks you must go back to a distributor or a newer after market dist and adapt it.

There are certain parts in the King Cobra drives that are no longer available.

Even though it's a 1990, if the drive is a Dog Clutch type drive, it is probably a 1989 model.


If you do want to buy the boat, consider that it's a boat that must be re-powered with a Volvo Penta or Mercruiser engine and drive.

I was able to sell all the OMC parts (engine,drive and everything else) piece by piece for about $3400 and I still have a few parts left!




If the one you're talking about IS in fact a 1990 model, then it is a Clone clutch ("interim") Cobra. This is the one that is not the "same"as a Volvo d it not the same as the previous Dog-clutch Cobras. (they made more of the "Dogs").

This would make it a REAL dinosaur. In either case, there's very few marine mechanics that want to work on them.... (Oh you'll find a few that will say "$$$ SURE Bring it on over $$$")


It's definitely not worth driving 300 miles for.






Cheers,


Rick

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

I think the marine 460 holds some sort of fuel consumption record.... and not the good way....it seems to be able to drink about 25% more gas than a 454 marine of similar power rating.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

I think the marine 460 holds some sort of fuel consumption record.... and not the good way....it seems to be able to drink about 25% more gas than a 454 marine of similar power rating.

Hmmm.... Yeah... Although I seem to remember mine didn't do all that bad if I kept it around 3000 RPM......


When I put the 454 in, I also installed a Lowrance fuel flow meter.

Now, with the 454/Bravo III @3000 RPM , it indicates 10gph. (30 mph)

I don't know what it did at 30 with the 460 but I would bet it was a lot more!!

 

[duped]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

In case you are still considering it after what others said...DEAR GOD NO! NO! NO!

A king cobra, with the 460 engine, is the most obsolete of the obsoletes.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

And I don't believe that SEI offers a conversion kit for the King. The boat is 20 yrs. old. Depending on how it was maintained, it could turn into a money pit. Run.

 

[otterby]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

But are they dependable? This boat looks to have been well maintained and has only 400 hrs on it. I know most everything eventually breaks, but with proper maintenance is this a dependible setup or am I going to have to swap in a mercruiser first thing. If so does anybody have a rough guess on the cost of swapping in a 454/Bravo setup? So far all I've learned is they have poor fuel consumption (it is a boat afterall), and a few people say not to buy because they have had bad experiences. What were the bad experiences?

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

The basic engine itself is dependable, the drive is a obsolete POS. And like posted above CERTAIN IMPORTANT PARTS HAVEN'T BEEN AVAILABLE IN YEARS! RUN! RUN! Don't even think about a Bravo swap, FAR FAR cheaper to find a boat you like with one in it already.

 

[duped]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

If you really have your heart set on the boat, take care of it, run it until it breaks, then worry about the merc swap.

But honestly coming from experience with the KC devil, you would be far better off financially and mentally to just STAY AWAY. Even normal wear items like impellers are harder to find and more expensive. And it's not even about general reliability. All drives fail eventually. All manifolds fail eventually. Nothing lasts forever, and its best to own something with available parts and a wide knowledge base if you plan on keeping the boat!

Plus when it comes time to sell wont get anything for the boat with the king cobra in there when you want something new. Experienced boaters KNOW, and STAY AWAY.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Don't even think about a Bravo swap, FAR FAR cheaper to find a boat you like with one in it already.

depends on what you buy the boat for and the replacement engine/drive.

It was worth it for me.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Howdy,


I'll say from experience, DO NOT BUY ANY BOAT WITH AN OMC KING COBRA 460 INSTALLED!


OMC is completely out of business. The 460 was only offered for 87/88/89/90 model years. The coupler and manifolds are show stopper parts and are not available anymore. The After-Market almost completely abandoned the OMC 460. If it really is a 1990 model and has electronic ignition, there'll be no parts for it. The module is no longer available. If it breaks you must go back to a distributor or a newer after market dist and adapt it.

There are certain parts in the King Cobra drives that are no longer available.

Even though it's a 1990, if the drive is a Dog Clutch type drive, it is probably a 1989 model.


If you do want to buy the boat, consider that it's a boat that must be re-powered with a Volvo Penta or Mercruiser engine and drive.

I was able to sell all the OMC parts (engine,drive and everything else) piece by piece for about $3400 and I still have a few parts left!




If the one you're talking about IS in fact a 1990 model, then it is a Clone clutch ("interim") Cobra. This is the one that is not the "same"as a Volvo d it not the same as the previous Dog-clutch Cobras. (they made more of the "Dogs").

This would make it a REAL dinosaur. In either case, there's very few marine mechanics that want to work on them.... (Oh you'll find a few that will say "$$$ SURE Bring it on over $$$")


It's definitely not worth driving 300 miles for.






