Omc

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

Does anyone know what caused OMC to go belly up?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Google it

Ficht, over-stretched financially, poor business decisions

 

[kpg7121]

Mercruiser had better marketing practices. And OMC shift system engineering sucked.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Poor design and engineering.
The Cobra drive was crap and the Ficht even crappier..

 

[GA_Boater]

The Stringer was a work of art, too.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

I took Scott's advice and googled it and was amazed at the size of the company and everything that they had there hands into.

 

[kpg7121]

The Stringer was a work of art, too.

Designed by committe.

 

[Lou C]

1) diverted resources that could have been put into product development into buying boat companies...that really did not help them
2) Ficht was not fully engineered and outsourcing of parts was a bad move...BRP I heard had to throw out warehouses of bad parts
3) The Cobras were initially troublesome due to a supplier changing specs on the shift cable and inadequate training on the part of OMC for its techs. Once they came out with the improved cable...shift cable tools and better instructions...these units will last a LONG TIME. Mine's 31 years old and used in the toughest environment for a outdrive...slipped in salt water....I've had it 17 years and the repairs to the drive itself...have been minimal....a few seals....normal maintenance...all the bearings and gears....are as they were when I got it...so I don't agree with the Cobra drives were crap statement.

Maybe if you don't use the tools and use a crappy aftermarket cable you will still have trouble...but I have not even had to change the cable...that was on it when I bought it....in 2002

 

[PITBoat]

But the name sounds so cool - OMC Cobra... Ha Ha.

I ended up with mine because my particular boat seemed priced right for the overall package, compared to others I was seeing. And I loved the styling/colors. I knew nothing about different drive manufacturers at the time. Oddly enough, I think the Cobra looks better than the Mercruiser drive too... which is worth about nothing.

I have no real regrets yet, and hope to at least get my money's worth out of the whole deal.

 

[kpg7121]

But the name sounds so cool - OMC Cobra... Ha Ha.

I ended up with mine because my particular boat seemed priced right for the overall package, compared to others I was seeing. And I loved the styling/colors. I knew nothing about different drive manufacturers at the time. Oddly enough, I think the Cobra looks better than the Mercruiser drive too... which is worth about nothing.

I have no real regrets yet, and hope to at least get my money's worth out of the whole deal.

Keep the water out of it, use good gear oil & adjust the shift cable to specs, Cobras are bulletproof. I kept mine running for close to 25 years with the original gearset & one shift cable change. It's sitting in my garage right now because the transom rotted on my boat. Some day I'll sell it off CL cuz it's bolt up & go.

 

[Lou C]

https://www.allamericandriveservice.com/omc-cobra

here's a professional opinion...that I agree with 100%

 

[HT32BSX115]

I agree. properly cared for, they'll work for years. I wouldn't buy a boat with one in it now, but if I still had mine, it would still be running. (the main thing wrong with mine was exhaust manifolds for a 460) The drive was pretty much bullet proof.

I am glad however, that I made the swap to the Bravo III