1989 201 Liberator

[phowie]

Hello,
I have just purchased a new boat, and I am looking for some feedback. I bought a 1989 201 liberator with a 350 Chevy/OMC cobra. The boat has 280 original hours, and is a fresh water boat. I am looking for some feedback from all of you 4-winns owners out there. I am looking to use this in Lake Ontario/St lawrence river, and the fingerlakes. How do these boats take the water? Any ideas on what it will run? The guy I bought it from said it will do 62, but I don't necessarily believe that. Anyone out there own one? I'm excited to get it out, but have a few months to wait till spring comes. I'll post some pictures soon. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: 1989 201 Liberator

The Liberators are nice boats and are known for a smooth ride in rough water. If yours is properly tuned and has the right propeller it could hit 62.
OMC is out of business and mechanics willing to work on them are hard to find. I suggest you learn all you can to ensure yours is serviced properly since parts can be hard to come by. OMC made two versions of the Cobra drive: the standard Cobra and the King Cobra, and the King Cobra came in two versions as well, a dog-clutch version and a cone-clutch version. If you have a King Cobra cone-clutch drive and it breaks, it cannot be repaired since parts are not available and you'll have to replace the driveline.

If you post your engine and drive model numbers or some pictures of the engine and drive, the forum members can help you identify them.

I have a standard Cobra drive and am very happy with it, but I was forced to learn to service it myself.

 

[phowie]

Re: 1989 201 Liberator

Thanks for the feedback. I know that it has the standard Cobra drive, and not a King Cobra, even though the motor says that it is a king. I understand that it was a marketing package that they put on the high output motors. It would have a King Cobra drive if it were a big block. This much I know. I have a friend who does drives, so I should be covered. I have always been a SeaRay/Merc guy, so this is a big change for me, but the price was right .

 

[DBreskin]

Re: 1989 201 Liberator

The king cobra drive was offered for the 351W engine in 1992. I don't know about other years.

 

[phowie]

Re: 1989 201 Liberator

Can finally add some pictures!!! Feel free to check them out.

 

[barry kenner]

Re: 1989 201 Liberator

Hello,
I have just purchased a new boat, and I am looking for some feedback. I bought a 1989 201 liberator with a 350 Chevy/OMC cobra. The boat has 280 original hours, and is a fresh water boat. I am looking for some feedback from all of you 4-winns owners out there. I am looking to use this in Lake Ontario/St lawrence river, and the fingerlakes. How do these boats take the water? Any ideas on what it will run? The guy I bought it from said it will do 62, but I don't necessarily believe that. Anyone out there own one? I'm excited to get it out, but have a few months to wait till spring comes. I'll post some pictures soon. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

You got a great boat, I have owned mine for 22 yrs. I bet I can answer any mechanical question you might come up with.

Barry

 

[barry kenner]

Re: 1989 201 Liberator

Hello,
I have just purchased a new boat, and I am looking for some feedback. I bought a 1989 201 liberator with a 350 Chevy/OMC cobra. The boat has 280 original hours, and is a fresh water boat. I am looking for some feedback from all of you 4-winns owners out there. I am looking to use this in Lake Ontario/St lawrence river, and the fingerlakes. How do these boats take the water? Any ideas on what it will run? The guy I bought it from said it will do 62, but I don't necessarily believe that. Anyone out there own one? I'm excited to get it out, but have a few months to wait till spring comes. I'll post some pictures soon. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Wow, another 1989 201 Liberator owner, there aren't too many of us left, especially vintage from 1989. I live in Jacksonville, Florida and have maintained this boat for 22 yrs. It screams in the water, just had the hull compounded/waxed and it looks fantastic. I can answer most any questions about parts and more. Glad to hear from you.

 

[phowie]

Re: 1989 201 Liberator

Glad the hear that there are a few of us out there. I have put about 15hrs on the boat so far. I love the ride, and I can get about 55 out of it with the standard 19Pitch viper at 4600 rpms. I bought a used 20 pitch turbo prop, but it wont turn more that 4200 rpms. The motor is bone stock, aside from a pertronix pointless ignition. What kind of timing do you all run? I'm running 91+ octane, and the book says 10 degrees b.d.c initial timing. Is there anything special to setting the timing on these motors??? I appreciate any feedback that you guys may have....

 

[phowie]

Re: 1989 201 Liberator

What do you get out of yours, and with what prop???

 

[Scott2170]

I got a 93 201 with a 454 and king cobra with 4 guys and a full tank mine runs 66 on gps with a SS 21p mirage. I run my timing at 10? at idle and 34? at 3000

 

[GA_Boater]

I got a 93 201 with a 454 and king cobra with 4 guys and a full tank mine runs 66 on gps with a SS 21p mirage. I run my timing at 10? at idle and 34? at 3000

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