Logo
FULL SITE MENU

Does something look wrong???

R

ruckus3313

Regular Contributor
Hi all,

I have been looking at a new boat but know nothing about OMC.It is a 1984 IMP XC255 SC.Beautiful boat with only 1 owner and 600hrs from being new.It has twin chevy 350's with OMC drives.are these drives reliable,built well??,easy to work on????can still find parts??I am just curious cause I know very little about them.anyways im gonna post a pic of the rear end of this boat and after looking at it several times something caught my eyes???On twin engine applications arent both drives supposed to be counter rotating of each other???like port drive have left hand rotation and starboard side have right hand rotation.on this pic it looks like both right hand rotation drives???im not sure what to think guys??can somebody help me out???

3k03p33l55V65T55U5a6h579bf7dfd3ca1ec1.jpg
 
It will work that way but will behave like it wants to push to stbd all the time. May be able to mitigate it somewhat by adjusting the trim skeg, but it will hardly be worth the money and bother to make it reverse rotation. If you can live with it, buy it. Sea trials first, and a survey before any money changes hands. Likely due to engine replacement and dude wanted to save by using standard rotation engine. I worry that the port drive has been running in reverse ever since, assuming nothing was done like swapping gears in that drive. Doubt it if dude was looking to save a buck. I can't believe it would come from the factory like that.
Can't tell if they are Cobra drives. Look like they might be. Check that the trim all the way up does not smack that swim platform. Can't see any issues except that the engines must be so close together that they must be removed for spark plugs or manifolds. Probably for anything but who knows. Got a tractor with a loader bucket?

PS get rid of that useless hoop ladder on the swim deck before it injures or kills you. Get a real ladder that goes at least two, preferably three rungs deep.
 
Last edited:
Hey, same design as my '84 X190 SC! They would not be Cobra's, but 800 stringers painted black. Interesting. Sure would like to see more pictures!

By the way, if you really want to pursue this boat, head on over to the IMP boat club site at www.impboatclub.com. A lot of experience over there as well for these boats.
 
Last edited:
OMC did not come out with the counter rotating drives until around 1988 with the Cobra. This is normal to see both engines and drives turning the same way, older Mercs were the same. I'm not an OMC basher but since you have very little experience with these older Stringer drives I would recommend you keep looking.
 
thanks for the advice guys.

Yeah if they are stringer outdrives I personally would not want them.biggest factor is that i know nothing about em.I have the old aquamatic series outdrives from volvo penta and are for the most part
bulletproof, and very easy to work on although I have never had to work on mine ever.Im gonna look for a boat with a duo prop most likely!! Once again thanks for all your opinions!!
 
Good i usually say get a merc or volvo but some volvos you don't want.

There a another option and one i will pursue with my NEXT boat. Outboards.

But if tempted to buy a omc, re-read this here thread.

Do not buy omc it is out of business, and one day stringer parts will not exist anywhere.
 
If you buy OMC you want the Cobra leg .I have twin 1986 Cobra legs they rotate the same direction and have been good. Any thing I have done to them has been reasonable and easy to find. You can still order new replacement legs.
 
Back
Top