1978 OMC, Looks Like New

[tboltmike]

This is a pristine looking 1978 Arrow Glass with a 185 V8 OMC. Everything about this boat looks immaculate.
I have read some unflattering things on this forum about OMC, but this one is worth looking at.
I don't know anything about I/O's and would like your opinion on this one.
http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/marine_classifieds/adv-search.cgi?id=544317

Hope this doesn't violate an iboat rules.
Mike

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

Way way too expensive....even if it had a Mercruiser. I would pass.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

That's a $3500 (retail) package in my neck of the woods.
And that's when you can find a buyer who hasn't heard of the issues related to OMC ownership.
1978 is a hydromechanical....the worst type of OMC sterndrive... 10 foot pole marks all over that one.
185 is a 305 with a 2 barrel.
The only question that can be asked about a that powerplant:
why?

that is one seriously brutal power to weight ratio

 

[Mkos1980]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

Beautiful boat though...

 

[danond]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

It's not worth looking at. Wrong power plant. That's 80% of any boat!

There's plenty of pretty Merc/Volvo powered boats out there for less money.

As the Harley crowd says - "Chrome don't get ya home". Get a slightly uglier boat with a Merc and at least when it breaks, you'll be back on the water in short-order.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

I agree with all the above comments. You should definitely be able to find a nice boat with a Merc or Penta power plant for that kind of money.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

....The only question that can be asked about a that powerplant:
why?

that is one seriously brutal power to weight ratio

Never heard of that boat brand but it was common, in those days, for manufacturers to 'knock off' hull designs from other boats. That one is a dead ringer for a SeaRay hull.

I have one just like it except it is an 18 ft BeachCraft. It has a Ford 302. It is a real pocket rocket. I would not say that it is a power mismatch, however. On the contrary, everyone would like their boat to fly like those. They sip gas as well.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

You think a 185HP from an American cast iron V8 is good power to weight ratio?

no thanks, I'm making 225HP with a pushrod V6

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

Ayuh,... at 6 Grand,... That's Hilarious.... 1/2 that,.. Maybe... with Merc/Volvo power...
OMC Stringer,..?? 1/4 or Less...

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

You think a 185HP from an American cast iron V8 is good power to weight ratio?

no thanks, I'm making 225HP with a pushrod V6

Howard, I thought you meant too much power for a small boat. Be that as it may it would be interesting to do a torque test between the V8 and your V6.

I propose that we put 4 165 lb single skiers out behind both boats, each with a driver and an observer, and see which one will pull them up. I know what the 2 bbl stock 302 will do, can you say the same for your V6?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

That is one beatufully preserved specimen, I'll bet the guy selling is just fishin and not in a big hurry to sell it, hence the price ticket.
Power to weight ratio, can't be much more than a tank of fuel?
My motto has always been go with a bigger hammer and get the job done, although I've heard very good things about that little v-6

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

Howard, I thought you meant too much power for a small boat. Be that as it may it would be interesting to do a torque test between the V8 and your V6.

I propose that we put 4 165 lb single skiers out behind both boats, each with a driver and an observer, and see which one will pull them up. I know what the 2 bbl stock 302 will do, can you say the same for your V6?

You have a point. I have vent holes in my ski prop that let me spin up to the rpm I need to make HP. It's compensation for a lack of low end torque I suppose.
I can probably pull 3 up if they are really good skiers. It's more about the ability of the skiers. I think my wife could pop up behind a sailboat on a slalom ski. I need about 100 HP and two planks.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1978 OMC, Looks Like New

You have a point. I have vent holes in my ski prop that let me spin up to the rpm I need to make HP. It's compensation for a lack of low end torque I suppose.
I can probably pull 3 up if they are really good skiers. It's more about the ability of the skiers. I think my wife could pop up behind a sailboat on a slalom ski. I need about 100 HP and two planks.

You can be sure that with 4 skiers behind my 20 footer, they had to know what they were doing AND be able to hold their breath for a while. But in the younger years, we did it repeatedly. Even came up with a litre bottle of Boones Farm tucked in my life vest. That was real thirsty work.

One time I had a 220 lb friend get up behind his own boat, I came up with the 4 of us with a second rope. My friend skied over to us and I handed him my extra rope and we went down the 20 mile long lake, 5 abreast. We were all skiing with 100 ft ropes but you could turn your ear into the wind and really hear that 302 howling.

Ah, those were the days.