Re: OMC 800 Stringer - Reliable? Bullet Proof? Garbage?
Long post - waited until everybody went to bed so I could type it all out:
Do you regret buying your boat?
No. I really like my boat. I'm kinda' partial to older fiberglass boats, and this one has some classic looks to it. It functions very well for me, and the layout is right on. I even like the stringer drive.
You also mention that you have gotten to like the drive & enjoy working on it?
The Stringer offers a few advantages: It runs pretty quietly compared to the Mercs I've been on (even newer ones), I think the radius of the swivel gives a little tighter control (tighter turns) and even considering how finicky they can be - I like electric shift. The reason I've come to enjoy working on it is that I'm not that mechanical and doing wrench work is soooo different from my day to day stuff (commercial artist).
Do you find it to be fairly straight forward to work on?
Well - for the most part yes. On the overall it's not that complicated, and for someone not mechanically inclined (yours truly) I can wade through it okay. These forums help immensely.
Only one seal on the drive that can sink the boat right?
Correct. It's a BIG FLIPPIN' hole if that seal comes undone on you - but it's just that one (outside of things like your drain hole).
The thing I have researched on the Merc & Cobra's is I get the impression every 6-10 years they need bellows replaced (3 rubber boots) that can sink your boat, ruin your gimbal bearing, and seems like alot of people have to replace the transom seal every 10-15 years.
I would suggest it's probably a wash. If you buy an OMC transom seal on a stringer, there's a reasonable chance it'll last you a long time (20 years). If you buy aftermarket seal, you'll probably change it more often. They're $100-ish and should be considered regular maintenance.
The Merc * Cobra's don't seem to be as simple to work on as people may think based on you tube video's I have seen and even those out drives are very expensive to have worked on professionally..
ANY marine mechanic is going to be expensive on ANY drive. The Cobra's seem to be starting to be treated like the Stringer (nobody wants to work on 'em). I think the Mercs and the Cobras do seem a little more complicated, but I think the complicated stuff is generally the stuff that would be beyond me anyhow (cracking into a gearcase, for example). I've done some work on my Dad's Mercruiser and I don't think it's any more difficult to deal with than the Stringer is.
Bellows alone are $700 professionally replaced and the transom seal I believe adds another $400 then you'll end-up replacing your gimbal bearing $100 - $200 which easily make's for $1,200 - $1,300 over a 10 year to 15 year spread not including other items such as hoses or shift cables, etc..
How much money have you stuck in your OMC Stringer so far?
$2k in maintenance and repairs on a boat over 10 years sounds pretty reasonable to me. They say you can simulate the joys of boating by standing in a cold shower and tearing up $100 bills
I've got about $1,800 into my boat - purchase, registration and repairs. I'm going to wind up close to $2,500 by the start of next spring when I get done doing a few more repairs this winter and fix the trailer. I bought her with a bad upper gearcase, and was fortunate to find a replacement cheap. When I bought the boat, I decided that I could afford to completely risk the purchase price if I couldn't fix it - and so decided to take the chance.
How long have you owned it?
2 years.
Do you think the Merc / Cobra's are less to own / maintance VS. OMC Stringer?
All of them are the same maintenance. That's just being a boat. A Cobra is going to cause you some of the same things a Stringer is (mainly tracking down parts and finding people to help you fix things you can't). The advantage of the Mercruiser is that they're still in business making drives. They are THE mainstay of the sterndrive business (not necessarily the best), and they're all over the place. And, quite frankly, Merc makes a good sterndrive.
At the end of the day, I would probably recommend away from OMC if you haven't already bought a boat. HOWEVER, if you find a boat that fits your budget, and you REALLY like the boat and you're not afraid of having to work on it ... then an OMC is not the kiss of death.