Mercruiser 80 Questions

[k7kit]

I am looking at buying a 1968 Starcraft with a Mercruiser 80 I/O in it. Am I nuts? Should there be specific things I should be looking out for?

The last boat with an I/O I was in had a Bravo outdrive so I know absolutely zero about these older units.

Thanks

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercruiser 80 Questions

I am looking at buying a 1968 Starcraft with a Mercruiser 80 I/O in it. Am I nuts? Should there be specific things I should be looking out for?

The last boat with an I/O I was in had a Bravo outdrive so I know absolutely zero about these older units.

Thanks

Howdy OM and welcome to iBoats!

wow,

Do you really want to go from something as modern as a Bravo drive to a #1 drive with a Renault engine in front of it?

I think most of us would suggest against it unless you have a penchant for working on antique "stuff"! (do you also have a Motorola 41V in the trunk?)

The other thing about it is that if the boat is very big at all, it will be a REAL DOG with that 4-banger Renault engine!


I wouldn't even begin to speculate on how you would find engine parts. (most of the drive parts are probably available I think and you can replace it with an SEI)


Nah, you're not nuts....


Regards,


Rick

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Mercruiser 80 Questions

I am a believer that a person is only required to indure a certian amount of pain at a time.
I had a french car once and coudn't even catch a cold.
If you buy that boat you will be cancer free and never have a hangover.

Seriously it would be a fun or novel toy for a good mechanic. It would not make a good daily boat for several reasons. Number one they were no good when new. The power was awful. It would be the same as a 35 HP outboard on a large boat. It would have zero resale.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercruiser 80 Questions

I might agree you with on most everything....

It would have zero resale.

I don't know anyone that buys a boat with "resale" in mind!!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser 80 Questions

Am I nuts?

Yes,... Those old Renaults are Not parts supported...

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 80 Questions

Yes,... Those old Renaults are Not parts supported...

Not only are the engine parts NLA (No Longer Available) the outdrive is NOT a "1" drive, it's a "0" drive. Also not supported with parts.

 

[DJ]

Re: Mercruiser 80 Questions

They didn't call them "Faulty Renaulty's" for nuthin'.

If the boat is aluminum and in great shape, you might consider a repower with something more modern. Just a thought.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercruiser 80 Questions

Not only are the engine parts NLA (No Longer Available) the outdrive is NOT a "1" drive, it's a "0" drive. Also not supported with parts.

Oh boy!!!! Right up there with a #2 drive!!

Get it all running good and bolt a Swan 240 under the dash and go boating!!


Ok.....this is not boating related

 

[k7kit]

Re: Mercruiser 80 Questions

Ok ... copy all! I am at least glad I had enough sense to ask before buying this thing. Even without buying an old aluminium boat most folks who know me think I am nuts anyway.

Thanks to all for the welcome to the forums ... been a lurker too long!

No 41V's but I do have an Icom 735

73 de Les

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Mercruiser 80 Questions

Ok ... copy all! I am at least glad I had enough sense to ask before buying this thing. Even without buying an old aluminium boat most folks who know me think I am nuts anyway.

Thanks to all for the welcome to the forums ... been a lurker too long!

No 41V's but I do have an Icom 735

73 de Les

I actually HAD a 2 channel MOT 41V for 2m (with the local repeater 28/88 and 94 simplex) in my 57 Ford in the 70's!! Nothing like "Vibrator" powered vacuum tubes!! It sure sucked the battery fast!!

Nothing wrong with an aluminum boat! (aluminium .......are you a Kiwi or something?? )

If you liked that boat.....it would probably be great if you transplanted a newer 3.0L + GenII drive!

IC-735......nice stuff.... (I have an IC-736!........look for me on 1992KHZ up here in the NW!)