Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

[jo-e90]

I found a '88 bayliner I/O with a 3.0 for $3000 asking. Just put $2000 into the motor/outdrive.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

as fast as you can!!!!!!!!! extremely overpriced. that $2,000 is deferred maintainance, and should have been done a long time ago.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

$3k is probably a typical price for a good condition '88 Bayliner with a Mercruiser I/O you can still get parts and service for. I would not spend that for one with an OMC.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

Ayuh,... $300. maybe,... $3,000.... No Way...

 

[Lou C]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

gotta agree with the above...I have an OMC Cobra and I have had very little issues with it even in salt water use...but the last of these dog clutch models was made 17 years ago...company is out of business...not to many shops will work on them...why make problems for yourself. I am lucky my shop can rebuild a Cobra still if I needed it for less than half the price of converting it to a Volvo...

And then there's the Bayliner part...if this boat was left out uncovered...it could have ROT everywhere and be a major and NOT worthwhile project...

I say save more money and find a MUCH NEWER boat... I've done a lot of rot repair to my 88 FW and trust me you dont' want to get involved in that unless you are a good woodworker and fiberglasser....or want to learn. 'Glassing is nasty, itchy and un-pleasant. I'd rather do an engine replacment than do a deck/stringers anyday....

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

I own a boat powered by a 3.0 Cobra. All I can say is never again. If the clutch dogs are shot on that drive, a shop will charge u about $1400 to do the work. That's if u can find a mechanic willing to do the work, & knows what they're doing when it comes to OMC's. There ain't many of 'em. For another grand or so, u can pick up a nice runabout not powered by a dinosaur. It's a buyer's market, especially with summer winding down.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

I cannot believe people still try to get top dollar for those piece of junk OMC drives. I guess there are still the people that just do not know.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

I'm sometimes tempted to reply to such ads, "I'm new to boating, but I saw something on the internet that said it's hard to find parts and service for OMC outdrives...would you say that's true?"

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

I will just service mine myself, but thats how I roll.. My boat has a OMC.. Only paid a grand for it and it's no Bayliner (Four Winns).. I figure I will have a grand worth of fun out of it if it will last a season.. I found a extra outdrive for it the other day for 600 bucks on Ebay also.. Mine seems to work okay.. Easy impeller changes for sure... I woulda so rather had a volvo or a merc, but dang boys.. It was a grand.. No way I would pay 3000 grand for any boat that old.. You can find a early to a mid 90's model for that kinda money after season drops.. Christmas. people will be selling there toys left and right to buy their rug rats stuff from wal mart

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

I cannot believe people still try to get top dollar for those piece of junk OMC drives. I guess there are still the people that just do not know.

In fairness, I think there are just a lot of people who have owned the boat a long time and don't understand the issues that have now emerged with running OMC drives. Therefore, they don't understand that they should expect signifcantly less for them on the market.

I can't see any reason why you'd want to set yourself up for maint/repair hassles by buying into an OMC. In that class of boat, you literally have thousands of better options that don't have the issues that owning an omc would have.

Grouse

 

[BigBoatinOkie]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

Don't do it. Not worth it man.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Should I run from an OMC cobra outdrive?

I found a '88 bayliner I/O with a 3.0 for $3000 asking. Just put $2000 into the motor/outdrive.

I sold my 87 20' Bayliner Cuddy with an OMC 5.0 Cobra to my neighbor in very good condition 8 years ago for $2500. It was probably worth a bit more but it gave him some money room to fix anything he wanted.

$3000...No Way Jose!

Plus you have to know how to work on the Cobras. They have idiosyncrasies with the lower shift cables and even filling the drive with oil that most mechanics are not familiar with. Do a search for the OMC Cobras that die from not being filled with oil properly!