On 11/5/2014 10:56 AM, James wrote:
Mr. Luddite wrote:

On 11/4/2014 5:35 PM, James wrote:

Hi Group, I'm presently looking at a 1977 28' Bayliner with a 350
Chevy OMC engine and Volvo 270 drive. The owner says he has the
same engine in his tournament ski boat which is a Mercruiser
engine. I don't know if he's referring to the fact that they're
both 350 Chevy's or Mercury built the OMC also. I haven't gone to
see the boat yet. The picture of the engine shows that it's
definitly a Chevy and OMC. Jim


If you are asking for general opinions on the boat, here's mine:

That's a pretty old boat. A lot depends on how it was maintained,
how many hours are on the engine, the condition of just about
everything, and on and on and on.

IIRC a marine gas engine, well maintained is good for about 1,000 to
1,500 hours of operation before a rebuild or repower typically
becomes necessary. Do you know if it has been re-powered? How many
hours are on it?

Same with the outdrive. They need maintenance and rebuilds from time
to time.

Engine and outdrive rebuilds/replacements aren't cheap.

Boats are money pits to begin with. Older ones with lots of hours on
them are even more so. Don't ask how I know.

Only other comment is that a Bayliner of that vintage isn't worth
much.

Actually I was asking if Mercury had built or acquired OMC. I think
what the owner was referring to was that both his boats had 350 Chevys.
One is a OMC and the other is a Mercuiser. I also know that B.O.A.T
means break out another thousand or Boat is a hole in the water
surrounded by fiberglas. We're looking for a cabin cruiser that will
fill our requirements and not brake the bank. A little work is ok. I've
pass up several that need engines and major work. I'm looking for a
happy medium and it's out there somewhere. I'm not in a major hurry.



The GM 350 is a very popular marine engine found in many boats of that
size regardless of who manufactures the drive system.

Based on past experience though, I'd never even consider on that has a
carburetor. Fuel injection is the only way to go. If that is the
original engine, most likely it has a carburetor. Just my opinion based
on experience.

My comment on engine hours still stands. Good engine but like all, it
eventually needs a rebuild or replacement. You really don't want to
find out while cruising with the family 5 or 10 miles offshore.

One of my first boats that I bought back in mid 1990's was a 27' 1982
Century Express Cruiser. The engine had just been replaced with a
rebuilt GM 350 and it had an Alpha One (Mercury) outdrive.

Despite the rebuild, the engine was always problematic, mostly involving
the Rochester "QuadraBog" 4 barrel carburetor. Despite several attempts
at cleaning and rebuilds, it never ran right for very long.

Then the rebuilt engine starting ****ing water out of one side. One of
the plugs they use when casting rotted completely through. These things
are usually discovered while underway.

Then the Alpha drive started leaking with the oil becoming mixed with
water. Rebuild time.

Then the hydraulic lines that raise and lower the drive started leaking.
If the engine's carburetor happened to be cooperating, I'd get the
boat up on plane, trim the drive but it would slowly start to lower
again due to the leak resulting in some scary and dangerous bow steering.

Didn't have it too long. Gave it to my brother. If it happened to
start, he'd just putt-putt around the harbor with it. Most of the time
it sat at his slip as a floating bar.