Need help/info on my OMC issue

[Benzilla19]

Ok so long story short I got in way over my head with an 83 Sea Ray Seville Bowrider that had the 3.8 and OMC stringer 800 combo. The boat was not winterized and thus the motor was trashed and the outdrive cracked. Well before I gave up on that project I had the outdrive welded as I was told it would be fine. Well I ended up throwing the towel in on that project and talked to a guy at Cole Marina in Boise ID. who told me the boat was trash and even with the outdrive welded it was no good. So he gave me trade in on my trailer and a few of the boat parts towards a 78 Glastron V194 with the OMC225 setup. Well this was back in June and he promised to have the outdrive on the Glastron back together and the boat ready to go by the first week of July. Well here it is just Shy of Sept. and I still have no boat. He now says the old Stringer 800 cracked outdrive is better then the one that used to be on the Glastron so he is going through it and putting it on my boat. Well I am no boat guy but I think I have read the V6 outdrives were geared differently then the V8 is that correct? Will this even work? Did the 78 have the mechanical like the 83 or are there more issues?? Is this guy just taking me for a ride?? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Benzilla19]

Re: Need help/info on my OMC issue

I found my Clymer and Seloc manuals. According to my reading 1978 which is the year of my boat they started using the Mechanical shift so I guess that part is the same and it does not give detail but it said the Stringer 400 drive was used for boats with 120 and 140 HP and the 800 was reserved for the bigger motors. Since I am pretty sure my old V6 boat had the 800 does that mean the gearing is the same and it should swap/work perfectly?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Need help/info on my OMC issue

upper gearing is different between the 225 and the 3.8

A 1978 lower is hydromechanical
1983 is full mechanical

Unless this guy really knows what he's doing, I would be worried.

full mechanical lowers require an electronic shift assist system that a 1978 boat won't have. It would have to be moved from the 3.8
Also, the shift converter is unique to each style

 

[Benzilla19]

Re: Need help/info on my OMC issue

I was afraid of that so it is a no go then.. GOD I hate places that try to shaft customers... This is an actual Marina place for gods sakes..... Supposed to specialize in OMC... GRRRRRRR

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Need help/info on my OMC issue

I updated my post above

If the guy really knows what he's doing, he could swap uppers to retain V8 gearing.


all in all it sounds like a nightmare.

don't buy any boat you can't water test, unless priced at value of trailer