Plz help w/ a few questions on a 1976 Omega Tri-Hull 18 ft. In/Outboard Fish/Ski Boat

C

Capt. Willie

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
34
I just got this boat-cheap, and it's the first I've ever owned. I'm a carpenter/remodeler, so I have the skills, if not the 'boat-knowhow'.

The boat sat idle and uncovered in a friend's yard for the past 10 yrs.
The Hull is in fairly good shape, BUT the interior IS trashed...the sun cooks the heck out of plastic, etc. here in Vegas.
(I'm a new member, and I'm going to check the 32 pg. Topic I've seen here on this same boat's restoration.)


It has a Volvo "170" inline 6 cylinder, w/ 3 one barrels, and a '280' Penta Outdrive
I cleaned plugs, points, and dist. contact points, etc. and she started right up, and runs great!

My questions are: I'm searching for a service manual for this boat., but NO luck so far....any ideas?

The Trim function doesn't work, and there has been some rewiring that was done long ago. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for this Boat/model?

Also, I have a steering problem, and I'm fairly sure it's a problem w/ the cable, any ideas on where to find one? (I took apart the steering mechanism, and the gears etc. looked good, but there are some cracks in the outer cable housing, and the steering does function, BUT will only turn from center to the left, and then back to center where it jams up.)

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
 
Last edited:
rickryder

rickryder

Commander
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
2,722
:welcome: Willie It's great that your motor runs well! As far as the rest of the boat it can be rebuilt ,you have come to the right place!

So for your questions; Service manual ...we would need year make model and serial # to aid the members in helping you find the correct manual.

Wiring diagram should be covered in service manual.

Steering components can be found on Iboats....just need to know what type steering system is installed in boat...

Post a bunch of pictures on what you're working on so others can chime in if they see or know of your type boat motor outdrive etc.

Read the stickies at the top of the restoration section! A huge amount of information is there for you ;) and read plenty of resto projects so you can see what you will be doing.

We were all at the same point as you are now when we came on this forum. This family here is the best of the best and Iboats parts service and deliveries are outstanding!

Looking forward to seeing your project.
 
thumpar

thumpar

Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
6,138
Make sure you check the stringers and floor really well. 10 years in the weather has probably rotted them. The manuals are available at boatinfo.no but you will have to figure out the one that is correct for the year you have.
 
C

Capt. Willie

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
34
Thanks, rickryder and thumpar.

I'll check iboats for parts and manual.....my mistake, it's a 1976 Omega Tri-Hull, Open Bow. Owners Manual is long gone, I guess.
I sent a PM to the guy who had that 32 pg. thread, (thrillhouse700) here on his resto of the same boat, (a 1975) and I've read thru pg. 6 of that thread, so far.....but he hasn't posted since late 2012.....

You're right thumpar about checking the stringers, etc.....The floor feels mostly solid, but I do have one small 'soft spot' in floor, I'll probably take a look inside when I do a quick repair, but may have to tear out all. It's very dry here, but possibly rainwater could've gotten in and caused some rotting.


I initially thought I'd just resell it, but it's kinda growing on me, it has some minor cracking in the cover, mostly from the original handrail mounts, and a few in the hull on starboard side both @ the bow and the stern, it appears these cracks are from older (poor quality) repairs. I've yet to do an up-close inspection underneath, and you can see from the few pics I have that I had to stuff it into my smaller driveway, (for now) w/ about an inch to spare on Port side, and trailer tire is up on the curb on starboard side. (My garage is very small, and boat won't fit.)


I have the Hull # from the title....not sure of where to look for boat serial #, IF this is different than Hull # plz let me know where to find it.
(But I do have the engine and outdrive #s and I''ll post them If you're interested.)

Hull # XMGA31360576




http://s544.photobucket.com/user/jack4777/library/1978 Omega Tri-Hull


Thanks again, much appreciated!
 
rickryder

rickryder

Commander
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
2,722
Try to find engine and outdrive serial #s the will be on the units themselves... since you use photobucket... look for the IMG code and copy and paste in the text box here...they will show like this...






 
Last edited:
C

Capt. Willie

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
34
I don't have pics of these #s, but will try to get them. Did the link for the 3 boat pics work for you?

Engine Metal Tag #s: AQ 170B/280
7630/11B503

Stamped in Block just below head: 8125 7630
Cast on block, (raised #s) 'B30' I'll get casting # tomorrow, if needed.


Penta Outdrive #: PZ NR 2827393c

Hull # XMGA31360576

I'm still unsure if Hull # is the same as the boat serial #...plz confirm.


Also, still unsure of the boat model name, the Title only lists it as, 'model year'....I was told it's a fishing/skiing boat. Previous owner is on vaca, and I can't contact him right now.
(Omega Boats Co. went out of business some yrs. ago....5 yrs. I think.)

Boat has rack and pinion steering, but no matches found here for this search, or for the Service Manual. (I searched for ' rack steering assembly' and for 'steering cable'.)


RR, I started reading your thread from the end, (pg. 40) backwards, nice boat, and I'm looking for some pics of your boat finished. What pg. should I be looking on???

PS, Man, that Blu claw crab dinner shore looked good!!! I'm from L.I. NY, and really miss em, and the cherrystone clams, pass the butter.....mmmmm, Thanks for the memories.
 
Last edited:
thumpar

thumpar

Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
6,138
On a boat the manual for a specific brand/model may never be found, especially at that age. The manual you want is for the engine and drive. Those are easy to find.
 
jbcurt00

jbcurt00

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
25,083
If you reorganize your Photobucket folders or move the pix around into different folders, any posted links to those pix get broken. That's why Rick's pix posted from your photobucket are now error messages.

