mid 80's volvo ok?

[mopower440]

Hi,
Im new to the boat world and have been looking for an inexpensive first boat. My buddy told me to stay away from volvo outdrives, said they were not good? Well, ive found a 1986 bayliner capri bowrider in very nice condition. It has the 305 chevy V8 and a volvo outdrive. Does anyone know if the volvo outdrive used on this 1986 model not good or were they good? He just said to look at mercruiser only ans stay away from volvo..

 

[Don S]

Re: mid 80's volvo ok?

Volvo makes a great drive. The 280 and earlier drives don't have trim, but they work fine without it.
Personally, I would take a Volvo drive over a Merc Alpha of the same year any day. No lower shift cable to worry about, no shift interrupt system to kill your engine when the cable gets old. 30 to 45 minute job to replace the ujoint bellows instead of 4 or 5 hours.
Gear lube is 30W engine oil for single prop drives. No raw water pump in the drive to replace. It's crankshaft mounted.

Engine is a 305 Chevy. Everything is still available for the engine and the drive.

 

[o'neal]

Re: mid 80's volvo ok?

Sounds like a great drive to me without alot of the issues.

 

[mopower440]

Re: mid 80's volvo ok?

well, went and looked at the boat, it was quite nice. we took it out for 40 mins and it did great, but i still didnt buy it because the seller just got it back in feb. and he bought it from a bank repo and he doesnt know if it was winterized or not and that scares me. It didnt run hot and kept a steady temp so i doubt its hurt, but im just leary because if theres a chance it wasnt winterized then there could be a busted block still...

 

[Bulbash]

Re: mid 80's volvo ok?

well, went and looked at the boat, it was quite nice. we took it out for 40 mins and it did great, but i still didnt buy it because the seller just got it back in feb. and he bought it from a bank repo and he doesnt know if it was winterized or not and that scares me. It didnt run hot and kept a steady temp so i doubt its hurt, but im just leary because if theres a chance it wasnt winterized then there could be a busted block still...

If you were able to run it for 40 min it means everything is ok. Make sure angine oil is not mixed with water and compression is fine. But it does sounds like everuything is ok. With cracked block boat would overhit in the first 5 min or oil would mix with water...

 

[matt167]

Re: mid 80's volvo ok?

or water would leak from a core plug/ external crack into the bilge. You would know it.. More than likely it's just fine. I would be more concerned with stringers and transom condition ( checking it over good ), than the condition of the drive at that point.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: mid 80's volvo ok?

Hi,
My buddy told me to stay away from volvo outdrives, said they were not good? He just said to look at mercruiser only ans stay away from volvo..

Is your "buddy" going to be your mechanic and doing maintenance for you and that's why he's recommending a Merc as that's all he knows?

If he's not going to be working on your boat then you should dis-regard what he said and count on what Don said.

Mark