1979 Larson All American 5500 with 5.0 OMC Stringer, are stringers really that bad?

[Spivy30]

I have found a showroom clean 1979 Larson All American 5500 with a 5.0 OMC Stringer and a new shorelander trailer for $2000. The owner is a 87 year old man who bought it new and kept it out of the water in his boat house. The boat was always full maintained by the dealer where he bought the boat. He has records and reciepts of everything that was done to the boat over the years.
My question is are the stringers really that bad if they have been taken care of ?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1979 Larson All American 5500 with 5.0 OMC Stringer, are stringers really that ba

My question is are the stringers really that bad if they they were taken care of ?

Yes....

 

[1976 Slickcraft]

Re: 1979 Larson All American 5500 with 5.0 OMC Stringer, are stringers really that ba

Hey now, I have grown to like mine. It`s an electric shift. Smooth as silk, not clunky like some alphas I know.
There are somethings you have to be aware of to keep them in good running shape. And you must maintain them to the "T". Some folks have problems with taking on water in the lowers, but I have not.
I like mine and I like the boat it`s in so I`m gonna keep it.
Jesse

 

[Spivy30]

Re: 1979 Larson All American 5500 with 5.0 OMC Stringer, are stringers really that ba

Thank you slickcraft,

I hear alot of people who don't have Stringers say what junk they are but people who have them really like them a lot, I plan on buy a service manual and doing alot of "preventive maintenance" just wonder what things you need to know with this motors?

 

[Spivy30]

Re: 1979 Larson All American 5500 with 5.0 OMC Stringer, are stringers really that ba

Thank you slickcraft,

I hear alot of people who don't have Stringers say what junk they are but people who have them really like them a lot, I plan to buy a service manual and do alot of "preventive maintenance" just wondering what things you need to know with these motors?

 

[Lou C]

Re: 1979 Larson All American 5500 with 5.0 OMC Stringer, are stringers really that ba

Youi have to keep in mind that first of all, there a LOTS of boats out there with drivetrains that you can get parts and service for anywhere. Why buy a system that has not been built in 23 years (last stringers made in 1985) by a company no longer in business? Do you want to spend a lot of time chasing down parts that can be hard to find, and better yet, finding a good mechanic who can work on it when the job goes beyond what you can do? I have a Cobra and when I bought it I was unaware of the OMC issues. It has not been a lot of trouble at all especially considering its age. Just a few minor repairs of seals, trim lines, bellows, all age related. I am lucky in that I have a great OMC trained mechanic for what I cannot do. But would I buy one now, no way. Why make your life more difficult? Plus think about resale, it is going to be very hard to sell an old OMC powered boat.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 1979 Larson All American 5500 with 5.0 OMC Stringer, are stringers really that ba

No matter what we say your gonna do what you want anyway.

If I had to do it again I would not have resurrect the one I have.