Need advice on buying a boat!

[blaketeg]

Hi I am new to the forum and also going to be a new boat owner. I am looking at a 1987 Baretta super sport OMC Cobra with the 3 liter GM motor. I have gotten the guy to let it go for $1200 with trailer and going to look at it tommorow. I was wondering if anyone had experience with these boats or the 3 liter gm motors? I plan on doing a compression test when I go see it. Is there anything specifically I should look out for or should I avoid this boat all together? I can't find much online about these. This is going to be my first boat project and I dont want to be stranded or be on the hole. Input is much appreciated!

This is also the craigslist ad for it.
1987 baretta s sport 17' open bow 3.0 omc

Thanks!

 

[pckeen]

Re: Need advice on buying a boat!

Hi,

Check the hull and transom, and make sure the transom is rock solid. Look for soft spots on the floors, check the trailer tires, lighting and frame. Soft spots on the floor or a flexing transom likely means your boat's structure is rotten - which will mean a major restore. Best of luck!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Need advice on buying a boat!

Are you sure you want to have an OMC outdrive as your first boat?

 

[pckeen]

Re: Need advice on buying a boat!

take a look on these forums for OMC outdrives - you'll see why tpenfield makes that comment.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Need advice on buying a boat!

Drive manufacturer out of business. Unless the boat is in pristine condition and it is exactly what you want I would pass.

 

[blaketeg]

Re: Need advice on buying a boat!

Thanks for the replies and advice everybody. I will deffinetely check the hull and transom as well as floors, etc.

As far as the OMC Cobra outdrive goes, are these pretty unreliable? And how hard are they to fix and find parts for? I am a car mechanic but never performed service or repair on boats before. I plan on learning as I go. I read around about them and saw plenty of threads with people having issues with them. Is there anything with the outdrive itself I should check?

 

[pckeen]

Re: Need advice on buying a boat!

That's what the thread from spc was about. OMC is out of business, parts are hard to come by, and there are lots of reports of difficulties with the drives.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Need advice on buying a boat!

Unavailable more than unreliable

OMC = out of business