Once HIN's became standardized, they ARE the serial# of the boat, just like on a car. Before HIN's became standardized, boats had serial#'s. The serial#s were often used as HIN's when a boat was sold or transferred and there wasn't a HIN to use. My 1957 Duracraft's serial # is 17898:
IMAG0790_zpsc7166529.jpg


Some states will still use Serial#'s as a HIN if there's a paper trail already established using the serial#. Other states will issue a state HIN that conforms the the typical 12 digit HIN coding system. If they do, it won't include the coding for the maker, or the year of manufacturer, like yours does now.

As Thumpar said, a manual for the boat or electrical diagram isn't likely to be found, esp for the electrics. A manual, if found, is likely to be an owner's manual, and it'll be generic boating info w/ very little specific to your boat, completely different from a car's owners manual.

Welcome to boat rehab.
 
C

Capt. Willie

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
34
You're right about never being finished. :ranger: You probably know what BOAT stands for then....Bust Out Another Thousand! :ballchain:

I saw the SeaStar cables earlier, but was unsure if they would fit my boat....I'll have to take mine out and measure, etc, and I'll post a question there....I wish they had better pics. I decided I'll get my volt meter out tomorrow and try to figure out the Trim problem....I should've checked the outdrive's function when I ran it the other day, but didn't have the water hooked up, so I was leery of overheating.




Your search skills are far better than mine, the pdf link is to the outdrive I have, (a '280'). And that thread is the same motor I have too.....I've heard only good things about both the motor and the Penta Outdrive. The fact that it started right up after sitting for 10 yrs. supports this, and really helped my attitude towards the boat in general.

Thanks, RR...you've been a great help. :cool:
 
rickryder

rickryder

Commander
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
2,722
You welcome! Just passing forward the same help I was given ;)

You will need to service your outdrive for sure....if you ran it without water and it has sat that many years the impeller in the drive is toast....You have bigger fish to fry than that... I would imagine a transom stringers and deck will be first up...
 
C

Capt. Willie

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
34
I didn't get much accomplished today as my responsibilities caught up w/ me in the middle of things. I did trace some wiring, and I now know I don't have any power to the Trim activator switch. I think I've found the wire(s) I need to hook up, but not 100% sure where to connect them, yet...tomorrow's another day.

I did a close-up inspection of the underside, etc. and besides the cracks, etc. already mentioned in Hull and cover, I have a few small dings here and there that need repair. Also, a long shallow scrape on the very bottom of the center hull line (keel? not sure of proper terminology)....looks like a bad roller on the trailer is the culprit here, and scrape looks to be a fairly minor repair job. Also, a bad scrape about 2' long on the Port side of the center bow, (maybe from beaching, and/or hitting a rock?...the latter a real possibility on Lake Mead) and definitely needs some fiberglass repair work here...my skills in this area are nearly nonexistent, but I have a neighbor who can help w/ this.

Actually the Transom looks/feels very sound, the wood on the inside is covered in a layer of fiberglass, so it's difficult to tell for sure.......I didn't get to check out the deck properly yet, it has some well-worn in/outdoor carpeting, w/ a thin coat of fiberglass over plywood, and only that one 'soft-spot'. I'm hoping for the best w/ this, and the stringers too..... I'm more worried about the wood being dry-rotted right now, she deserves a full resto, but I'm not fully committed, as yet.

I still haven't found a serial number on a tag, or otherwise, but noticed the Hull number is scratched, (for lack of a better term) into the Transom on outside near top, starboard side.


I only ran the motor for about a minute or so last week, but you're right about the impeller needing replacement, etc.

I installed the gas tank, and replaced fuel lines, and fuel filter, but didn't try starting it today.

Not sure what happened w/ pic link yesterday, it worked for a bit....try, try again.

http://s544.photobucket.com/user/jack4777/library/1976 Omega Tri-Hull Open bow
 
rickryder

rickryder

Commander
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
2,722
The only way to determine the condition of the deck,stringers and transom is to explore....The soft spot will be opened up enough to be able to see stringers, You need to drill some 3/8" holes in stringers to check core condition and same with transom,a few spots along the lowest point of it. If by some chance it comes out clean and dry you can just fill the holes with 3M 5200 and move on....

IMO a boat with this age and what little I see from the pics this will be a complete resto.

You will surely have to work on the drive unit...I would recommend pressure testing all the seals...change impeller and lube....check for play/wear in the gimbal area replace gimbal bearing check u joints drive shaft boots cables etc.

I never pressure tested my drive.....now you'll see a new SEI replacement unit on my boat <--- theres that" bust out another thousand " x2 again :frusty:

I'm not trying discourage you just want to inform ;)
 
C

Capt. Willie

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jan 1, 2015
Messages
34
Hi RR, Thanks for posting the pics, etc. and the pic quality seems to have improved.


You've given me good advice, and I'm not a bit discouraged, my main goal now is to inspect and assess all.....it's all part of the learning process.

I'm researching the steering cable, and I'd like to get the Trim functioning, (for one less worry) and I will inspect the stringers, and Transom as you've suggested.

The plastic lens is so yellowed, I can't see how many hours she's been run over the yrs, but really doesn't matter @ this point.

I'm reading your thread, and the one by Thrillhouse 700.....

I'm also still considering the full resto, or the selling it possibilities...I'll get some gas tomorrow just to have the option of starting it for prospective buyers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top