Safe to buy boat with cobra stern drive?

[jonoman69]

Hi, I am in the market for a used boat. I have come across one that seems to be in really good shape and I am suppose to go look at it on the weekend, but it has a 3L omc with the cobra sterndrive. I know the 3L motors are suppose to be excellent motors and long lasting. But my questions comes here, a few people have told me to stay away from the omc drives and get a boat with a merc drive. I know that they where known to chew the gears, of what I read omc changed the dog clutch teeth angle, and then something to do with the shifting cable. The boat is a 1991, should I stay clear of it and wait for something with a merc drive or should I be fine. And if so what should I look for if I go look at it?

Thanks for the help, Jon

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Safe to buy boat with cobra stern drive?

Hi, I am in the market for a used boat. I have come across one that seems to be in really good shape and I am suppose to go look at it on the weekend, but it has a 3L omc with the cobra sterndrive. I know the 3L motors are suppose to be excellent motors and long lasting. But my questions comes here, a few people have told me to stay away from the omc drives and get a boat with a merc drive. I know that they where known to chew the gears, of what I read omc changed the dog clutch teeth angle, and then something to do with the shifting cable. The boat is a 1991, should I stay clear of it and wait for something with a merc drive or should I be fine. And if so what should I look for if I go look at it?

Thanks for the help, Jon

Howdy,


Most of us that have "been there-done that" will suggest that if you're looking for a boat, there's PLENTY of good boats out there that have engine/drive systems that are made by companies that still exist.

OMC has been out of business for more than 10 years and is not coming back.

There are less and less people out there that know how to work on them (or even want to) certain parts are simply not available anymore.

It's a boat buyers market and there's many Mercruiser/Volvo powered boats out there on the used market.

Any boat you go look at should be test run IN THE WATER before you consider it!

Regards,


Rick