Looking For My Next Boat - Opinions

[jebby]

1989 Starcraft Medalist

Hey guys. Sorry to bug again but I would love any thoughts or opinions on this one. I had a long conversation with the owner who seems to know his stuff well and gave me a very valid reason for selling (nice 23 food center consol sitting next to it that is more suited to the large water next to him) I'm going to see it tonight to see its status. It is not ready for a water test though it will be before i buy (waiting on a trim motor to come in that will be installed before sale)

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-motorboat/windsor-area-on/19-foot-starcraft-medalist/1496381673

 

[jebby]

89 omc 4.3l

I'm taking a good look at an 89 4.3L Cobra. Any advice? I've attached the link below. I have heard mixed things on these drives (always been an outboard guy) given they are no longer in production. Any trouble getting parts? Anything i should know that might be less than common knowledge?

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-motorboat/windsor-area-on/19-foot-starcraft-medalist/1496381673

 

[achris]

OMC stern drive went out of production about 30 years ago. That alone is reason enough to 'keep walking'... Parts very difficult to find, people with experience working on them, even harder...

Chris.......

 

[jebby]

thanks guys, I passed on it, found some hidden damage and walked. next boat on the lise is a 4.3 in a 19' bow rider. thinking that should have plenty of get up and go in her

 

[Scott Danforth]

its really easy

avoid any OMC
avoid anything with Ford power
and with 4.3's, avoid anything with bat-wing manifolds

 

[Alumarine]

It has an OMC motor and drive.
Keep in mind it can be difficult to find parts or people that can service them.

 

[Lou C]

I’ve had one for about 18 years. It’s 32 years old now. In my experience when properly set up they are excellent mine was gone thru by an OMC trained tech in 2004 and I learned to do the shift cable adjustment myself about 7 years ago. I have been able to get the parts I needed over the years and have accumulated spares as well (trim rams, power steering assembly etc). Yes I had the bat wings and in 15 years of 100% salt water use and moorage never a leak. Converted to the late OMC/Volvo 2 piece center riser system 3 years ago. I ran each set of bat wings in the salt approx 6 years. It has not been back to a shop since 05/06. That’s the last time it was re sealed. Certain jobs are easier than the Alpha such as the impeller (15 min job) and d/s bellows (exactly like a Volvo SX) because Volvo adapted the entire OMC transom design, exhaust design etc. The shift cable design does not use a bellows that can leak and sink the boat, again it’s the same as a Volvo SX. The transom mount is not prone to leaks and looseness in the steering as is seen in Merc drives esp if kept in salt water. It’s too bad the company overall was mismanaged because after a few teething problems were worked out it was a good product.
But if you want something that can be easily repaired by any shop just stick to Merc.

 

[jebby]

Thanks for the heads up. Luckily im in an old boat paradise where I live and there are a number of shops around that source parts (new, used or aftermarket) and wrench on them. Definitly good info to make sure i know. I appreciate it. anyone else have any useful information?

 

[jebby]

^ solid info. thanks guys. I live in an old boat mecha. luckily there seem to be a number of shops around that can source parts (new old stock, used, reproduction ect) and people willing to wrench on them. For smaller things i also like to turn wrenches (not that im the best at it) Given the circumstances id prefer it be an alpha 1 but the cobra alone wont make me say no.

 

[Lou C]

I’d actually be more concerned about all that moisture holding carpet, esp if this is a wood cored boat. Boats of that vintage had structural wood and when plywood decks are covered with carpet and the screw holes not sealed in a damp climate that is a rot breeding ground. That problem caused me way more grief and time & money to repair than the fact that the boat had a Cobra stern drive! Back in 06/07 I did a deck replacement and stringer repair. Had the glass shop do the more difficult parts of it. Never again!

 

[Liquid_force]

I have an 89 Sunbird OMC 4.3l
We bought it in 03. Had some lower unit gear problems early on but after sorting that out ran it like a dog for 8-10 yrs with no considerable down time. Fuel tank problems and soft floor eventually led to a LOT of work and very little time on the water the past few seasons, but mechanically it has always been fairly reliable. Engine-wise, nothing other than regular maintenance stuff. Drive-wise it has always been operational, but this past season we had some problems with reverse. Found an OMC tech to go over it for $250. Says it's good to go. Waiting for the weather (and schedule) to clear and get it on the lake again.
I would probably buy one again if I were in the market but only if it seemed to be in very good mechanical condition. I don't think you'd want anything in the "project" category with an OMC. A lot of standard parts are available, but anything beyond that will be a problem.

 

[H20Rat]

thanks guys, I passed on it, found some hidden damage and walked. next boat on the lise is a 4.3 in a 19' bow rider. thinking that should have plenty of get up and go in her

Depends on the weight of the boat. A 4.3l is generally good, not ideal but not bad. I've got a 4.3l in my 19' heavy deck boat. A deepwater start on a slalom ski would be ugly for an adult (drop or jump start instead), but it works well for wakeboarding.

Someone else mentioned, but engine size has almost nothing to do with efficiency. It takes x amount of sea horses to do Y amount of work. The size of the engine doesn't change that equation.

 

[achris]

...A deepwater start on a slalom ski would be ugly for an adult ...

In which case a vented prop would be just the ticket.... I once ran a vented prop, on my HEAVY 20 footer, and it just about pulled the skiers arms off

 

[jebby]

this seems odd to me

guys this one isn't one im particularly interested in (not enough meat with all the potatoes) but it seems like an odd pairing to me.

I would think the 3.0 would struggle just to get this out of the water let alone enough grunt to handle well. Am I missing something?

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-powerboat-motorboat/windsor-area-on/1985-rinker-205/1495412621

 

[H20Rat]

That isn't a kicker on the back, it is actually dual engine! Nadaguides lists it as a 140hp also. 2750#, and being a cuddy it at least has a fair amount of weight up front. Performance would be exactly what you would expect. 0-plane times measured on a calendar. Once up on a plane it probably won't be half bad.

 

[JimS123]

Put the right prop on it and it should be a nice rig. However, I agree its not for everybody. Most people consider neck-wrenching speed as an essential.

By the pictures (which are really too small) it looks to be in good condition and i would think the price is right as well.

 

[jebby]

I don't need break neck speed. would like to be able to plane out with 4 or 5 people though or tow a wake board with 3, think it will do it? I like the setup

 

[Stinnett21]

With that criteria, no. Wait on something else. Your initial thoughts were correct. If you do decide to go with it count on trim tabs being a must, down propping as far as you can stand it and running at high rpms most of the time. Additionally make sure it's not waterlogged. You would have no headroom to carry additional unwanted weight.

 

[jebby]

I messaged the guy, apparently it wont shift out of neutral (said shift cable needs adjustment) so I suspect its got a frozen shift cable too lol.

 

[JimS123]

I don't need break neck speed. would like to be able to plane out with 4 or 5 people though or tow a wake board with 3, think it will do it? I like the setup

I'm a big fan of the 3 liter chevy engine. Lots of grunt, but prop maximization is critical. I had one on a boat only slightly smaller than this one and we enjoyed it for 35 years.

Before my buddy bought his boat we routinely ran with 8 people.

However, shift cable adjustment, yeah right. If its already broken, I'd pass for that reason.