Cheers,


Rick

6 months ago against my vote, my son bought a 1990 Reinell with a Cobra 4.3. I don't know which one but it runs really great in all aspects you would want. Maybe he just got lucky.

 

[duped]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

4.3 is a regular a cobra, which is more common and serviceable than the King Cobra. Also SEI at least sells the merc conversion for that! King Cobra is a dead end.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

I would not buy it unless it was a KILLER deal.


I am in s FL and there are tons and tons and tons of marinas and marine mechanics within a 50 mile radius of me.

A whole 2 places will work on anything OMC.


If you are mechanically capable, and good at hunting down parts online, then maybe you could be happy with it.

But you have to know that there is the very real possibility that you will run into something where you need a part and cannot find it, or it takes you 6 months to find it.

In the mean time you will not be able to use your boat.



That's what it boils down to.


Just keep looking. There are tons of boats for sale right now at below value because of the economy.

Just search CL and make sure you search surrounding areas. Youll know it when you see the one.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

4.3 is a regular a cobra, which is more common and serviceable than the King Cobra. Also SEI at least sells the merc conversion for that! King Cobra is a dead end.

Yeah.......


That is a little different. You can actually still buy most parts for the "other Cobras"


Even the drive parts are for the most part available.

There are no couplers or manifolds for a 460. There's no electronic ignition parts for the 1990 460. There's a few (real show-stopper) parts for the "King" Cobra that you cannot buy at any price. (junk-yard only)


Since they only offered the 460 for a few years, pretty much ALL of the aftermarket parts companies don't offer 460 specific parts (like manifolds)......YES, you can buy stainless steel jacketed headers ($2500+)

Yes, you can buy adapter plates and cobble in 454 manifolds, and yes you can send your flywheel to Canada and have them "one-off" a coupler for you but is it worth it? (and then break your drive with a rock.....and now you're not only "done" but you have a Franken-engine that NO ONE wants........!!)


The original recommendation pretty much still applies for first time boaters (who are not experienced marine mechanics etc) buying their first I/O:

Don't buy a boat with OMC, Merc 470, 3.7L, or Yamaha, and some others, anywhere in the ad..........AND RUN VERY FAST FROM AN OMC 460!!!





Rick

 

[Bondo]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

I would not buy it unless it was a KILLER deal.

Ayuh,.... Free is Too much to pay for it....

If so does anybody have a rough guess on the cost of swapping in a 454/Bravo setup?

10, 15 Grand otta cover it...

 

[sethjon]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

It looks like parts are still easily to get for the OMC. Are they dependable?

Dependable if you do preventative maintenance.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

Being the KING Cobra heck no! Run fast! It would have to be free for me to take it then i would part it out.
Just the water pump impeller that needs changed every couple years is about impossible to find.
I found one at a dealer that had one in old stock for one of my customers,150 bucks just for a 20 dollar part.
The 460 is a total pain to work on and REALLY no parts are available!

Please take our advice or it will end up costing you thousands...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Looking for opinions of OMC Cobra

If so does anybody have a rough guess on the cost of swapping in a 454/Bravo setup?

It of course, varies...


I have my own shop, an overhead hoist, a complete complement of tools, and a fair amount of time to play.


I bought a 1997 454 Bravo III with 120hrs since new from a boat owner that had a tree fall on his boat. He posted it in Craigslist and I paid him $5k for it.

I removed the OMC stuff and installed the Merc stuff.

I then spent a year or more parting out the OMC stuff and ultimately (so far) recovered about $3400. I still need to sell the props, engine mounts, and a few other minor parts but I pretty much "offed" everything....


It was a LOT of work! I cannot count my labor in the actual cost. But if I had to pay someone else to do the job and buy the engine/drive from a dealer.....It would have been $7500-10000 to buy the engine, drive and all the accessories.

Then it would have probably cost about $2500-3500 to pay someone to remove the junk and install the newer stuff.....

I originally paid $5000 for the boat. (probably a bit too much even in 2005)


Right now, I think the boat is probably worth about $7500 (21' closed cooled cuddy with about 135hrs since new on the engine/Bravo III drive)


Add up the above and 7500+2500+5000 it doesn't equal $7500!!!


You would have to get the 460 boat for about FREE. and then get a super deal on the replacement engine and drive, And then "DIY" to make it a really great deal.


Right after I bought my 211 Liberator,

I saw a 211 Lib with NO engine/drive in a "no reserve" ebay auction with a NEW aluminum trailer that had a starting price that was less than the real value of the trailer!!! NO ONE BID ON IT!!


Use your best judgment!



Rick