What makes the OMC outdrives so undesirable?

[ezmobee]

Re: What makes the OMC outdrives so undesirable?

I wouldn't buy one unless it was extremely cheap. I believe some of the very very late ones are the same as Volvo SX ones but you'd want to find out exactly which those were.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: What makes the OMC outdrives so undesirable?

I'm in the process of winterizing the very rig these folks will tell you to run away from. 2nd full season. I also understand that this is a mechanical piece of equipment and if it's not properly cared for it will break. This applies to every drive mfg.

It's even more critical for OMC because of the potential for big costs for repairs. But there is also a conversion you can do. Learn all you can about how to maintain your rig. Treat it kindly and you might get years of service from it. Beat the crap out of it and break out your wallet.

My advice is find someone in your area that knows what a properly operating OMC drive should be like. Have them look at how the drive is operating. Buy the rig cheap knowing that worst case scenario you'll either be buying a conversion kit down the road or sending the whole thing off to the junkyard.

 

[superbenk]

Re: What makes the OMC outdrives so undesirable?

But there is also a conversion you can do.

Note that the conversion kits are only for the Cobra drives, not the Stringers. If you have a Stringer & want to convert, you'll be rebuilding your transom, modifying your stringers & replacing all the controls, etc. Oh ya, and replacing the engine, drive, transom assembly, etc.

I've had my boat now for about 3 yrs. and it has a Stringer. All the problems I've had have been no worse than most of the other problems I hear about Merc on here. Most of my problems have been motor related & not the drive at all. But the thought is constantly in the back of my head that if something big breaks, the boat is probably junk & that's not fun. That's the real problem with OMC in my opinion - the nagging feeling that if something breaks it could get expensive, fast.

 

[Bluestream]

Re: What makes the OMC outdrives so undesirable?

That's the real problem with OMC in my opinion - the nagging feeling that if something breaks it could get expensive, fast.

I think that is true for all of them...